How Minnesota Protects the Democratic Process on Election Day

MINNEAPOLIS – With increased political divisions across the country, voter safety has become a top priority.

The focus is on keeping people safe while voting and counting ballots safely.

It was a quiet lunch hour on Election Day at a polling place in Minneapolis’ Lowry Hill neighborhood. Voters said they felt like their voices were heard.

“I just saw it slide right into that machine and disappear, so I had a lot of confidence in it,” said voter Anne Kiely.

That secure voting experience is exactly what the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office has been working on for the past year.

“A lot of testing goes into the equipment to make sure it works as it should,” said election security navigator Bill Ekblad.

He says every election judge is trained to be the first line of defense in de-escalation.

“They know the right words to use, the right gestures to use and not to use, so that they don’t escalate tensions and in fact lower the temperature in a situation that would otherwise seem tense,” Ekblad said.

This is more necessary than ever in these elections.

“This election is definitely different just because the stakes are a little higher,” said voter Camila DuBrin-Meneses.