Minnesota's Election Security Scrutiny: Unattended Ballots Spark Debate

Officials in Minneapolis assure election security integrity after an incident where mail-in ballots were left unattended outside an election office. Despite concerns, surveillance footage showed no tampering, leading to the dismissal of the involved worker. The county emphasizes strengthened protocols to ensure future ballot security.

Minneapolis-area officials have responded to concerns about election security following a questionable incident involving mail-in ballots. An election worker reportedly left nearly a dozen boxes of ballots unattended in a car parked outside Edina City Hall, sparking alarm when images of the open trunk surfaced on social media. This incident primarily raised concerns among local Republican Party members and Donald Trump supporters, CNN reported.

Hennepin County officials addressed the situation by releasing a statement confirming there was "no evidence of tampering" with the ballots during the nine-minute interval they were left unattended. Surveillance footage shared publicly supported this claim. The county acknowledged the breach of protocol in transporting ballots, resulting in the termination of the employee involved.

The county has assured the public that corrective actions are in place to prevent any similar incidents. Officials confirmed that all ballots were accounted for and remained sealed, signifying no security breach. Hennepin County Auditor Daniel Rogan emphasized that this incident highlighted the importance of robust election processes to maintain integrity and public trust.

(With inputs from agencies.)