With two weeks before Election Day, Governor Walz, Attorney General Ellison encourage Minnesotans to participate in democracy safely

October 20, 2020 (SAINT PAUL) — With two weeks to go before Election Day, Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison issued the following statement to encourage Minnesotans to participate in democracy safely and highlight the State’s efforts to ensure that campaign events are held safely during the COVID-19 pandemic:

“With two weeks before Election Day, Minnesota is fully engaged in this momentous political season. Minnesotans are proud to tout the highest voter turnout in the nation, and many look forward to hearing from or participating in campaigns during this final stretch.

“While we welcome the opportunity for Minnesotans to participate in democracy, we must do so in a way that keeps our communities safe from COVID-19. The science is clear: Large numbers of people gathering for extended periods of time risks spreading this deadly virus. To date, more than 8 million Americans — including 120,000 Minnesotans —have contracted this deadly virus, and 218,000 Americans — including 2,200 Minnesotans —have died from it. The pandemic is currently on the rise in Minnesota and dramatically on the rise in every state that borders Minnesota. That’s why Governor Walz previously asked both the Trump and Biden campaigns to ensure that their campaign events abide by state requirements designed to stop the spread of COVID-19 in Minnesota.

“The Attorney General’s Office, along with its partners at the Minnesota Department of Health and Department of Labor and Industry, have contacted the organizers of more than 70 large indoor and outdoor community events of all kinds across Minnesota in the last several months to ensure they understand their responsibility to comply with these safety requirements. This includes the organizers of in-person political events. We continue to reach out to organizers, assist them in complying with safety regulations, and hold them accountable for protecting the health of Minnesotans — no matter the nature or political affiliation of the event.

“In these last 14 days, Minnesotans have countless ways to express their ideas and passions safely. We encourage all campaigns to protect the safety of Minnesotans. We all must do our part to combat the spread of COVID-19.”