Charges are flying that post-election lawsuits, press releases, talking points and media (un)availabilities are smearing — or worse, interfering in —  Minnesota’s election process, and sliming — or worse, intentionally intimidating — the state’s election officials. Setting aside for the moment the current and serious question of whether intimidation tactics are in play, it’s worth hearing out two Minnesota Independent commenters, self-identified election judges both, who say they don’t feel slimed by basic calls for reviews, recounts and investigations. A sample:

I am not at all insulted … I try to be understanding of why people feel suspicious. …  I encourage everyone to just chill … I want all votes to be counted properly …

Stephanie wrote:

I am a head election judge in an Anoka County precinct and I am not at all insulted by the requirement for a statewide recount. It might feel different if only certain counties or precincts were picked out for a recount, but in an election with < .01% variance a manual recount of every ballot seems like a reasonable precaution.

It is my experience that virtually all election judges are doing their best to ensure that all election laws are followed to the best of our ability, but we don’t dispute the obvious — that neither human officials nor our voting technology are perfect. I suspect that the vote totals for both candidates will go up as a result of a manual recount, simply because there are a certain number of ballots in which the voter’s intent will be obvious to human counters but not to the optical scanner.

I know that some voters are suspicious of elections officials and after the disaster of the 2000 Florida election I try to be understanding of why people feel suspicious. I don’t, however, think that Ms. Janacek is expressing honest concern. This is her usual MO of disingenuously spreading BS when she actually knows better.

I am pleased by the way the Secretary of State has handled himself so far. I encourage everyone to just chill and let the process provided for by our laws be carried out. It will be carefully supervised both by those entrusted by law and by representatives of both parties so there is little opportunity for anything to happen other than a higher degree of certainty.

Marie wrote:

Isn’t it interesting that the Republicans sound like they are against due process (the recount) and against state rights (it is a MN law to recount under .5 percent). The votes will fall where they may.

I am an election judge as well. I want all votes to be counted properly and at this minimal difference, it’s imperative that it be done by hand. The process will start about Nov 19th and take as long as necessary. I think the Republican anger is partially because they were out spent this whole election cycle. Normally it’s the Democrats who are short on cash. . . this time it was the Republicans.

(Note that these comments came in Nov. 9, before the latest round of charges and counter-charges.)