Concerns over the handling of Bloomington's ballots were briefly raised after a vehicle containing sealed transfer cases of votes was photographed with its hatch open at Edina City Hall. The City of Bloomington, in a statement posted on its website, assured the integrity of the transportation process, confirming that all ballots from the dates of October 11 through October 17 were accounted for and unaltered.
In response to the incident, the details divulged by the city highlighted that all proper procedures were observed during the transfer to Hennepin County. "The seal numbers on the City of Bloomington transfer cases were recorded prior to leaving Bloomington Civic Plaza and were still intact upon arrival at Hennepin County," as per the city's website. This secured chain of custody was imperative to maintaining public trust in a robust plan for election material security.
Voters with concerns about the status of their ballots can utilize the tracking system at mnvotes.org. The portal offers transparency and real-time monitoring, assuring citizens that their votes are being processed. It was made clear that the opportunity to vote again had passed, as the "claw back period ended on October 17, 2024," as detailed by the City of Bloomington. These accepted ballots are now in the process of being tabulated as the city prepares for election day.
