JIM HAMMERAND, Staff Writer
Posted: Friday, January 8, 2010 7:42 pm

NORTHFIELD — Mark Ritchie came asking for help.

About 1 million eligible Minnesotans won’t vote this November in an election that will decide Minnesota’s governor, members of Congress and state legislators, Secretary of State Ritchie told a class of Northfield high schoolers Friday morning.

“How are you going to go about getting those people to vote?” asked student Clare Foley.

Ritchie looked at the class, mostly composed of seniors in State Sen. and Northfield history teacher Kevin Dahle’s AP Government class, and laid out his plan of action: remove barriers to voting, familiarize potential voters with the process and address cynicism.

He said he would oppose legislation to require photo identification at the polls, noting that younger voters, especially college students, are allowed to vote where they live but might not have proof in identification.

“The notion that we’re going to prevent people from voting is not something I’m going to support,” Ritchie said.



Student Baret Amundson asked about the feasibility of online voting, which Ritchie said has been tried — and abandoned — elsewhere over security concerns.

“The hackers are pretty smart. The government is pretty smart, but the hackers probably have the advantage,” he said.

Newer voting technology may stymie older voters, but those in Dahle’s class shouldn’t have any problem with electronic ballot scanners.

“Most of you have many years of taking standardized tests and filling in circles,” Ritchie said.

As the school bell chimed, announcing the period’s end, Ritchie implored the students to give their time to help keep Minnesota at the top of the states for voter turnout.

“I want to recruit you all to be election judges,” he said. “Get registered, get ready to vote.”



— Jim Hammerand covers the city. He can be reached at jhammerand@northfieldnews.com or 645-1114.