--- title: AbstractsPrimary date: D:20260813162739-05'00' --- ## City of Ramsey ## Agenda ## Canvassing Board Wednesday, August 19, 2026 4:00 pm ## Lake Itasca Room, 7550 Sunwood Drive NW Remote Attendance available at www.cityoframsey.com/meetings. Those joining remotely and requesting to speak are asked to use a webcam when speaking. 1.Call to Order 2.Citizen Input 3.Approve Agenda 4.Commission Business 1.Declare the Results of the Recount of the At-Large Race for the August 11, 2026 Primary Election 5.Mayor/Council/Staff Input 6.Adjournment Our Mission: To work together to responsibly grow our community, and to provide quality, cost-effective, and efficient government services 4. 1. ## Canvassing Board ## Meeting Date: 08/19/2026 ## Primary Strategic Plan Initiative: Enhance City’s communication through transparency and accountability. ## Information ## Title: Declare the Results of the Recount of the At-Large Race for the August 11, 2026 Primary Election ## Purpose/Background: The purpose of this case is to accept and declare the results of the recount of the At-Large race that appeared on the August 11, 2026, Primary Election ballot. The three candidates on the ballot for the At-Large Council Seat included: Justin Dahl, Kelly Muchowski and Debra Musgrove. Justin Dahl received 1,286 votes, Kelly Muchowski received 1,301 votes, and Debra Musgrove received 1,507 votes. The second and third candidates are separated by 15 votes (less than 0.5%), and, in accordance with Minnesota Statues, Section 204C.36, the recount will be publicly funded and conducted by hand by six election judges. The recount took place on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at the Anoka County Government Center. The recount concluded with a three-vote change. Three ballots previously categorized as "other" (under vote, over vote, or vote for Debra Musgrove) were determined to be votes for Justin Dahl. Each of those ballots contained a very light/faint marking at the top, bottom or through the ballot oval. As per State Statutes, the City Council must serve as a Canvassing Board to accept and declare the results of a local election. The Primary Election was held on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. All 9 polling places were open for voting from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Residents also had the opportunity to vote absentee if they chose, either at Ramsey City Hall, at Anoka County Elections Department, or by mail. The recount worksheet is attached along with an updated Abstract. ## Funding Source: Not applicable. ## Recommendation: Staff recommends accepting and declaring the recount results of the At-Large race for the August 11, 2026, Primary Election. ## Outcome/Action: Motion to accept and declare the recount results of the At-Large race for the August 11, 2026, Primary Election. ## Attachments ## Minnesota Statute 204C.36 ## Ramsey Recount Worksheet ## Abstract ## Form Review ## InboxReviewed ByDate ## Brian HagenBrian Hagen08/17/2026 03:16 PM ## Form Started By: Katie SchmidtStarted On: 08/17/2026 02:44 PM ## Final Approval Date: 08/17/2026 ## 204C.36 RECOUNTS IN COUNTY, SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.​ Subdivision 1.Publicly funded recounts.(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c), a losing​ candidate for nomination or election to a county, municipal, or school district office may request a recount​ of the votes cast for the nomination or election to that office if the difference between the vote cast for that​ candidate and for a winning candidate for nomination or election is less than one-quarter of one percent of​ the total votes counted for that office. In case of offices where two or more seats are being filled from among​ all the candidates for the office, the one-quarter of one percent difference is between the elected candidate​ with the fewest votes and the candidate with the most votes from among the candidates who were not elected.​ (b) A losing candidate for nomination or election to a county, municipal, or school district office may​ request a recount of the votes cast for nomination or election to that office if the difference between the​ votes cast for that candidate and for a winning candidate for nomination or election is less than one-half of​ one percent, and the total number of votes cast for the nomination or election of all candidates is more than​ 400 but less than 50,000. In cases of offices where two or more seats are being filled from among all the​ candidates for the office, the one-half of one percent difference is between the elected candidate with the​ fewest votes and the candidate with the most votes from among the candidates who were not elected.​ (c) A losing candidate for nomination or election to a county, municipal, or school district office may​ request a recount of the votes cast for nomination or election to that office if the difference between the vote​ cast for that candidate and for a winning candidate for nomination or election is ten votes or less, and the​ total number of votes cast for the nomination or election of all candidates is no more than 400. In cases of​ offices where two or more seats are being filled from among all the candidates for the office, the ten vote​ difference is between the elected candidate with the fewest votes and the candidate with the most votes from​ among the candidates who were not elected.​ (d) Candidates for county offices shall file a written request for the recount with the county auditor.