Minnesota voter vouching law faces scrutiny after viral video

A viral video released by activists James O’Keefe and Cam Higby has sparked renewed scrutiny of Minnesota’s voter “vouching” law. The footage, which has garnered millions of views on social media, depicts the pair visiting Minneapolis polling places where they claim poll workers allowed them to register voters without traditional identification by using the vouching process.

Under Minnesota law, a registered voter can vouch for up to eight unregistered individuals to confirm their residency at the polls. While the Secretary of State’s Office maintains that voters must still provide a driver’s license or social security number for identity verification, the activists’ video suggests otherwise. Data from America First Legal indicated that 18,898 people utilized this law to update or establish voter registration in Minnesota during 2024.

In response, Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon has criticized the activists, stating they used concealed cameras and released edited footage to cast doubt on long-standing election laws. Officials have indicated that the activists may face legal consequences for their methods.