Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Justice Department Demands Minnesota Vouching Records for HAVA Compliance Review

The inquiry tests whether the long-standing practice meets HAVA auditability requirements.

Overview

  • Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon gave Secretary of State Steve Simon 15 days to deliver complete, digital, unredacted election records through the DOJ’s secure file-sharing system.
  • The request covers a 22‑month window that includes the March 2024 primary and the November 2024 general election, with a focus on votes and registrations accepted through same-day vouching procedures.
  • Minnesota’s system allows a registered precinct voter to attest under oath to another voter’s residence and permits residential‑facility employees to vouch for facility residents, with perjury penalties for false statements.
  • State officials say vouching is used by a very small share of voters—under 0.6% in the 2024 general election—and that most vouched voters were already registered but needed an address update, with transactions logged for post‑election verification.
  • The review follows heightened national attention from conservative activists and high‑profile figures and comes as other federal agencies have recently imposed funding freezes and oversight actions directed at Minnesota.