CNN "Erin Burnett Outfront" - Transcript: Interview with Governor Tim Walz

Interview

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[19:46:50]

BURNETT: Breaking news. A major victor for Republicans tonight. A federal appeals court ruling Minnesota's mail-in ballots must be received by Election Day.

This cuts off a grace period which had allowed election officials to accept ballots if they were postmarked by election day, and received up to one week later. In a 2 to 1 ruling, the court saying, quote, there is no pandemic exception to the Constitution.

OUTFRONT now, the Democratic governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz.

And, Governor, I appreciate you coming back on the show, and now, this news obviously just crossing. What impact does this ruling have on voters in your state?

GOV. TIM WALZ (D-MN): Well, first of all, Erin, Minnesotans have a proud tradition. We vote in the highest numbers. I just released a video with my three predecessors to ensure people the system of safe. What I would tell people is that with this ruling says is they will segregate those ballots, but well over 1.2 million ballots have already been received. I would tell voters, if you have an absentee ballot in your hand, right now, drop it off in person. You can go to IWillVote.com and that will give you the place where you need to go. But, you know, it speaks volumes when your goal is to make it more

difficult for people to vote, it probably speaks that they're not really happy with your policies. And so, here in Minnesota, we will still count all of the votes, the system is still secure. Those ballots will be segregated, and I think, you know, this will, obviously, go further up through the judiciary to get a decision.

But at this point in time, people can avoid all of this by simply going and dropping off their ballots in person.

BURNETT: Right.

WALZ: In Minnesota, we have same day registration, so they can vote on Tuesday.

BURNETT: OK. So, all of that is good, because you want every vote to be counted in any case. But what happens if the margin of victory in your state is such that people who mailed their votes today, or their absentee ballots today, or who don't get the message you are saying, now and do so over the next few days, right, that those -- a number of those ballots that are received after Election Day, actually matters? What happens then? That goes to the courts is what you're saying?

WALZ: Well, the courts will decide. Simply at this time, Erin, that they are segregated. They are not thrown out. I think that's what, you know, this court seems to think that it shouldn't be the predominance leading towards the voter, and counting the vote.

But at this point time, those ballots will still be there, they are illegal ballots, we will do everything in our power to ensure that they are counted, as they should be, regardless of who they voted for. And we'll pick a winner that way.

Our system has lasted this long, based on civility, decency, and respect for the process. So, I am still confident that the choice of the voters, and the voters need to decide, who the next president will be, and who these other elected officers will be. Not of the decision by a three-panel court, but at this point in time, we're still confident that a winner will be -- will be found on election night, or, shortly thereafter. That's part of the system.

BURNETT: Yeah.

WALZ: And we'll move forward.

BURNETT: OK. So, you mentioned the video, all right? And I saw this video on Twitter. A lot of people are talking about it.

You are right. It's getting a lot of -- a lot of discussion. It is a video you made with the three prior governors in the state of Minnesota, and I just want to play a clip of it, Governor.

Here it is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WALZ: With so many of us voting by mail, it may take a little longer to verify a winner.

JESSE VENTURA (I), FORMER MINNESOTA GOVERNOR: A delay just means our system is working, and that we're counting every single ballot.

[19:50:05]

MARK DAYTON (D), FORMER MINNESOTA GOVERNOR: There may not be a clear winner on election night.

TIM PAWLENTY (R), FORMER MINNESOTA GOVERNOR: But no matter who wins, let's demonstrate the civility and decency that Minnesotans are known for.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: Democrats and Republicans, kind of message we need. And yet tonight --

WALZ: Independent.

BURNETT: And independent, that's right. You got it all there.

And yet the context here is, you know, I don't know if you saw the headline, Walmart, they are pulling firearms and ammunition in some stores, because they have unrest in Philadelphia, and they want them -- they want them off the shelves now, ahead of Election Day.

Tension is high, and people are anxious, and afraid, of what's going to happen on that night, and after. How concerning is all of this to you?

WALZ: Well, I believe -- I believe in our system. I think here in Minnesota, and I can speak to that, I think that's true in other states, there is resiliency in the system. I think it's clear to everyone that there are those that want to sow doubt, there are those that want to pretend like mail-in voting doesn't -- isn't valid.

I've used it as a soldier, and some of these rules, just to be very clear, Minnesota warriors in war zones right now could be denied their vote, if -- if we don't get a decision on the segregated ballot.

So, I think people of goodwill understand this. I think the majority of Minnesotans clearly understand that while tensions are high. We have passions around voting, we need to follow the system. It's in place. It has served as well, all of these ears, and we're taking all of the necessary steps to make sure that their votes are counted, and people can be sure that they are safe in those -- in voting, if they go to vote in person.

BURNETT: And in the outcome.

Right, and, of course, going to vote in person, having more people do so is going to come amidst the coronavirus surge in your state, highest number of coronavirus cases today that you've had.

WALZ: Yeah. BURNETT: Your health commissioner said hospitalizations hit a high water mark, deaths today, tragically, near record levels.

So, what are you going to do about that? Especially if you're going to have more people voting in person than otherwise would? Are you -- are you considering new restrictions right now in terms of people's activity, or not?

WALZ: Well, we have opportunities. You can vote curbside. We've trained our folks who are working at the polls. We have the personal protective equipment. We have a mask mandate in Minnesota, and we will do it.

But you're absolutely right. All of those things are true. We are in a dangerous position. We're ranked 20th now in infection rates, but the states to the west of us are one, two, and four.

And so, it -- we have protections in place, it is safe for folks to go, it's more challenging this year. But it's important. People need to vote. We know how important this election is. People need to vote.

BURNETT: All right. Governor Walz, thank you very much. I appreciate your time, sir.

WALZ: You're welcome, Erin.

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