Current Hennepin County Data Requests including the Pilot KNOWiNK Ballot Printers
And strategy tips for FOIA from Patrick Colbeck
With good intent ask clear questions and follow up.
Most government data, unless classified, is available to citizens.
It is part of our role to ask for it.
In Minnesota in 2022/3 we asked for cast vote records so much that the Legislature (the lobbyists) amended law to make ballot images (of the cast vote record) non-public—why? (This would be a nice election code to change back to original so that the public can be shown the ballot images—the picture of the tabulator scan—match up with the paper ballots… the most obvious way to audit which is not part of standard audit in statute.)
Tips from Patrick Colbeck
https://x.com/pjcolbeck/status/1879585904030867498
FOIA GUIDE: Obtaining information from Government officials
Keep a meticulous paper trail.
If government officials tell a citizen that they are not allowed to provide information that have requested via FOIA, always ask them for the statute that supports their assertion. Read the statute and appeal if warranted.
If it is a rule issued by a regulatory body, ask for a copy of the rule. Read the rule and appeal if warranted.
If it is simply standard operating procedure or an employee directive, advise them that they have insufficient grounds to deny your request. If they continue to obstruct, find a good lawyer and file a lawsuit. The paper trail will come in handy in a court of law.
Requests from Hennepin County
To give an example of some areas I’m digging into, primarily the electronic poll books and the ballot printers from KNOWiNK that were I think (still verifying) piloted in Hennepin in 2024. (Neither head of elections in Hennepin nor KNOWiNK have responded yet.)
Data Request 5 days ago
D050305-010925
Any and all "Setup and Training" documents or manuals (in Attachment 1B (attached for immediate reference) provided from KNOWiNK to Nicole Conlin or any staff within the Hennepin County Elections Department for usability and success of the "Pilot Software" and "Pilot Hardware" in Amendment 2 of Contract A16495. Thank you! - Erik
Status : Assigned
Erik van Mechelen
Data Request 9 days ago
D050203-010625
Email communications between MN OSS, Hennepin County, and KNOWiNK relating to "Pilot Software" and "Pilot Software License"referenced in Attachment 1B of AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO AGREEMENT NO. A164895, including these keywords: - Pilot Software - Pilot Software License - Pilot Hardware - Poll Print Printer - Poll Print Printer Connection Package - Poll Print Cabinet
Status : Assigned
Data Request 9 days ago
D050202-010625
Attachment 1B of AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO AGREEMENT NO. A164895
Status : Full Release w/o Redactions
Data Request 13 days ago
D050146-010225
All email communication between Hennepin County officials and staff and the City of St. Bonifacius officials and staff, including but not limited to Jim Howitt (jim.howitt@hennepin.us), Ginny Gelms, Kristin Sepeta, and Brenda Fisk (brendafisk@st-bonifacius.mn.us) and Rick Weible (then Mayor of St. Bonifacius) regarding: - electronic roster KNOWiNK usage agreement for city in 2016 - electronic roster KNOWiNK county purchase agreement in 2016 - discussions about whether KNOWiNK poll pads were required for St. Bonifacius - any emails referencing in any way the KNOWiNK poll pads or electronic rosters or related statutes, such as Minn Stat §201.225 This may be a large PDF document once rolled up, so thank you in advance for preparing the digital file. Erik
Status : Assigned
Data Request 13 days ago
D050145-010225
Software and service agreement, Contract No A164895 between Hennepin County and KNOWiNK
Status : Full Release w/o Redactions
Data Request 2 years ago
D033181-092922
The records and documentation showing Rick Weible hacked into the KnowInk electronic pollbooks (epollbooks/ipads) that were being pitched to Hennepin municipalities and cities. Rick Weible was mayor of St. Bonifacius at the time and declined to help fix the vulnerability he exploited so as not to have a conflict of interest between himself as a mayor and his computer consulting company.
Status : No Responsive Data Exist
Erik van Mechelen
Data Request 2 years ago
D029177-012322
Dear Hennepin County Data Custodian, Under the Minnesota Data Practices Act § 13.01 et seq., I am requesting to obtain or inspect the full CVR (cast vote record) report for the November 2020 election in your county. This should include batch and tabulator information. ES&S has a standard report that does that. (See sample report If there are any fees for searching or copying these records, please inform me if the cost will exceed $36.90. However, I would also like to request a waiver of all fees in that the disclosure of the requested information is in the public interest and will contribute significantly to the public’s understanding of the cast vote record in your county. This information is not being sought for commercial purposes. I would request a prompt response to this request. If you expect a significant delay in responding to or in fulfilling this request, please contact me with information about when I might expect copies or the ability to inspect the requested records. Please note other counties have already complied with requests for their full CVR report for the November 2020 election. If you deny any or all of this request, please cite each specific exemption you feel justifies the refusal to release the information and notify me of the appeal procedures available to me under the law. Thank you for considering my request. Sincerely, Erik
Status : No Responsive Data Exist
Erik van Mechelen