​ Candidates for municipal or school district offices shall file a written request with the municipal or school​ district clerk as appropriate. All requests under this paragraph shall be filed between the close of the canvass​ of a primary or special primary and 5:00 p.m. on the fifth day after the canvass of a primary or special​ primary or between the close of the canvass of a special or general election and 5:00 p.m. on the seventh​ day of the canvass of a special or general election for which a recount is sought.​ (e) Upon receipt of a request made pursuant to this section, the county auditor shall recount the votes​ for a county office at the expense of the county, the governing body of the municipality shall recount the​ votes for a municipal office at the expense of the municipality, and the school board of the school district​ shall recount the votes for a school district office at the expense of the school district.​ Subd. 2.Discretionary candidate recounts.(a) A losing candidate for nomination or election to a​ county, municipal, or school district office may request a recount in the manner provided in this section at​ the candidate's own expense when the vote difference is greater than the difference required by subdivision​ 1, paragraphs (a) to (e). The votes shall be manually recounted as provided in this section if the requesting​ candidate files with the county auditor, municipal clerk, or school district clerk a bond, cash, or surety in an​ amount set by the governing body of the jurisdiction or the school board of the school district for the payment​ of the recount expenses.​ (b) The requesting candidate may provide the filing officer with a list of up to three precincts that are​ to be recounted first and may waive the balance of the recount after these precincts have been counted. If​ the candidate provides a list, the recount official must determine the expenses for those precincts in the​ manner provided by paragraph (b).​ ## Official Publication of the State of Minnesota​ ## Revisor of Statutes​ ## 204C.36​MINNESOTA STATUTES 2025​1​ (c) A discretionary recount of a primary must not delay delivery of the notice of nomination to the​ winning candidate under section 204C.32.​ (d) The results of the recount must be certified by the canvassing board as soon as possible.​ (e) If the winner of the race is changed by the optional recount, the cost of the recount must be paid by​ the jurisdiction conducting the recount.​ (f) If a result of the vote counting in the manual recount is different from the result of the vote counting​ reported on election day by a margin greater than two votes and greater than one-quarter of one percent of​ the number of ballots recounted, the cost of the recount must be paid by the jurisdiction conducting the​ recount.​ Subd. 3.Discretionary ballot question recounts.A recount for a ballot question may be requested by​ any person eligible to vote on the ballot question. A written request for a recount must be filed with the​ filing officer of the county, municipality, or school district placing the question on the ballot and must be​ accompanied by a petition containing the signatures of 25 voters eligible to vote on the question. Upon​ receipt of a written request when the difference between the votes for the question and the number required​ for passage is less than or equal to the difference provided in subdivision 1, the county auditor shall recount​ the votes for a county question at the expense of the county, the governing body of the municipality shall​ recount the votes for a municipal question at the expense of the municipality, and the school board of the​ school district shall recount the votes for a school district question at the expense of the school district. If​ the difference between the votes for the question and the number required for passage is greater than the​ difference provided in subdivision 1, the person requesting the recount shall also file with the filing officer​ of the county, municipality, or school district a bond, cash, or surety in an amount set by the appropriate​ governing body for the payment of recount expenses. The written request, petition, and any bond, cash, or​ surety required must be filed during the time for notice of contest for the election for which the recount is​ requested.​ Subd. 4.Expenses.In the case of a question, a person, or a candidate requesting a discretionary recount,​ is responsible for the following expenses: the compensation of the secretary of state, or designees, and any​ election judge, municipal clerk, county auditor, administrator, or other personnel who participate in the​ recount; necessary supplies and travel related to the recount; the compensation of the appropriate canvassing​ board and costs of preparing for the canvass of recount results; and any attorney fees incurred in connection​ with the recount by the governing body responsible for the recount.​ Subd. 5.Notice of contest.Time for notice of contest of a nomination or election to a county office​ which is recounted pursuant to this section shall begin to run upon certification of the results of the recount​ by the county canvassing board. Time for notice of contest of a nomination or election to a municipal office​ which is recounted pursuant to this section shall begin to run upon certification of the results by the governing​ body of the municipality. Time for notice of contest of a school district election that is recounted under this​ subdivision begins to run on certification of the results of the recount by the school board.