View a video explanation of the Statewide Voter Registration System error.

Cook County Auditor-Treasurer Braidy Powers gave a detailed verbal explanation in today’s Meeting of the Whole work session. The segment begins at 1:20:40 and ends at 1:55:50.

View the video here or below. 

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A candidate filing for election while living in a different district is not automatically disqualified, given they could move into the correct district by the time of the election. Minnesota Statute § 204B.06 requires that a candidate will have maintained residence in the district from which they have sought election for at least 30 days before the general election. Alternatively, it is the candidate’s option to seek a court order to be declared ineligible, opening up the seat as a vacancy that could be filled with another candidate within a 5-day re-opening of the filing period.

This error occurred during the redistricting process in 2022 according to the 2020 census. When Cook County reviewed and amended County Commissioner districts following the 2020 census, it used multiple mapping resources as reference information to update the State Voter Registration System (SVRS). These resources included a Geographic Information Systems map layer of US Census blocks, from which voting precincts must be derived, and another of the County’s official road data. Where a road is meant to form the boundary between two precincts the actual course of the road may not align perfectly with US Census blocks forming the precinct boundaries. A visual review of the map layers did not uncover the inconsistency. This error impacted 23 voters. Areas of change brought by the 2020 redistricting have since been extensively reviewed and no other errors have been found in the SVRS.

About Cook County, MN 

Cook County encompasses the sovereign nation of the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa; the City of Grand Marais; the Townships of Lutsen, Tofte, and Schroeder; and unincorporated areas in the easternmost part of Minnesota’s North Shore. Cook County Government values transparency and strives to deliver superior services and programs in a fiscally responsible way. We value the dignity of all County residents and seek to create a community that provides opportunity for all. Many of our offices are in the Cook County Courthouse at 411 W 2nd St, Grand Marais 55604. Other departments and facilities, such as the Airport, Community Center, Highway and Sheriff are located nearby. Call 218-387-3000 or visit: https://co.cook.mn.us