A hotline set up to monitor voting problems received 599 calls and recorded 77 serious issues on election day, according to a report by Take Action Minnesota. Among the problems documented through the “election protection” hotline: an elderly, disabled voter denied assistance in filling out her ballot; voting equipment that wasn’t operational at one North Minneapolis polling location when the doors opened; and (as previously reported in MnIndy) interpreters and challengers at the Brian Coyle Center seeking to improperly influence the voting decisions of residents.

“I dont think that the problems Minnesota experienced were overwhelming in nature,” said Dan McGrath (pictured), executive director of TakeAction, at a press conference this afternoon. “I think by and large this election was successful for voters. But there were problems at the polls and it’s important that they’re looked into and we continue to improve on our democracy.”

The hotline received a total of 1,122 calls between October 1 and election day. All of the reports are documented in a searchable database. Any voting irregularities are likely to receive heightened scrutiny this year given the extraordinarily tight U.S. Senate race.

TakeAction Minnesota and its partner organizations are recommending four changes in election practices to bolster voter participation and limit problems in the future. The groups want Minnesota to implement automatic voter registration, whereby eligible residents would be on the rolls unless they chose to opt out. In addition, they believe voting rights for felons should be restored upon leaving prison, rather than after they get off probation, as is currently the practice. The organizations are also seeking additional training for election judges and “no-excuse” absentee voting, under which voters wouldn’t have to provide a justification for why they’re voting in that manner. “Anthing we can do to reduce long lines and make it easier for folks to participate is a positive reform,” McGrath said.