Plain Talk: ‘People want to know more about their elections. And rightfully so’

MINOT, N.D. — We live in a political environment where it seems everyone is trying to undermine the public’s trust in our election laws.

From the right are baseless claims that the 2020 election was stolen. From the left are claims, such as the one made by Democratic secretary of state candidate Jeffrey Powell , that when politicians talk about election integrity it’s a “code word for voter suppression.”

State Rep. Michael Howe is seeking the NDGOP’s nomination for secretary of state, and he argues that he way through this food fight is transparency. “People want to know more about their elections. And rightfully so,” he said on this episode of Plain Talk.

There is “a lot of misinformation out there,” and the way to combat it is to be “open and transparent.”

Asked about the election conspiracies promoted by former President Donald Trump, Howe, who said he voted for Trump in both 2016 and 2020, said that Joe Biden won the election and that he’s confident votes in North Dakota were counted accurately, though he said he couldn’t speak for what happened in other states.

Howe also discussed claims from his primary opponent , Marvin Lepp, that North Dakota’s voting machines are outdated and insecure.

He expressed support for enhancing reporting requirements for political candidates and committees in North Dakota.

He talked about improving the aspects of the secretary of state’s job that have to do with business filings and land management.

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