Organization found 2024 election was fair, orderly

By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent

The League of Women Voters conducted a 2024 post-election review of 43 of Minnesota’s 87 counties, including the election process in Otter Tail County. Findings were reviewed to county commissioners on April 14 by Teresa Muckala, a member of the League of Women Voters who resides in Homestead Township north of New York Mills.

“I was among 160 trained, nonpartisan observers who found the election process in the 43 counties to be fair and orderly, with only minor discrepancies due to human error,” Muckala said. “We left with full confidence in the accuracy of election results.”

She added that election officials were welcoming to League of Women Voters across the state of Minnesota.

“After every general election, the state of Minnesota requires each county to conduct a post-election review when paper ballots are hand-counted to ensure they match the machine totals,” Muckala said. “This ensures the election reflects the will of its voters.”

  Muckala observed the post-election review in Otter Tail County and noted the count was accurate.

The League of Women Voters, founded in 1920, is nonpartisan and has a mission of empowering voters and defending democracy. To that end, they not only want to ensure confidence in the election process but also host public candidate open forums to encourage informed and active participation on the part of voters.

Election errors in 2024, she said, were addressed via recounts, courts and legislation. “Transparent certification supports public trust,” she added.

The review of the election process in 43 of Minnesota’s 87 counties included a hand count of paper ballots for randomly selected precincts to be compared to machine tabulation. “Observers gained confidence in the voting system in Minnesota,” Muckala said.

Muckala and other Otter Tail County residents who are members of the League of Women Voters are proud that for more than 100 years the league has been a trusted source for nonpartisan voter registration and education.

“We also are part of a proud tradition of voter access and voter integrity,” Muckala said. “Together, with local election judges from both major parties, there is verification of elections to ensure that all votes are correctly counted, using the many safeguards that we have in place.”

The League of Women Voters Minnesota conducts candidate forums to provide the public with an opportunity to hear candidates discuss the issues that are important to members of the public. The League is a nonpartisan organization that does not support or oppose any political party or candidate. 

Views expressed in each forum are those of the candidates, not those of the League of Women Voters.