Forensics Data Analysis
Our Forensic Analysis team leverages data analytics and statistics to identify potential problems and opportunities in the Minnesota election process.
Our mission is to be a proactive body supporting the other MNEIS sub-committees in their work by being a technical resource with regards to voting technology and leveraging data analytics and statistics to identify potential problem areas in the Minnesota election process.
Objectives:
1. Analyzing MN SoS data for potential problems:
- Voters that may have voted more than once
- Voters who are deceased and yet cast a ballot
- Abnormal number of votes from a particular address
- Voters registered who have no permanent address or an invalid one
- Voters who may not be able to legally cast a vote (felons, mentally incompetent, etc.)
- Students who may have voted at home and at school
- Lack of voter history information or other incomplete voter information for absentee or in-person voters.
2. Reviewing the voting technology used in various counties for:
- Vulnerabilities
- Known issues – as identified in other states – or simply with the technology itself (ie Windows security)
- Improper security procedures, election procedures or certification procedures (or lack thereof)
- Consistency with State law/rules/certification criteria.
- If we believe there is an error in the machine totals, request forensic audits be performed.
3. Performing a county-by-county analysis to identify the most problematic counties
- Where increased Election Judge resources may be warranted
- Early voting Ballot boards may need review/attention
- Procedures are suspect.
4. Provide evidence of potential errors in certain areas so that other sub-committees can take further action:
- Recommendations on potential lawsuits
- Recommendations on where to focus on Ballot Boards and Election Judges
- Recommendations on where legislation could use updating/refining
- Evidence worthy of a Press Release
