St. Paul City Council president warns of federal involvement on Election Day; calls for added protections
St. Paul City Council President Rebecca Noecker is sounding the alarm about federal involvement at the polls in November.
She says Ramsey County already saw federal election monitors at the polls this past August. Noecker says the community has been raising concerns for months about the impact immigration enforcement could have on voting.
Noecker is speaking out after U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche on Wednesday announced charges against 10 non-citizens for voter fraud in Minnesota. Blanche says the foreign nationals illegally registered or voted in several elections, including as recently as last month's primary. While all of the suspects are here legally, Green Card holders are not allowed to vote.
Minnesota election officials say non-citizen voting is incredibly rare. In a statement, Secretary of State Steve Simon said in part, "If these indictments result in convictions, that will amount to 10 individuals over a period in which around 8.5 million votes were cast in Minnesota."
Noecker is concerned the Department of Justice could use the charges as an excuse to show up at Ramsey County polling places during the election.
"It's clear that the federal government is targeting Minnesota again. That's what the DOJ press conference was all about," said Noecker to WCCO on Friday.
She said her intent is to protect voters and election workers from federal officials. And she's calling on Ramsey County, which runs the elections, to help.
"I think it's really important that the county come out very clear, and very public, and tell people exactly how they are going to make sure the election is kept free and fair and secure. Especially in the wake of what we are hearing in the federal government," said Noecker.
She's asking County leaders to pass a strong separation ordinance that would establish clear boundaries between the county and federal immigration enforcement. She also wants to establish a protocol for federal personnel at polling places. Finally, she wants the Ramsey County Attorney's Office to be on standby to protect voters' rights from threats and intimidation.
"Ramsey County runs our elections, and the Ramsey County Attorney's office has a big role to play in defending against any challenges to our elections," said Noecker.
Ramsey County Board Chair Rafael Ortega said in a written statement, "Only individuals authorized under Minnesota law will be permitted inside Ramsey County polling places."
When asked by a CBS reporter if U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will be sent to polling locations ahead of the elections, White House border czar Tom Homan said that decision falls on the secretary of Homeland Security.
According to the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners, the county is the first Minnesota jurisdiction to decline to allow federal election monitors in polling places.
The board says that, as of Friday, it has not received a request from federal monitors to be inside the county's polling locations.
The DOJ announced last month it will deploy 1,000 election monitors to polling places across the country for the midterm elections, nearly 700 more monitors than the number dispatched in the 2022 midterms.
