Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Capitol View®
Tim Pugmire

GOP concerns unresolved after meeting with Ritchie

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Three Republican lawmakers met privately today with DFL Secretary of State Mark Ritchie to share their concerns about a new online voter registration system, which they want shut down.

Sen. David Hann, R-Eden Prairie, Sen. Scott Newman, R-Hutchinson, and Rep. Tim Sanders, R-Blaine, are among those who contend that Ritchie overstepped his authority by launching the system last month without approval from the Legislature. DFL Gov. Mark Dayton also said lawmakers should have approved the system.

Ritchie claims his action was allowed under a 13-year-old law dealing with electronic government transactions. But Hann said Ritchie did not share his legal analysis of that statue during the meeting.

"He seems to be alone in his view of the law, but he has yet to give us the analysis of the law that he's resting on," Hann said. "So were looking forward to that. But at this point he has declined to cease and desist, if you will, on his own. We were hoping he would agree that that's the more prudent course, but he has declined at this point."

Earlier this week, Ritchie suggested that the disagreement could be resolved by the judicial branch. Sen. Newman said he won’t accept what he called Ritchie's "invitation to sue and go to court."

"I think a much more prudent and better use of the public funds and public time would be to simply have the majority in the Senate and the majority in the House take action and have a public hearing on this matter," Newman said. "I don’t think we have to have the judical branch involved at this point."

Ritchie's office provided a follow up letter sent to the lawmakers after the meeting. In it, Ritchie said he looks forward to a public hearing on the system. He also explained why the system should remain up and running.

"We will not take a step backward and prevent Minnesotans from registering to vote using an application that provides far greater security than that of the current paper registration system," Ritchie wrote.