Minnesota Supreme Court orders bipartisan judges for Minneapolis early voting

In a recent ruling, the Minnesota Supreme Court instructed Minneapolis to recruit bipartisan election judges for its early-voting locations, covering the 18-day window prior to Election Day. The order stems from a complaint by a voter advocacy organization alleging that the city relied on nonpartisan officials—city clerks and municipal employees—to perform tasks customarily assigned to election judges. These judges are tasked with resolving voter disputes and providing assistance to individuals who require help marking their ballots.

The court concluded there was no legal basis to restrict such duties to the official Election Day. Consequently, the city must now appoint judges from both major parties to oversee early voting operations. The decision reinforces state election statutes and aims to ensure consistent voter support throughout the entire voting period.