SECRETARY OF STATE’S WEBSITE VIOLATES DECEPTIVE CAMPAIGN PRACTICES ACT

10/30/2006

(ST. PAUL) 10/30/06 – Today the Minnesota DFL Party filed complaints with each of the 87 county elections officials in Minnesota alleging that Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer is in violation of the Deceptive Campaign Practices Act.

The law prohibits knowingly deceiving “regarding the time, place, or manner of conducting an election or the qualifications for or restrictions on voter eligibility for an election.” [2006 Session Law, Chapter 242, Section 20] The law provides the option to report acts of deception to local elections officials.

“The Secretary of State’s website deceives the public about current eligibility requirements for voting in Minnesota elections and doesn’t include all the methods for same day registration,” Minnesota DFL Chair Brian Melendez said. “Unless she’s going to claim that she doesn’t know the law, I’m not sure how she could argue that she’s not in violation. Either way Minnesotans deserve better in the Secretary of State’s office.”

In 2005, the legislature changed the language regarding eligibility for ex-felons and people under guardianship because it often confused voters and election judges as to who is eligible to vote.

The Secretary of State’s website fails to include this updated language with regard to voter eligibility in Minnesota. [http://www.sos.state.mn.us/home/index.asp?page=12&select_faq_by_faq_cat=2#29]

“The Secretary of State’s apparent failure to comply with the Deceptive Campaign Practices Act is outrageous,” State Senator Linda Higgins, one of the lead legislative sponsors of the legislation, said. “The Secretary of State’s website should be a destination for voters to get clear and accurate information about voting eligibility and requirements. It’s pitiful that less than two weeks from a statewide election the Secretary of State has not properly informed voters of changes made by the legislature in May 2005.”

The Secretary of State’s website also fails to properly inform potential voters in residential facilities of how they can register to vote on Election Day. The items that an individual can use to verify their residence when registering to vote on Election Day does not include the fact that an employee of residential facilities and battered women’s shelters may vouch for individuals staying there – a provision added by the legislature in 2005. In order to make use of this option, residential facilities must provide a list of their employees to county election officials.

“It is unacceptable that the Secretary of State has not properly informed residents of battered women’s shelters and other facilities of how they can exercise their right to vote,” Lonna Stevens, director of the Sheila Wellstone Institute, said. “What does it take get the Secretary of State to do her job and implement the law? It is simply outrageous.”

The website should state that “You may vote if you:

- are at least 18 years of age

- are a US citizen

- are a Minnesota resident for at least 20 days before the election have the right to vote, because if convicted of a felony, your felony sentence has expired (been completed) or you have been discharged from your sentence are not under guardianship of the person in which the court revokes your right to vote

- are not legally incompetent

For complete information about voting eligibility requirements and the options for same day registration, Minnesotans can go to DFL-endorsed Secretary of State candidate Mark Ritchie’s website: http://www.markritchie06.net.

“It’s absolutely shameful that Minnesotans cannot count on their Secretary of State to get their information for voting,” Melendez said. “Thankfully, Mark Ritchie has already started doing the job of the Secretary of State and Minnesotans can count on him. He is prepared to step in and start effectively carrying out of the duties of the office.”