Senate Debates Funding Amounts for Election Security, Upgrades

Whether or not the Secretary of State should have access to $6.5 million dollars or $1.5 million dollars in federal funds to begin securing and modernizing the state's election system came under intense Senate debate Thursday, February 28. On a party-line vote of 35-32, the Senate approved HF 14, sponsored by Senator Mary Kiffmeyer, R-Big Lake, which would authorize Secretary of State Steve Simon to begin modernizing the system with the initial investment and would provide the required state match to secure the remaining federal dollars for later authorization.

Kiffmeyer cited the bill as providing "the first part of the money" and making the first step in improving the state's election system. An amendment authored by Senator Jim Carlson, DFL-Eagan, to allow the Secretary of State to spend the entire $6.5 million dollars failed to win Republican support. "We are already a year behind our peers. This further delay only continues to put Minnesota's elections at risk," he said.

The differences between the Senate and House bills will be addressed by a conference committee.