The Upper Midwest Law Center (UMLC) announced Thursday that it has filed a petition on behalf of the City of Oak Grove, challenging efforts by Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon and Anoka County election officials to block the city from using paper voter rosters in the 2026 statewide general election.
The petition asks the Minnesota Supreme Court to affirm that Oak Grove has authority under Minnesota law to administer elections within its own precincts, including the decision to use paper voter rosters, UMLC said in a press release.
“Oak Grove is not asking for special treatment,” said Oak Grove Mayor Weston Rolf. “We are asking state and county officials to respect the authority the law already gives cities. Our community made a decision to use paper rosters in our precincts, and local election administration should not be overridden by officials outside City Hall.”
The lawsuit names Simon, Anoka County elections director Tom Hunt, and Pam LeBlanc, chief officer of Anoka County property records and taxation, as respondents.
“Oak Grove has given the legally-required notice of its intent to use paper voter rosters in all its election precincts for the upcoming 2026 general election—but Respondents have refused to cooperate, and seem intent on trying to override Oak Grove’s wishes and to dictate how Oak Grove’s own election judges perform their duties at polling places administered by Oak Grove,” the petition says.
“Indeed, Respondents have gone so far as to threaten Oak Grove personnel with criminal prosecution if they do not administer elections in the way that Respondents demand.”
Doug Seaton, UMLC president, said the case revolves around a simple question: “Can a city make lawful decisions about how to run elections in its own precincts, or can state and county officials override that decision?”
“Oak Grove followed the law and made a careful decision to use paper rosters,” he added. “State and county officials should respect that decision, not threaten local election workers for carrying it out.”
