SAINT PAUL – Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon today announced the appointment of Paul Linnell as Elections Director for the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State. Linnell has been serving as the Acting Elections Director for the state since July 2024.
“Paul is already an experienced leader - overseeing our Elections Division and supporting local officials through the 2024 election cycle,” said Secretary Simon. “His expertise in elections administration has already proved to be invaluable as he advocates for and implements new laws to ensure Minnesota’s elections continue to be an example for free, fair, accessible, and secure elections around the world.”
Linnell has an extensive history in public service. He joined the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State as Deputy Elections Director in 2022. Before that, he served as an Elections Administrator and then Elections Manager at Anoka County. He began his career at the Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia, for former President Jimmy Carter from 2009 to 2013, where he observed elections in Sudan, Egypt, and Jordan.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the Secretary of State’s elections division and its exceptional staff,” said Paul Linnell. “I look forward to growing our partnership with county and municipal election administrators – the backbone of our election system – to build on a strong foundation and identify ways to improve future elections for all Minnesota voters.”
Linnell has a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs.