Dear Fellow Minnesotans,
As a retired U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander, farmer, educator, and Republican candidate for Governor, I have dedicated my campaign to restoring integrity in our elections. Today, I write to you about a critical issue: the Minnesota Secretary of State’s proposed amendments to election administration rules (OAH Docket No. 8-9019-39440; Revisor’s ID R-4824). These rules, which address voter registration, absentee ballots, and voting systems, remain non-compliant with state and federal law, risking fraud and eroding public trust.
I recently received a letter dated September 25, 2025, from Rep. Duane Quam (GOP Co-Chair of the House Elections Finance and Government Operations Committee) and fellow Republican committee members, including Co-Vice Chair Rep. Pam Altendorf, Rep. Joe McDonald, Rep. Jimmy Gordon, Rep. Ben Davis, and Rep. Drew Roach. In it, they submit formal comments to the Secretary of State (SOS), expressing concerns about specific proposed changes and requesting their withdrawal for legislative consideration. I appreciate this step—it demonstrates a willingness to engage in the rulemaking process and highlights problematic areas, such as:
• Mandating counties to accept voter registrations from nonresidents, adding unnecessary costs and delays (Rule 8200.3000).
• Requiring notices to felons convicted of voter law violations, which could complicate administrative processes without clear benefits (Rule 8200.3550).
• Updating vouching rules for residential facilities without mandating proof of employment or residency, potentially allowing unlimited vouching without full statutory reflection (Rule 8200.9940).
• Adding typeface requirements for absentee voter instructions, which may overstep local jurisdiction (Rule 8210.0500).
• Altering mail pickup times for ballots, risking confusion and lawsuits near poll closing (Rule 8210.2500).
This intervention aligns with the committee’s oversight role and echoes broader calls for scrutiny, including my own testimony at the October 10, 2025, public hearing, where I outlined violations of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA, 52 U.S.C. § 20507), Help America Vote Act (HAVA, 52 U.S.C. § 21083), and Minnesota Statutes (§§ 201.071, 201.061). Their action is a positive start, building on Rep. Quam’s July 29, 2025, letter urging SOS Steve Simon to comply with federal voter data requests amid the U.S. Department of Justice’s September 25, 2025, lawsuit against the SOS for obstructing access to voter rolls.
However, this response is insufficient and does not leverage the full authority available to the committee under Minnesota law. The rulemaking process is marred by procedural flaws, including a dormant public docket for over 21 months (violating Minn. Stat. § 14.366’s quarterly update requirement) and technical failures at the October 10 hearing that may have excluded many speakers. Substantively, the proposed rules fail to mandate essential fixes like monthly cross-checks against SSA death records, robust citizenship verification, bans on foreign voting software, or transparent data access—exposing our elections to inflation (3.6 million registered voters against 4.2 million voting-age population), non-citizen vulnerabilities, and potential hacks.
As co-chair, Rep. Quam—and the full committee—possesses significant powers under House Rule 10.01 and Minn. Stat. § 3.193 to go beyond mere comments. I strongly demand that they exercise these authorities fully to protect our Constitutional Republic:
1. Convene Immediate Hearings: Call special informational hearings to summon SOS officials and experts, interrogating the rulemaking’s legal shortcomings and incorporating public input, including problematic testimony from lobbyists like Hana Abdelhamid, who advocated for “progress” on access while ignoring compliance gaps.
2. Demand Audits and Reports: Invoke § 14.116 to require detailed SOS reports on voter roll accuracy, HAVA audits, and NVRA purges, tying directly to the DOJ lawsuit and exposing risks like post-election “ghost” additions.
3. File Stronger Formal Objections: Under § 14.26, submit committee comments rejecting the rules outright and proposing mandatory amendments, such as real-time audits (amend § 201.071), citizenship proofs aligned with the SAVE Act (§ 201.061), and pre-election roll freezes (§ 203B.125).
4. Introduce Legislation: Lead the drafting of bills to override non-compliant rules, mandating U.S.-based encryption for voting systems (§ 206.82), fraud-detection training (§ 206.57), and penalties for roll inflation—redirecting funds to verifiable security measures.
5. Issue Resolutions for Withdrawal: Collaborate across the aisle to pass resolutions urging the SOS to withdraw the rules entirely, ensuring full alignment with federal mandates before adoption.
These steps are not optional; they are essential to fulfill the committee’s oversight mandate in our divided House. Post-hearing comments remain open until October 30, 2025, providing an opportunity for amplified scrutiny—no decisions have been made yet. Minnesotans deserve more than polite requests; we need decisive action to secure fair, verifiable elections ahead of 2026.
I call on you, the public, to demand this from your representatives. Submit your own comments via the Office of Administrative Hearings eComments page. Share this letter, attend future hearings, and hold our leaders accountable. Election integrity is the foundation of our republic—let’s ensure Minnesota’s North Star shines bright with transparency and trust.
For more details, read my full testimony.
Sincerely,
Phillip C. Parrish
Republican Candidate for Governor of Minnesota
Retired LCDR, U.S. Navy
parrish4mn.com | @phillipcparrish on X
###