Concerns Raised Over Minnesota Election Official’s Remarks
A video featuring a Minnesota election official informing Somali residents that they can vote in the upcoming election even if they aren’t registered has sparked worries about election integrity in the state.
In the clip, Minnesota Voter Outreach Director Melanie Hazelip mentions, “If you’re already registered to vote, you don’t need to bring anything with you,” during an appearance on Somali TV.
She elaborated, stating that attendees simply need to show up at their early voting site, typically the county office or City Hall. She noted that larger municipalities like Minneapolis have additional early voting locations, such as libraries and community centers, emphasizing again that no identification is necessary for those already registered.
However, Hazelip’s comments went further and suggested alternatives for those not registered, which stirred criticism across social media platforms. She explained, “If you have a Minnesota ID that is updated, that’s all you need to bring with you. If you don’t have that, there’s a list of documents on our website that you can find. You still have options to get registered same day.”
Interestingly, what she didn’t mention in her remarks was the requirement that voters must be U.S. citizens.
While Hazelip’s statements don’t break any Minnesota laws, the video created a backlash online after being shared by a conservative group known as End Wokeness, racking up significant views.
Conservative users on X quickly reposted the video, criticizing the same-day registration system in Minnesota and Hazelip’s suggestions to her audience. One user, Phillip C. Parrish, a retired Navy intelligence officer, pointed out, “A Minnesota election official just went on Somali TV and walked viewers through how to same-day register and vote using a Minnesota state ID.”
He also noted concerns about the ease of obtaining state IDs, which are often issued to non-citizens without any marks indicating their citizenship status. Additionally, he commented on how Minnesota law permits a registered voter to vouch for multiple others looking to register on the same day, despite the legal requirement for citizenship. This, combined with past instances of fraud in the state, stirred further debate about the integrity of the voting system.
Federalist Society co-founder David McIntosh pointedly remarked on X, “Democrats are on a mission to tell every noncitizen how they can get away with voting in our elections. How is this not election interference?”
In response to the uproar, the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office provided a statement, asserting that they are committed to sharing nonpartisan information about election laws with various community groups. They emphasized that Hazelip’s comments, while accurate, had been misinterpreted by certain political factions online.
Bill Glahn, a policy fellow at the Center of the American Experiment, highlighted a significant gap in Hazelip’s guidance, stating that she should have stressed the importance of citizenship when discussing voting rights, especially considering the context and audience of her comments. He pointed out that while many Somali immigrants are indeed naturalized citizens, not all are, mentioning a recent case involving a non-citizen convicted of fraud.
The scrutiny on Hazelip’s outreach to Somali voters can be traced back to financial fraud involving the state’s Somali community, which has drawn public concern.
Additionally, Minnesota’s recent legislation allows for driver’s licenses to be issued regardless of immigration status, with no citizenship indicators on them. This has further complicated voter registration efforts, as such IDs are frequently employed for voting.
Under Minnesota law, a registered voter can vouch for the residency of others wishing to register the same day without IDs, requiring the registered voter to accompany them. Glahn expressed skepticism about the system’s security, remarking that while illegal voting is penalized, it’s still a frequent occurrence.
