Minnesota Republicans, alongside the Republican National Committee (RNC), are raising concerns about the state's automatic voter registration (AVR) system.

GOP officials have demanded that Gov. Tim Walz's administration provide transparency regarding the registration and necessary removal from voter rolls of noncitizens and other ineligible individuals, particularly as his bid for the White House alongside Kamala Harris heats up, as Fox News reports.

The Republican leaders are seeking answers about how widespread the issue is and whether any improper registrations may have influenced past elections.

House Republicans claim that Minnesota's AVR system improperly registered noncitizens, leading to growing concerns about election integrity.

The AVR system, part of a law signed by Walz in March 2023, was intended to streamline voter registration processes in Minnesota. The law followed the passage of the "Driver License for All" bill, which allowed noncitizens to obtain driver's licenses. However, the Republicans now argue that this system inadvertently registered individuals who are ineligible to vote.

Republican Lawmakers Demand Answers on Voter Roll Cleanup

Republican House members from Minnesota—Reps. Tom Emmer, Brad Finstad, Michelle Fischbach, and Pete Stauber -- have joined forces with the RNC in their calls for transparency. They sent a letter to Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon and Commissioner of Public Safety Bob Jacobson. In the letter, the lawmakers asked for a detailed breakdown of how many individuals were improperly registered and what categories of errors were involved.

The letter further questioned whether any individuals whose registrations were later flagged as invalid had participated in previous elections. The goal, according to the Republicans, is to ensure that Minnesota’s voter rolls consist only of legally registered voters.

The response from Simon's and Jacobson's offices, according to the Republicans, was delayed. It took more than three weeks for the state to release any information regarding the situation, and when they did, the public was notified at the same time.

Officials Acknowledge Errors in Voter Registrations

Commissioner Bob Jacobson, in a letter dated Sept. 12, admitted that approximately 1,000 individuals might have been improperly registered due to errors in the AVR process. He did not specify how the mistakes occurred but acknowledged that the registrations in question may have included noncitizens and other ineligible individuals.

Meanwhile, Steve Simon's office clarified that the Department of Vehicle Services (DVS) had flagged certain voter registrations for further review. These cases required additional verification of details such as name, address, and citizenship status. According to Simon’s office, the errors were the result of human mistakes during the data entry process, leading to the incorrect classification of documentation within the DVS system.

Steps Taken to Address the Issue

In response to the concerns raised, Simon’s office explained that they had already taken precautionary measures. Voter registrations that had been flagged by DVS were inactivated, meaning that those individuals would need to re-register if they were eligible to vote. Simon’s office emphasized that these individuals might still be qualified to vote, but their registrations had been mishandled due to human error.

To prevent further mistakes, Simon's office is enhancing quality control measures within the AVR process. This includes implementing a manual, two-layer review system to catch any discrepancies before they result in voter registration errors. Additionally, staff members at DVS will undergo more extensive training to ensure that documentation is correctly processed and categorized in the future.

Temporary Suspension of Automatic Voter Registration

As a precautionary measure, Minnesota has temporarily paused automatic voter registration in certain situations while it addresses the ongoing issues. This pause will allow the state to make necessary adjustments and ensure that only eligible individuals are registered to vote.

Republican leaders, however, remain skeptical. Kevin J. Cline, the RNC's election integrity counsel, and David Hann, the Minnesota Republican Party Chairman, have voiced their concerns publicly. In their letter, they questioned the transparency of the state's response, stating that they may need to explore "all means necessary" to obtain further information.

Republicans Push for Public Trust in Election System

The overarching concern for the Minnesota GOP is ensuring public confidence in the state's election system. According to Cline and Hann, it is "imperative that Minnesota voters trust in the state’s election system." They argued that maintaining clean voter rolls -- free from ineligible or improperly registered individuals -- is key to safeguarding that trust.

The situation has sparked debate over the potential impact of these registration errors on Minnesota's past elections. While there has been no confirmation that any improperly registered voters cast ballots, Republicans are urging state officials to investigate the matter thoroughly.

Efforts to Strengthen Election Integrity Continue

As Minnesota works to address the issues with its AVR system, state officials and Republican leaders remain at odds over how transparent the process has been. The Walz administration is continuing its efforts to correct the errors and bolster the system’s safeguards moving forward.

Meanwhile, Republicans are calling for more detailed disclosures, hoping that increased scrutiny will lead to better oversight of the state's voter rolls. The pause on automatic voter registration may be temporary, but it has opened a broader conversation about the balance between accessibility and security in Minnesota's election processes.