Tag: Steve Simon

Will Your Vote be Hacked?

The following article by Britt Robson was posted on the University of Minnesota Alumni Association website as part of their Fall, 2018 issue:

Not while alumnus and Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon stands between voters and danger.

Credit: Mark Luinenburg

Most any Minnesota voter would recognize the thing perched in a corner of Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon’s office on the ground floor of the State Office Building adjoining the Capitol in St. Paul. It seems to be an ordinary voting booth, constructed of standard-issue blue and white plastic on metal legs, with three walls for privacy and a flat surface on which to lay your ballot.

But the voting surface in this booth is disheveled, with white paper dots littered around an open booklet. “This is from Broward County,” says Simon meaningfully.  Continue reading “Will Your Vote be Hacked?”

Top election official to lawmakers: We need help stopping Russian hackers — now

The following article by Dave Orrick was posted on the Pioneer Press website May 16, 2018:

Minnesota’s top election official on Wednesday publicly pleaded with lawmakers to give him permission to spend $1.5 million in federal funds to protect the state’s voter software from Russian hackers and anyone else trying to muck things up  this election year.

“I have tried to sound the alarm without being alarmist,” Secretary of State Steve Simon said Wednesday. “I am today again sounding the alarm. We need these funds.”

To hear Simon tell it, it should be a no-brainer: The money — all federal funds — has already been approved by Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump as part of a nationwide effort to beef up election cyber security in the wake of 2016 attempts to infiltrate a number of states by hackers tied to the Russian government.

Simon just needs the Legislature’s permission to spend it. He said Minnesota is one of the few states where such permission is required. Simon is a Democrat and both the state Senate and House are controlled by Republicans, but he said there’s bipartisan support. Continue reading “Top election official to lawmakers: We need help stopping Russian hackers — now”

Secretary of State Simon Notice of Vacancies for December

Notice of Vacancies in State Boards, Councils and Committees

December 1, 2017 — The Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State today released notice of vacancies for various state boards, councils and committees that are accepting applications. Minnesotans are encouraged to apply and serve in demonstration of public service. The newest vacancies are listed below, and the full list of 561 vacancies can be found on our website Open Positions.

Applications may be submitted online, and must be submitted within 21 days of the “Publish Date” listed on our Open Positions page, to be assured of full consideration by the appointing authority. Appointing authorities may choose to review applications received by the Secretary of State after the 21 day application period.

Please note this additional message:

The State of Minnesota will host a series of information sessions throughout the state to learn about joining a state board or commission. The state will visit seven cities, which include Bemidji, Duluth, Worthington, Rochester, St. Cloud, Minneapolis, and St. Paul in November and December.

Attend an information session to meet others who have served, hear about current opportunities and learn how to apply. Light refreshments will be provided.

To request an ADA accommodation, please contact Civic Engagement Coordinator Mai Thor at 651.539.1165 or mai.thor@state.mn.us at least four business days in advance.

Learn more and register online at mn.gov/mdhr

This project is a joint initiative of the office of Governor Mark Dayton, MN Department of Human Rights, Olmstead Implementation Office and Nexus Community Partners, aimed at increasing the diversity of the States Boards and Commissions.

See our new instructions on HOW TO APPLY at the end of the message.

CURRENT VACANCIES

Below is a list of agencies with new vacancies.
Please visit our website for complete descriptions.

Board of Medical Practice
Vacancies: 1 Seat — Physician

Destination Medical Center Corporation
Vacancies: 1 Seat — Member

 

HOW TO APPLY

Visit the Open Positions page.
Scroll down to find the correct Agency/Board/Council.
Choose the correct seat type, and click button that says APPLY
The system will walk you through creating an application profile.

Page 2 of the application will now allow you to attach the following documents:
• Letter of Interest
• Resume or Biography

Applicants are encouraged to use the online application as the Appointing Authority will have access to your information as soon as it is submitted.

Applications submitted via downloadable application may experience some delay in reaching the Appointing Authority.
Paper applications may be submitted by email to: Open.Appointments@state.mn.us or by mail or in person to:

Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State
180 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
St Paul, MN 55155-1299

In accordance with the Minnesota Open Appointments Law, the Secretary of State acts as an administrator in publishing vacancies, receiving applications and recording appointments. Applications will be reviewed and appointments made by the appointing authorities; questions about specific vacancies and appointments should be directed to the appointing authority. Applications are kept on file for a one-year period.

Minnesota election chief skeptical of Trump panel’s voter information request

The following article by Erin Golden was posted on the StarTribune website June 30, 2017:

Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon said Thursday that he’s “troubled” by a sweeping request from President Donald Trump’s Election Integrity Commission for detailed information about every voter in all 50 states, and he made no guarantee he will comply with it.

Simon said in an interview that his office is reviewing legal issues raised by the request for full voter roll data, including the name, address, party affiliation, last four digits of Social Security numbers and voting history back to 2006 of potentially every voter in every state.

“They’re asking for a lot of stuff, and it’s a lot of personal stuff, on literally millions of people in Minnesota,” Simon said.

A DFLer, Simon said he’s concerned that the Republican officials overseeing the commission, Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach and Vice President Mike Pence, have been what he called “loud and proud” in their support of Trump’s sensational claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2016 election.

“This has the look and feel to me of a sort of precooked, predetermined outcome,” Simon said. Continue reading “Minnesota election chief skeptical of Trump panel’s voter information request”

Secretary of State Simon target of anti-Semitic online post

So, if you thought we were overstating the brass the haters have now to come out of the swamp (probably not the same one the Republican presidential candidate says, but one covered in a deeper, darker brand of muck), the following article by Lorna Benson was posted on the mpr.org website November 1, 2016:

94d493-20150105-010515inauguration07Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon was the target of an anti-Semitic online post accusing him of plotting to steal the election from Donald Trump.

This comes at a time when anti-discrimination advocates have seen an increase in online hate speech aimed at politicians and journalists.

Simon said he stumbled upon the post on Craigslist late Monday night while scanning his news feed for election-related stories. The anonymous commenter referred to Simon with multiple disparaging terms, such as “Jew scum” and “Little Jew Fagot (sic),” and accused him of working to orchestrate a Democratic win for the state. Continue reading “Secretary of State Simon target of anti-Semitic online post”