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Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon

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After the November 2024 election, numerous stories emerged about how voter turnout was high—the second-highest in a century, in fact, second only to 2020. Yet turnout nationwide was under 64 percent. Over 1/3 of eligible voters did not show up. How can we celebrate strong voter engagement or an electoral mandate when more people didn’t vote than voted for the winner?  But at least one state has consistently been among the top in voter turnout. Minnesota, the Land of Ten Thousand Lakes, has a strong culture of democratic engagement. Joining us to discuss Minnesota’s success is its Secretary of State, Steve Simon. Secretary Simon is a former five-time member of the Minnesota House of Representatives and has been elected to the office of Secretary of State three times. Secretary Simon is particularly proud of his state’s record on voter turnout.  

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Joshua A. Douglas is a law professor at the University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law. He is the author of the forthcoming book "The Court v. The Voters: The Troubling Story of How the Supreme Court Has Undermined Voting Rights" and "Vote for US: How to Take Back Our Elections and Change the Future of Voting."Find him at www.joshuaadouglas.com
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