Threat Tier: 2 — HIGH Last Researched: July 1, 2026

Data currency notice: Election law, official contact information, and legislative status change frequently. Verify all information within 30 days of use.

Recent Developments (Entry Point for Updates)

• June 25, 2026: Minnesota is a plaintiff state in the Talwani ruling blocking the USPS mail ballot Executive Order — nationwide preliminary injunction preserves mail ballot delivery standards.
• 2026 (ongoing): Minnesota GOP members introduced the Minnesota Voter Integrity Act of 2026 to withhold federal election assistance funds until Minnesota complies with DOJ voter data demands. SoS Simon called it an “irresponsible stunt.”
• September 2025 (ongoing): United States v. Simon — DOJ sued Minnesota for unredacted voter registration data. SoS Simon refused, citing the unreliability of the SAVE database. Motion to dismiss pending; courts in CA, OR, and MI have sided with states in similar cases.

State Threat Profile

Minnesota has strong election infrastructure and a unified DFL (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) trifecta defending voting access, but the state faces direct and escalating federal aggression. Secretary of State Steve Simon has become one of the DOJ’s primary targets, sued in United States v. Simon for refusing to hand over unredacted voter registration records — including names, addresses, dates of birth, driver’s license numbers, and partial Social Security numbers. Simon refused on the grounds that the federal SAVE database the DOJ relies on is deeply unreliable, stating bluntly that if SAVE “were a plane, you would not board it.” The DOJ acknowledged in November 2025 that it shared voter information with DHS to search for noncitizens — confirming Simon’s concern that the data demand was not about election integrity but immigration enforcement. Minnesota GOP legislators have escalated by introducing the Minnesota Voter Integrity Act of 2026 to financially punish the state for its refusal. Minnesota’s same-day voter registration, automatic voter registration, and strong SoS institutional independence make it a model for election access, but the federal pressure campaign is testing whether that model can hold.

Legal Disruption Routes

State-Level Legal Disruption

Federal Actions Targeting This State

Redistricting

Minnesota’s congressional maps were drawn by a panel of judges for the 2022 cycle after the legislature and governor deadlocked. The court-drawn maps are in effect for 2026. This judicial process provides insulation from partisan gerrymandering, though future redistricting cycles could be contested.

Officials in Key Positions

Secretary of State

SourceKTTC; Democracy Docket; Star Tribune; Austin Daily HeraldName: Steve Simon Party: DFL (D) In office since: 2015 Key documented actions: Refused DOJ demand for unredacted voter data, citing SAVE database unreliability; actively planning for federal interference scenarios; coordinating with other Democratic secretaries of state and national election defense partners; testified about “all hazards approach” to election protection

Governor

SourceMinnesota Governor’s office; Star Tribune, 2023-2026Name: Tim Walz Party: DFL (D) Key stance on election issues: Strong voting rights defender; signed automatic voter registration and felon re-enfranchisement legislation; DFL trifecta under his leadership passed comprehensive voting access expansion

Attorney General

SourceMinnesota AG office; Star Tribune, 2023-2026Name: Keith Ellison Party: DFL (D) Key documented actions: Strong civil rights and voting rights defender; joined multi-state legal actions against federal election interference; co-litigant in Talwani case; has prosecuted voter intimidation cases

U.S. Senators

Key U.S. House Members (Competitive Districts)

Official Statements on Election Integrity

Statements Indicating Defense of Fair Elections

Steve Simon, Secretary of State — 2026

“We’re imagining ways in which the federal government might explicitly or implicitly interfere with the administration of elections, and we’re planning out what our response would be.”

SourceAustin Daily Herald; KTTC, 2026 Evidence tier: Documented Context: Simon has been unusually candid about the scope of federal threats, publicly describing scenario planning for federal interference — a level of transparency unusual among state election officials.

Steve Simon, Secretary of State — 2025, on the SAVE database

“If it were a plane, you would not board it. If it were a car, you would not drive it.”

SourceDemocracy Docket; Star Tribune, 2025 Evidence tier: Documented Context: Statement explaining why Minnesota refused to hand over sensitive voter data to be cross-referenced against the SAVE (Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements) database, which Simon argued has well-documented error rates that would lead to legitimate voters being flagged for removal.

