Minnesota Supreme Court dismisses GOP lawsuit trying to stop election certification

Josh Skluzacek
[KSTP]

The Minnesota Supreme Court on Friday rejected a lawsuit filed by Second Congressional Candidate Tyler Kistner aiming to stop the state’s election certification.

In the lawsuit, the GOP asked for a full recount of state and federal offices on the ballot. The lawsuit challenged a previous district court order suspending witness requirements for absentee and mail ballots in the 2020 election and challenged the process used by some counties in postelection reviews.

The state’s high court ruled the witness requirement was waived well before the election and shouldn’t have been challenged afterward. Additionally, it said a full recount regardless of vote margins between candidates "would impose unacceptable burdens on voters and election officials alike."

As for the process used in postelection reviews, Chief Justice Lorie Gildea said state law requires specific county election officials accused of wrongdoing to be served certain documents. Given the GOP didn’t serve any county election officials and only sued the Secretary of State, that count was also dismissed.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison reacted on Twitter, saying, "BREAKING: MN Supreme Court has dismissed an unfounded lawsuit to block the certification of Minnesota’s already-certified election. Proud of my office for defending the safest and highest-turnout election in America and the clear will of the voters."