Partisanship is issue in Secretary of State's raceBy Associated Press
Published October 23rd 2006 in Contra Costa Times
ST. PAUL - Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer's opponents accuse her of partisanship - something they say is inappropriate for the person entrusted with ensuring that Minnesota's elections are run fairly.
Her challengers in the upcoming election say Kiffmeyer has even sought changes in voting procedures to benefit her Republican party.
But Kiffmeyer counters that she's helped push voter turnout up - a traditional goal for the state's top election officer.
Kiffmeyer is seeking a third term as secretary of state at a time when many states are dealing with new voting laws and new voting technology, along with still-fresh memories of disputed election results.
That's why DFL challenger Mark Ritchie said voters know what he means when he claims, "We are heading the way of Ohio and Florida."
The 2000 elections in Florida in 2004 elections in Ohio were marked by allegations of major irregularities.
Independence Party candidate Joel Spoonheim said 95 percent of the voters he talks to have no idea what the secretary of state does.
"But as soon as I remind them of Florida, they say, 'Oh, I get it,'" Spoonheim said.
All four candidates insist they're dedicated to secure and accurate elections and to increasing voter education and participation. While the debate over paperless electronic voting machines is roiling other states, all four candidates in Minnesota say the system needs to maintain a verifiable paper trail.
DFLers have long accused Kiffmeyer of trying to discourage some citizens from voting by challenging Election Day voter registration and proposing that voters be required to produce drivers licenses or other government-issued identification cards at polling places. Critics say such measures discourage older voters who may not have driver's licenses and intimidate new citizens who fear their eligibility to vote will be challenged. Some say these groups tend to favor Democrats.
But Kiffmeyer points out that Minnesota led the nation in voter turnout in 2000, 2002 and 2004 and that participation by some key groups, such as voters younger than 24, has increased substantially during her tenure.
Kiffmeyer said the identification requirements she's proposed are not only needed but will increase turnout by assuring citizens of the integrity of the system. But she acknowledged voter ID rules need to be implemented fairly.
"It should be done in a way that people at poverty level or below get one (ID card) free of charge," she said.
Ritchie counters that voter fraud is "a very, very tiny problem." He suggests her motivation is indeed partisan.
But Kiffmeyer said even a few fraudulent votes can affect the outcome of a close race. She pointed to the gubernatorial race in 1962, when Democrat Karl Rolvaag beat Republican Elmer L. Anderson by a mere 58 votes.
"Besides, it's my duty to uphold the law," she said.
Spoonheim said Republicans and Democrats alike are guilty of seeking advantage through the voting process.
"Both parties want to solidify their bases and discourage others from voting," Spoonheim said. "That's the reason you have these horrific, mean-spirited attack ads. One of the major purposes is to disgust people and turn them off. We should be focused on the 1.7 million Minnesotans who will choose not to vote this year."
A fourth candidate is running with no party affiliation. Roseville attorney Bruce Kennedy said he's the independent antidote to all the allegations of partisanship.
Kennedy is a longtime advocate for instant-runoff voting, an alternative method in which voters rank candidates in order of preference.
Kennedy said Kiffmeyer quietly led an effort in 2004 to help defeat a bill in the Legislature that would have allowed Roseville to experiment with instant-runoff voting in a single City Council election.
"People in charge of elections should be fair and forthright and should not be colluding with members of her party to thwart elections," he said.
Her challengers in the upcoming election say Kiffmeyer has even sought changes in voting procedures to benefit her Republican party.
But Kiffmeyer counters that she's helped push voter turnout up - a traditional goal for the state's top election officer.
Kiffmeyer is seeking a third term as secretary of state at a time when many states are dealing with new voting laws and new voting technology, along with still-fresh memories of disputed election results.
That's why DFL challenger Mark Ritchie said voters know what he means when he claims, "We are heading the way of Ohio and Florida."
The 2000 elections in Florida in 2004 elections in Ohio were marked by allegations of major irregularities.
Independence Party candidate Joel Spoonheim said 95 percent of the voters he talks to have no idea what the secretary of state does.
"But as soon as I remind them of Florida, they say, 'Oh, I get it,'" Spoonheim said.
All four candidates insist they're dedicated to secure and accurate elections and to increasing voter education and participation. While the debate over paperless electronic voting machines is roiling other states, all four candidates in Minnesota say the system needs to maintain a verifiable paper trail.
DFLers have long accused Kiffmeyer of trying to discourage some citizens from voting by challenging Election Day voter registration and proposing that voters be required to produce drivers licenses or other government-issued identification cards at polling places. Critics say such measures discourage older voters who may not have driver's licenses and intimidate new citizens who fear their eligibility to vote will be challenged. Some say these groups tend to favor Democrats.
But Kiffmeyer points out that Minnesota led the nation in voter turnout in 2000, 2002 and 2004 and that participation by some key groups, such as voters younger than 24, has increased substantially during her tenure.
Kiffmeyer said the identification requirements she's proposed are not only needed but will increase turnout by assuring citizens of the integrity of the system. But she acknowledged voter ID rules need to be implemented fairly.
"It should be done in a way that people at poverty level or below get one (ID card) free of charge," she said.
Ritchie counters that voter fraud is "a very, very tiny problem." He suggests her motivation is indeed partisan.
But Kiffmeyer said even a few fraudulent votes can affect the outcome of a close race. She pointed to the gubernatorial race in 1962, when Democrat Karl Rolvaag beat Republican Elmer L. Anderson by a mere 58 votes.
"Besides, it's my duty to uphold the law," she said.
Spoonheim said Republicans and Democrats alike are guilty of seeking advantage through the voting process.
"Both parties want to solidify their bases and discourage others from voting," Spoonheim said. "That's the reason you have these horrific, mean-spirited attack ads. One of the major purposes is to disgust people and turn them off. We should be focused on the 1.7 million Minnesotans who will choose not to vote this year."
A fourth candidate is running with no party affiliation. Roseville attorney Bruce Kennedy said he's the independent antidote to all the allegations of partisanship.
Kennedy is a longtime advocate for instant-runoff voting, an alternative method in which voters rank candidates in order of preference.
Kennedy said Kiffmeyer quietly led an effort in 2004 to help defeat a bill in the Legislature that would have allowed Roseville to experiment with instant-runoff voting in a single City Council election.
"People in charge of elections should be fair and forthright and should not be colluding with members of her party to thwart elections," he said.