Minnesota formally casts its 10 electoral votes for Biden

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota’s electors on Monday formally cast the state’s 10 electoral votes for Democratic President-elect Joe Biden as Secretary of State Steve Simon hailed the orderly process as verification that democracy worked in America this year.

It took under 25 minutes for the 10 electors to affirm Biden’s victory in Minnesota and just 40 minutes to complete the paperwork and adjourn without incident or debate. The electors, all wearing masks because of the coronavirus pandemic, spread out across the mostly empty Minnesota House chamber to vote and sign a stack of documents.

Biden defeated Republican President Donald Trump with 52.4% to 45.3% of the vote to preserve a long Democratic winning streak in Minnesota. The last time the state backed a Republican for president was in 1972: Richard Nixon. But Trump’s narrow loss to Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016 in Minnesota put the state in the unusual position of being a presidential battleground this campaign.

Simon, wearing a black mask that read “VOTE,” explained to the electors and people watching remotely how Minnesota law awards all its electoral votes to the winner of the state’s popular vote. The Democrat said the debate over whether to abolish the Electoral College or otherwise change the system to more closely follow the national popular vote will continue.

“But our law in Minnesota is clear, and today we honor and follow that law,” Simon told the assembly.

The secretary’s remarks were clearly aimed at Trump and his supporters who have not accepted the election results.

“There are those in our country who have tried to cast doubt on the outcome of the election,” he said. “But the votes have been properly cast, counted, and in some cases recounted. The results have been certified. Courts nationwide have affirmed the outcomes are procedurally fair and accurate. This meeting of the Electoral College in Minnesota and in all other U.S. jurisdictions will be the latest verification and validation that democracy worked in America in 2020.”

Simon paid tribute to the local election officials and poll workers statewide who succeeded despite the pandemic and other challenges, the voters who led the nation in turnout at just under 80%, and the electors for faithfully serving.

“In too much of the world, a change in government comes only through force. We Americans don’t do that. We have our differences — often strong ones— but we are committed to the rule of law. Whether we agree or disagree with the outcome that the laws have produced, we respect and honor that outcome nonetheless,” Simon said.