​ Subd. 6.Scope of recount.A recount conducted as provided in this section is limited in scope to the​ determination of the number of votes validly cast for the office or question to be recounted. Only the ballots​ cast in the election and the summary statements certified by the election judges may be considered in the​ recount process.​ History: 1981 c 29 art 5 s 36; 1987 c 266 art 1 s 47; 1989 c 291 art 1 s 15; 1Sp2001 c 10 art 18 s 29,30;​ 2004 c 293 art 2 s 28; 2008 c 336 s 4; 2010 c 201 s 46,47; 2013 c 131 art 2 s 39; 2015 c 70 art 1 s 44,45;​ 2021 c 31 art 3 s 13; 2024 c 112 art 2 s 35,36​ ## Official Publication of the State of Minnesota​ ## Revisor of Statutes​ ## 2​MINNESOTA STATUTES 2025​204C.36​ Ramsey Council Member at Large Recount Worksheet ## Primary Election Tuesday, August 11, 2026 County - Anoka, Recount - Ramsey Council Member at Large PrecinctAug 11th Votes for DahlAug 11th Votes for Murchowski"Other" BallotsRecount Votes for DahlRecount Votes for MuchowskiRecount All Other BallotsBallots Challenged by Dahl ## Ballots Challenged by Muchowski ## Ballots Challenged by Both ## Ramsey Wl - Pl 205 218301 )6k h>% ## ,7 D?) ## Ramsey Wl - P2 135 169 247 13 r l u'l 2% Th ## Ramsey W2 - PI 160117245 )(.p0 ) 11 hur ## Ramsey W2 - P2 208218372 7, 0 % hs 'E 312 ## Ramsey W3 - PI 186 173287 ) \,1 ## 1132-\'L ## Ramsey W3 - P2 69 4690 (,"l (,,) (,p "40 ## Ramsey W3 - P3 67 94109 (xl ## 'J-/ )Oo! ## Ramsey W4 - PI 137 146286 ## 1'3 I 'i'l! 'a \l,;, ## Ramsey W4 - P2 119 120251 ## J)O 1;30';'-9) ## TOTALS 1,286 1,3012,188 ## 1')-T9 ilO I ll Tr o o o We certify that the numbers entered on this recount summary statement correctly show the recounted number of votes for each candidate in this recount. Date: -o "5 ## Abstract of Votes Cast In the Precincts of the City of Ramsey ## State of Minnesota at the State Primary ## Held Tuesday, August 11, 2026 as compiled from the official returns. Abstract print version 48883, generated 8/13/2026 4:27:39 PM ## KEY TO PARTY ABBREVIATIONS ## NP - Nonpartisan ## NP - Nonpartisan ## Council Member At Large (Ramsey) ## NP ## Justin Dahl 1289 ## NP ## Debra Musgrove 1507 ## NP ## Kelly Muchowski 1301 ## Summary of Totals ## City of Ramsey ## Tuesday, August 11, 2026 State Primary ## Summary of Totals ## City of Ramsey ## Tuesday, August 11, 2026 State Primary Number of persons registered as of 7 a.m.20590 Number of persons registered on Election Day106 Number of accepted regular, military, and overseas absentee ballots and mail ballots938 Number of federal office only absentee ballots0 Number of presidential absentee ballots0 Total number of persons voting4775 Abstract print version 48883, generated 8/13/2026 4:27:39 PM Page 1 of 5 ## Detail of Election Results ## City of Ramsey ## Tuesday, August 11, 2026 State Primary ## PrecinctPersons Registered as of 7 A.M. ## Persons Registered ## on Election Day ## Total Number of ## Persons Voting ## 02 2605 : RAMSEY W-1 P-1 28479724 ## 02 2610 : RAMSEY W-1 P-2 194510551 ## 02 2705 : RAMSEY W-2 P-1 19937522 ## 02 2710 : RAMSEY W-2 P-2 308317798 ## 02 2805 : RAMSEY W-3 P-1 367919646 ## 02 2810 : RAMSEY W-3 P-2 8315205 ## 02 2815 : RAMSEY W-3 P-3 140914270 ## 02 2905 : RAMSEY W-4 P-1 263514569 ## 02 2910 : RAMSEY W-4 P-2 216811490 ## City of Ramsey Total:205901064775 Page 2 of 5 ## Detail of Election Results ## City of Ramsey ## Tuesday, August 11, 2026 State Primary ## Office Title: Council Member At Large (Ramsey) ## PrecinctNP ## Justin Dahl ## NP ## Debra Musgrove ## NP ## Kelly Muchowski ## 2 2605 : RAMSEY W-1 P-1 206226218 ## 2 2610 : RAMSEY W-1 P-2 135174169 ## 2 2705 : RAMSEY W-2 P-1 160163117 ## 2 2710 : RAMSEY W-2 P-2 208258218 ## 2 2805 : RAMSEY W-3 P-1 187209173 ## 2 2810 : RAMSEY W-3 P-2 696546 ## 2 2815 : RAMSEY W-3 P-3 677094 ## 2 2905 : RAMSEY W-4 P-1 137157146 ## 2 2910 : RAMSEY W-4 P-2 120185120 ## Total:128915071301 Page 3 of 5 We certify that we have herein specified the names of the candidates receiving votes and the number of votes received by each candidate, and have specified the number of votes for and against any question voted on, at the State Primary held on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. As appears by the returns of the election precincts voting in this election, duly returned to, filed, opened, and canvassed, and now remaining on file in the office of the City of Ramsey Clerk. Witness our official signature at ________________________________ in _________________________ County this _____________ day of ______________ 2026. ____________________________________________________________________________ Member of canvassing board ____________________________________________________________________________ Member of canvassing board ____________________________________________________________________________ Member of canvassing board ____________________________________________________________________________ Member of canvassing board ____________________________________________________________________________ Member of canvassing board ____________________________________________________________________________ Member of canvassing board ____________________________________________________________________________ Member of canvassing board Page 4 of 5 ## State of Minnesota ## City of Ramsey I, __________________________________________________, Clerk of the City of Ramsey do hereby certify the within and foregoing __________________ pages to be a full and correct copy of the original abstract and return of the votes cast in the City of Ramsey State Primary held on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. Witness my hand and official seal of office this ________ day of ________________, 2026. ______________________________________________ Page 5 of 5