State and local election officials ensure that every vote is properly cast, counted and reported through rigorous review and oversight. Voting machines are tested and receive state certification by the Office of Secretary of State. Preliminary testing of all devices used at an election is required, and errorless tests must be performed before equipment can be used. In addition, a Public Accuracy Test is also conducted before every statewide election, wherein a certain number of ballots are prepared and run through the machine to be certain it is counting correctly. This is open to the public. The League of Women Voters-New Ulm members regularly review the process.

Minnesota’s reliance on paper ballots is a cornerstone of ballot security. Paper ballots are secured and retained for years. Rules require that a room holding ballot boxes is never accessed by a single worker.

The Post Election Review, required in Minnesota since 2006, is also open to the public and is conducted in each county after every statewide election, in precincts randomly selected by the County Canvassing Board. Election judges from both political parties are hired to hand-count the ballots and compare the results to the original machine count. Absentee ballots are centrally counted with each precinct’s election-day votes, and any differences are investigated for an explanation. Results are reported to the County Commissioners.

League of Women Voters members witnessed Post Election Reviews in 43 of Minnesota’s 87 counties in November 2024, with the League of Women Voters-New Ulm observing Post Election Reviews in Brown, Blue Earth, Watonwan, Lyon, Redwood and Sibley counties.

A LWV Post Election Review report released in September 2025 details the results of these reviews, indicating that observers found the process to be conducted fairly, securely, and professionally by election officials who closely followed state law and the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Post-Election Review Guide. There were no outside disruptions reported and volunteers witnessed local community members working hand-in-hand with county election officials. The report concluded that Minnesota elections are conducted fairly, securely, efficiently and with a high degree of safeguards and professionalism.

“Empowering Voters” is a program of the League of Women Voters – New Ulm, a trusted source of nonpartisan voter information, serving New Ulm and the Brown County area to ensure free, fair and safe elections. To learn more, visit newulm.lwv.org or follow our Facebook page.

— The League of Women Voters-New Ulm