Election security update
Becky Koosman, City Clerk
Moranda Dammann, Assistant City Manager
Mike Funk, City Manager
Informational only.
Minnetonka security update for the 2026 general election.
Election security in Minnesota involves state, county, and local governments working together to protect voting and ensure accurate results. Minnesota uses paper ballots, while electronic tabulators count the ballots. Voting equipment must be federally and state certified, securely stored, and tested before each election.
Cities play an important role in preparing for elections. Election administrators secure polling places, hire and train election judges, prepare supplies, and administer early voting. Before an election, staff tests voting equipment and conducts public accuracy tests so that members of the public can observe the process.
Security preparation also includes planning for emergencies. Minnesota requires counties to develop an election emergency plan in coordination with municipalities and emergency-management organizations. Minnetonka received training on how to respond to problems such as cybersecurity incidents, physical-security threats, severe weather, and disinformation. In 2026, Minnetonka Elections also created their own specific emergency management plan with police and fire.
After election day, security measures continue. The county conducts post-election reviews in which selected ballots are counted by hand and compared with machine totals. In odd year elections the city is responsible for the post-election review. Election results also go through canvassing and certification before becoming official.
Minnesota's election administration approach combines paper ballots, equipment testing, trained local election workers, emergency planning, public observation, and post-election audits to make elections orderly, secure, and accessible.