Minnesota City of Oak Grove Electronic Roster Challenge

An anti-voting lawsuit challenging a Minnesota law requiring electronic rosters over paper rosters at polling sites.

Background

The City of Oak Grove filed a petition with the Minnesota Supreme Court seeking an order allowing the city to use paper rosters for the midterm election. The city asserts that Minnesota election law allows each city to decide whether to use electronic or paper voter rosters. However, they argue that state and county election officials are “trying to distort the law” to say only county election officials may make this determination, not city or municipal officials. Even though the city had an agreement with the county to use electronic rosters, city officials now believe it is “more appropriate” to use paper rosters. The lawsuit asks the state’s highest court to allow the city to implement the change before the November election.

Why It Matters

Electronic voter rosters provide numerous benefits to election administration, including helping reduce wait times, decrease the likelihood of errors, increase voter participation, and strengthen confidence in elections, according to an amicus brief filed by the League of Women Voters Minnesota in the case. By only using paper rosters – instead of electronic rosters with mandatory paper backups – paper-only jurisdictions “have no comparable backup system” and are “uniquely vulnerable to risks such as accidental damage, … or intentional interference.” 

Latest Updates

• Jun 29, 2026: The League of Women Voters Minnesota filed its amicus brief in opposition to the city’s petition.
• July 22, 2026: State and county election officials filed their response brief.
• June 22, 2026: The City of Oak Grove filed its opening brief.
• May 28, 2026: The City of Oak Grove filed its petition.