Dear Friends and Neighbors, While many had the opportunity to take Monday off for the President’s Day holiday, the capitol complex was just as busy as any other day of the week during session.  As the Minority Leader of the Elections Committee, I kicked off the week with ensuring thorough attention and discussion is taking place regarding the process and policy of our election system in Minnesota.

Two Controversial Bills Discussed in Elections Committee

Ranked Choice Voting Senate File 3868 would allow local cities and school districts to adopt Ranked Choice Voting.

Larry Jacobs, a professor at the University of Minnesota’s Humphry School, did a comprehensive study of the issue. It found Ranked Choice Voting fails to meet any of the objectives that supporters claim. You can read the report here, but I’ll summarize the findings: There is little research to support the claim that RCV decreases polarization. In reality, RCV increases animosity among Democrats and Republicans compared to our current system.  RCV may contribute to an increase in the number of minority candidates, but there is little evidence that they were more successful.  There is little research to support the claim that RCV increases engagement and turnout among voters of color. There is even some evidence RCV chases people of color away. Cities report errors, confusion, and lower turnout due to the greater complexity of RCV.Most research found RCV had little to no impact on negative campaigning, or that it even increased negativity. RCV does not live up to its promises. Rather than adopting reforms with a less than stellar track record, let’s focus on strengthening our current election system. There are a lot of things we can do to improve the security and integrity of our elections. Let’s start there.

Pop-up polling locations on campuses Senate File 3616 would force county auditors to set up temporary on-campus polls at colleges and reservation sites, upon request. Voting access is important, but that’s not really what this bill is about.

SF3616 represents one-sided policymaking that, once again, abandons Minnesota’s tradition of only passing bipartisan elections changes.  My colleague, Senator Mathews, summed it up well: this bill adds polling locations in areas where there are predominantly and overwhelmingly Democrat voters. So is this bill about Democracy? Or is it about Democrats?  Equal access to voting should apply equally, not just in areas where it is politically expedient for one party.

Minnesota Precinct Caucuses

Tuesday, February 27th is precinct caucus night in Minnesota. What is a caucus, you ask?  A caucus is “a meeting or grouping of supporters or members of a specific political party or movement”. Precinct caucuses are a great opportunity for Minnesotans to participate in their local elections and where grassroots politics begin. They are first in a series of meetings where political parties may endorse candidates for all levels of elected office, select delegates to attend state and local party conventions, and set their party platforms. Most importantly, it can be a great way for you to connect and network with neighbors and other members in your community to discuss topics that are important to you and your family.  Following the precinct caucuses, Minnesota’s presidential primary is held the following week on March 5th. Precinct caucuses are run and organized by the political parties. Information on the location of major party caucuses can be found online at the Secretary of State’s 2024 Caucus Finder tool. I encourage you to consider attending caucus and engaging in the civic process.  In keeping with the message from last week – it’s a great way to stay informed, stay involved, and stay in contact with your community.  I look forward to seeing you soon!

Sincerely,

Mark W. KoranMinnesota Senate, District 28