Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Justice Department Seeks Minnesota Voting Records Tied to 'Vouching' System

The request tests whether the state’s residency attestation process satisfies Help America Vote Act audit rules.

Overview

  • The Civil Rights Division, led by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, sent a formal demand to Secretary of State Steve Simon for records on same-day registrations and votes linked to residency vouching.
  • The letter sets a 15‑day deadline and seeks unredacted digital files via the DOJ’s secure transfer platform covering federal elections in the past 22 months, including the 2024 primaries and general election.
  • Federal officials flagged potential inconsistencies with HAVA, with Dhillon posting that the vouching approach 'seems facially inconsistent' with the law.
  • The request explicitly includes records of people who used or attempted same‑day registration through vouching since March 2024, as well as audit and compliance materials.
  • Minnesota describes vouching as a limited residency verification tool used by fewer than 0.6% of 2024 voters, permitting a registered voter to attest for up to eight people while residential‑facility employees face no numeric limit, with voucher data verified post‑election and subject to perjury penalties.