Steve Simon, Secretary of State — 2026, on Minnesota Voter Integrity Act

Simon called the proposed legislation an “irresponsible stunt” designed to punish Minnesota for defending voter privacy.

SourceStar Tribune, 2026 Evidence tier: Credibly Reported Context: Response to GOP-introduced bill that would withhold federal election funds from Minnesota until the state complied with DOJ voter data demands — effectively using federal money as leverage to force compliance.

Statements Indicating Threat

Minnesota GOP legislators — 2026

Introduced the Minnesota Voter Integrity Act of 2026 to withhold federal election assistance funds from Minnesota until the state complied with DOJ demands for unredacted voter data.

SourceStar Tribune; KTTC, 2026 Evidence tier: Credibly Reported Context: The bill represents legislative retaliation against a state official exercising lawful authority to protect voter data. While unlikely to pass the DFL-controlled legislature, it signals the political strategy of financially punishing election defense.

Step-by-Step Defense Playbook

For Every Voter in Minnesota

1. Register or verify your registration:

→ https://mnvotes.sos.mn.gov/VoterRegistration/VoterRegistrationMain.aspx → Online registration deadline: 21 days before Election Day → Same-day registration available: Yes — Minnesota was the first state to enact same-day voter registration (1974). You can register at your polling place on Election Day with proof of residence.

1. Know your ID and proof-of-residence requirements:

→ Minnesota uses a vouching system — if you lack ID, a registered voter from your precinct can vouch for you → Accepted ID: Minnesota driver’s license, state ID, tribal ID, student ID from a MN institution, or valid registration in the precinct → Proof of residence for same-day registration: Utility bill, bank statement, government document with current name and address, or a registered voter voucher

1. If you plan to vote by mail (absentee):

→ Request deadline: The day before Election Day (but apply early) → Return deadline: Must be received by 8:00 PM on Election Day (sincerely postmarked before deadline under state law) → Mail at least 10 days before Election Day due to USPS changes → Track your ballot: https://mnvotes.sos.mn.gov/AbsenteeBallotStatus.aspx

1. Know your early voting window:

→ In-person absentee voting begins 46 days before Election Day → Locations: County elections offices and designated early voting sites

1. Know your polling place:

→ Polling place finder: https://pollfinder.sos.mn.gov/

1. If you are challenged at the polls:

→ You have the right to cast a challenged ballot — it functions like a regular ballot but is set aside pending review → Under Minnesota law, challenges must be based on specific statutory grounds (residence, identity, eligibility) → If anyone attempts to challenge your eligibility, stay calm, assert your right, and call 866-OUR-VOTE

1. Save these numbers before Election Day:

For Election Workers and Poll Watchers

1. Know 18 U.S.C. § 592. Any armed federal presence at a polling place is a federal crime. Document it. Call 866-OUR-VOTE immediately. See: Rules of Engagement: Federal Forces at Polling Sites

1. Same-day registration is the law. Minnesota’s same-day registration system is a critical access point for voters. Do not permit any effort to discourage, slow down, or informally deny same-day registration. Every eligible voter who shows up with proper documentation registers and votes.

1. Document every irregularity — date, time, location, description, witnesses, photos where legal. Minnesota law permits photography of your own ballot but not of other voters’ ballots or in a way that disrupts voting.

1. Know the certification calendar:

→ County canvassing boards certify within 3–10 days after Election Day (varies by county) → State canvassing board certifies within 7 days of county canvass completion → State Canvassing Board includes the SoS, 2 justices of the Minnesota Supreme Court, and 2 justices of the Minnesota Court of Appeals → Public attendance: Canvassing board meetings are public

1. Voter challenges: Under Minnesota Statutes § 204C.12, voter challenges at the polls must be based on specific grounds. Poll judges adjudicate challenges — not outside groups. If a mass challenge campaign targets your precinct, document it and report to the county elections office and 866-OUR-VOTE.

1. Report federal interference immediately. If you receive any communication from federal agencies (DOJ, DHS, ICE) regarding election operations, contact the SoS office before responding.

