A ballot error has caused Minnesota Republican state Rep. Peggy Bennett to appear as a Democrat in the race for House District 23A, a mistake discovered as early voting began.

Bennett worries that the error is already affecting votes in her district since the incorrect party affiliation appears on the ballots in Faribault County, Just The News reported.

The mistake resulted from a processing error in the office of Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon. This issue arose on the first day of early voting in the state, catching the attention of voters and election officials alike. The incorrect ballots listed Rep. Bennett, a Republican, under the Democratic Party affiliation, an error that Bennett believes could significantly impact her election chances.

Incorrect Party Affiliation Found on Faribault Ballots

The error has affected ballots specifically in Faribault County, where residents have already begun casting their votes. With early voting underway, the inaccurate designation has been publicly displayed, prompting Bennett to voice her concerns. She believes that voters who support her may inadvertently think she has switched parties, potentially resulting in lost votes.

Rep. Bennett, who has served House District 23A as a Republican, expressed her frustration, especially since this isn’t the first election-related issue to arise from the Minnesota Secretary of State's office. In response to the mistake, she emphasized her commitment to her constituents, assuring them that she remains a dedicated Republican and has no intention of changing political parties.

“It is yet another example of a broken government that shows us more and more that it is rarely working for the people,” Bennett said, voicing her dissatisfaction with the state’s election oversight.

Secretary of State's Office Working to Fix Error

The Minnesota Secretary of State’s office acknowledged the mistake and is reportedly working to correct the ballots. However, Bennett pointed out that the Faribault County Auditor’s Office, which distributes the ballots locally, did not cause the error. Instead, she placed the blame squarely on the Secretary of State’s office, which oversaw the printing and distribution of the ballots.

“I want to make it clear; this is not the fault of anyone at the Faribault County Auditor’s Office, and they have been working hard all day to clean up a mess they didn’t create,” Bennett explained. She noted that the Auditor’s Office has actively tried to address the situation, but she remains frustrated that the problem was allowed to occur in the first place.

Bennett further expressed disappointment that the ballots did not undergo careful reviews for errors before printing. She criticized the lack of proper checks and balances that could have prevented this mistake.

Ballot Error Comes Amid Broader Election Concerns

This ballot mix-up adds to a string of election-related issues that have surfaced in Minnesota. Bennett referenced recent news about the inclusion of over 1,000 non-citizens in the state's automatic voter registration system as another example of what she sees as government mismanagement.

“On the heels of the news that more than 1,000 non-citizens were put onto Minnesota’s new automatic voter registration system, Faribault County voters in House District 23A are now being handed ballots that have messed up my party affiliation,” Bennett remarked, further underscoring her concern about the integrity of the election process.

The exact number of voters affected by this mistake remains unclear, but Bennett worries that it could sway the outcome of her re-election campaign. While her team takes steps to correct the error, the fact that early voting is already underway heightens her concerns about the potential consequences.

No Party Change for Bennett Despite Error

Despite the mislabeling on the ballot, Bennett reiterated to voters in House District 23A that she has not changed political parties. “Faribault County residents should know that I have not switched political parties, and I have always been and will continue to be a Republican who will fight for your rights and freedoms,” she stated.

Bennett has served in the Minnesota legislature as a Republican and has built her platform around conservative values. She hopes the error will not mislead voters about her political stance.

Voters Encouraged to Stay Informed

As the situation unfolded, Bennett urged her constituents to remain informed and verify the candidates they were voting for. She called on voters to ensure they know whom they are supporting, regardless of what the ballots may say.

The error has sparked broader concerns about the reliability of the voting process in Minnesota, especially as election season ramps up. For now, Bennett and her team are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible, but the lasting impact of the error on her re-election bid remains uncertain.

Minnesota’s early voting system aims to give voters more time and flexibility to cast their ballots, but this mistake has frustrated and confused both voters and candidates.