Minnesota Senate negotiators have agreed to spend a full 6.6 million dollars from the state budget to secure the entire federal grant to make Minnesota’s election system more secure. The House already approved the complete amount under the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), but Senate leaders were reluctant, saying they wanted to make sure the money is used effectively and responsibly. Republican Senator Mary Kiffmeyer from Big Lake says it’s now up to Democratic Secretary of State Steve Simon to use the funds to keep Minnesota’s elections safe and secure.
The measure is part of a larger budget bill that awaits action in an upcoming special session.