For Organizers and Advocacy Groups

1. Leverage same-day registration. Minnesota’s same-day registration is the state’s most powerful access tool. Train canvassers to explain same-day registration and acceptable proof of residence.

1. Deploy election observers statewide, with emphasis on:

→ MN-1 (Finstad, R — competitive southern MN) → MN-2 (Craig, D — competitive suburban Twin Cities) → Hennepin and Ramsey counties (largest populations, most diverse) → Greater Minnesota rural precincts (fewer resources, less oversight)

1. Build a rapid-response legal team:

→ ACLU Minnesota: aclu-mn.org → Democracy Docket: democracydocket.com → Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights: 866-OUR-VOTE → Minnesota Justice Foundation

1. Monitor the DOJ voter data lawsuit (United States v. Simon) — track filings and court dates. If the motion to dismiss fails, the state may need public support for an appeal.

1. Watch for voter roll purges. Even though Minnesota is resisting DOJ demands, monitor county-level voter roll maintenance for unusual purge activity.

1. Coordinate with national organizations: Common Cause Minnesota, League of Women Voters Minnesota, TakeAction Minnesota, ISAIAH, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits civic engagement network

For Lawyers

1. **Track United States v. Simon closely.** This is one of the highest-profile federal voter data cases. Courts in CA, OR, and MI have sided with states — track whether MN follows that precedent. Prepare amicus briefs supporting the motion to dismiss.

1. Prepare emergency TRO templates for:

• Federal interference with state election administration
• Mass voter challenges targeting same-day registrants
• Armed federal presence at polling places (18 U.S.C. § 592)
• ICE or DHS operations near polling locations (voter intimidation under the Voting Rights Act)
• Attempts to condition federal election funds on voter data compliance (Minnesota Voter Integrity Act theory)

1. Defend same-day registration. Any legislative or legal attempt to weaken same-day registration would disenfranchise tens of thousands of Minnesota voters. Prepare constitutional challenges under the Minnesota Constitution (Art. VII, §1).

1. Know the post-election timeline:

→ County canvass: 3–10 days after Election Day → State canvass: Within 7 days of final county canvass → Automatic recount threshold: 0.5% for statewide races; 0.25% for other races → Contest period: Within 7 days of the State Canvassing Board’s certification

1. Track the Talwani ruling. Minnesota is a named plaintiff. If the ruling is overturned on appeal, mail ballot voters statewide will need alternative return guidance.

1. Prepare for SAVE database challenges. If the DOJ prevails in United States v. Simon, the unreliable SAVE database could be used to flag legitimate voters for removal. Prepare challenges under the NVRA 90-day quiet period and due process protections.

Key Contacts and Resources

Sources

1. United States v. Simon, DOJ lawsuit for unredacted voter registration data, filed September 2025; motion to dismiss pending.
2. Steve Simon, Secretary of State, public statements on SAVE database and federal interference planning, 2025-2026.
3. KTTC, reporting on SoS Simon’s election defense strategy, 2026.
4. Star Tribune, coverage of Minnesota Voter Integrity Act and DOJ lawsuit, 2025-2026.
5. Austin Daily Herald, Simon interview on federal interference planning, 2026.
6. Democracy Docket, “Minnesota voter data litigation tracker,” democracydocket.com, 2025-2026.
7. DOJ acknowledgment of voter data sharing with DHS, November 2025.
8. Judge Indira Talwani, ruling blocking USPS mail ballot Executive Order, June 25, 2026 — Minnesota as plaintiff.
9. Minnesota Statutes § 204C.12 (voter challenges); Art. VII, §1, Minnesota Constitution (right to vote).
10. Brennan Center for Justice, “Minnesota Voting Laws Update,” brennancenter.org, 2026.
11. 18 U.S.C. § 592 (federal troops at polls).

Factual correction requests: If you believe information in this playbook is incorrect, please contact factcheck@patriot.university with the specific claim and any supporting documentation. We review all submissions and correct verified errors promptly.

Last Updated: July 1, 2026 Research method: Web research via KTTC, Democracy Docket, Star Tribune, Austin Daily Herald, Brennan Center, state SoS website. Evidence tiers applied per PU accountability profile standards.