STATE VISIT - Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon (center) visited with about 50 local community members and leaders regarding election processes and business registration in Minnesota. He spoke at the Waseca County Annex the afternoon of Wednesday, Oct. 8. His visit was coordinated by the Waseca Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism and by the Waseca Area Foundation. Shown here are organization members (from left) Jay Bulfer, Robin Dulas, Amy Potter, Steve Simon, Mikhail Rostislavovich, Penny Vought and Ann Staloch.
Secretary of State Simon visits Waseca County
Wed, 10/22/2025 - 11:45pm
Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon visited Waseca County on Tuesday afternoon as part of his ongoing statewide tour of all 87 counties, The event, held at the Waseca County Annex, was co-hosted by the Waseca Area Chamber of Commerce’s Legislative Committee, and the Waseca Area Foundation gathered almost 50 attendees.
The program opened with remarks from Mikhail Rostislavovich, President of the Waseca Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism and Chair of its Legislative Committee, who welcomed attendees and emphasized the state’s civic strength.
“Minnesota consistently leads the nation in voter participation, and that’s not an accident,” said Rostislavovich. “It’s the product of engaged citizens, strong local partners, and steady leadership at every level.” Amy Potter, Executive Director of the Waseca Area Foundation, followed by thanking the Chamber and County for their partnership. “The goal is to bring people together to be informed and engaged,” she said.
Secretary Simon began his remarks by noting that this is his ninth tour of all 87 counties since first taking office, a tradition he says keeps him grounded in the perspectives of Minnesotans.
“The best ideas don’t come from St. Paul,” he said. “They come from local communities like Waseca.”
Simon highlighted that Minnesota once again led the nation in voter turnout during the 2024 elections, including the highest voter participation among young voters 18 to 29 years old. Regarding Minnesota’s turnout compared to that in other states, Simon summarized, “In Olympic terms, we’re always on the medal stand, usually gold or silver,” Simon said, smiling.
“Minnesotans take voting seriously, and that’s something we should all be proud of.”
He credited the state’s success to “good laws and a good culture of voting,” pointing to same-day registration, available since 1973, and the ability to vote from home as key reasons for Minnesota’s consistent voter engagement.
Addressing national concerns about election security, Simon emphasized that, while his office oversees systems and procedures, it does not count votes. “We never lay a finger on anyone’s ballot,” he said. “That happens locally, in counties, cities, and townships. It’s your friends and neighbors doing the counting, and that’s by design.”
He also explained the safeguards in place for absentee voting, including requirements for personal identification numbers and witness signatures. “We’ve built a system with multiple layers of verification,” he said.
Simon invited community groups, nonprofits, and chambers of commerce to partner with his office in spreading nonpartisan election information through customized toolkits and outreach materials. “We rely on trusted local voices to help Minnesotans know where, when, and how to vote,” he said. “It’s simple information, but it makes all the difference.”
In addition to overseeing elections, Simon noted that the majority of his office’s work involves business services, including managing filings, registrations, and public business records. He discussed the Minnesota Business Snapshot, an optional five-question survey that allows businesses to self-identify characteristics such as being veteran-owned, woman-owned, or minority-owned. The database, he said, helps communities and chambers better understand and support local entrepreneurs.
Simon also described new legislation taking effect in January 2026 to combat business filing fraud, empowering the Secretary of State’s office to remove false filings and restore rightful business ownership without requiring business owners to take legal action.
During a question-and-answer session moderated by Dr. Jay Bulfer, questions ranged from blockchain-based voting to noncitizen eligibility verification and federal data requests. Simon said that while online voting may one day be possible, current technology does not yet meet security standards. He also discussed Minnesota’s refusal to share private voter data with the U.S. Department of Justice without legal justification, noting that several other states have taken similar stands.
When asked about Minnesota’s business climate, Simon confirmed that business filings are at an all-time high, though his office cannot directly track relocations. “We’re seeing record numbers of new filings,” he said. “That’s a strong signal of entrepreneurial energy in the state.” Simon ended the discussion by inviting ongoing dialogue with Minnesotans.
“This is my favorite part of the job, meeting with people face-to-face,” he said. “If you ever have a question, criticism, or idea, email me directly. I read every message myself.”
The event closed with applause from the audience, reflecting appreciation for the open exchange of ideas and reaffirming Waseca County’s commitment to both civic engagement and election integrity.