SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Yesterday, just five days before election day, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that absentee ballots in Minnesota must be returned by Election Day. This ruling, which came at the behest of Republicans, overturned an agreement that has been in place since August. As a part of that August agreement, state and national Republicans stipulated that absentee ballots postmarked by Election Day and received within seven days would be accepted.
DFL Party Chairman Ken Martin released the following statement on today’s ruling from the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals:
“Today’s ruling by the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals is an attack on democracy brought about by a Republican Party desperate to stifle the voices of Minnesotans across our state. This absurd and misguided opinion will toss out the rules that have been in place since before voting began in September. Now, with just five days before election day, and Republicans surely heading for defeat at the polls, the Republican Party is responsible for potentially disenfranchising thousands of Minnesotans who were prepared to vote by mail in the coming days.
“I urge the people of Minnesota to return any outstanding mail-in ballots in-person as soon as possible. The reason the Republican Party is attacking your right to vote is because of the power of that vote to change our state and country. The Republicans are so desperate to win they are willing to trample on our most fundamental right as Americans – the right to vote. Despite their disgusting maneuvers, this ruling cannot and will not stop the people of Minnesota from holding Republicans accountable for failing us during this pandemic.”