Editorial: Re-elect Ritchie as Secretary of State

• Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie

Secretary of State Mark Ritchie listens to a Norm Coleman attorney’s argument Thursday during the State Canvassing Board’s review of ballots challenged during the U.S. Senate recount. Pioneer Photo/Scott Wente

Talk about it

When Mark Ritchie was elected Minnesota’s Secretary of State in November 2006, he probably never imagined what would take place during his initial four-year term.

What happened, of course, was the 2008 U.S. Senate race, which went into an overtime period that at times seemed would never end. Ultimately, of course, there was a conclusion, and it was reached with Ritchie’s steady leadership.

We have no doubt that some Republicans will continue to blame Ritchie, a Democrat, for GOP candidate Norm Coleman’s loss to DFLer Al Franken. Those sorts of feelings are misplaced. Ritchie not only handled the Senate recount in a professional manner, but followed it with inquiries as to how Minnesota elections could improve. Changes since include moving the primary date to give military members a better chance of returning absentee ballots, as well as counting of absentee ballots at a central location.

Ritchie will almost certainly continue to look at ways of further increasing the integrity of the election process. He is also determined to continue helping people across Minnesota start and maintain successful businesses. Ritchie has said that this sort of work is most of what his office does — something that may be not realized by more than a few.

The GOP-endorsed candidate for Secretary of State, Dan Severson, has emphasized the need for a photo ID requirement in elections. But we see this suggestion as making the voting process more difficult, and potentially leaving some citizens away from the polls.

We endorse Mark Ritchie’s bid for a second four-year term.

Tags: opinion, editorials, minnesota, politics