In the race for Minnesota secretary of state, we endorse the incumbent, Mark Ritchie.

His opponent, state Rep. Dan Severson, makes many interesting points about how Minnesota handles elections. But when those issues are reviewed, they actually are legislative matters. If Severson wants reform in how it handles elections, staying in the state Legislature is the place for him to make changes. He should put forth bills that match his campaign rhetoric.

Let’s take one of Severson’s points. He says people should have to show a photo ID at the poll. The secretary of state cannot wave a wand and change that. A state law from the Legislature is needed.

However, Ritchie notes that showing a photo ID becomes difficult for people who vote by mail, a disenfranchisement for people who do not carry photo ID (no law requires people to possess photo ID and the age group of adults without it are mainly the elderly). Plus, laws already say that states cannot create barriers to voting that have to do with money. Requiring an ID would mean the government would have to spend money to issue IDs at no cost to citizens. As people know, libertarians are adamant in opposing the requirement of government-issued ID.

But here is why we favor Ritchie: Minnesota went through the most expensive U.S. Senate election in our nation’s history and it had a long, drawn-out recount battle. We didn’t come out looking sloppy and partisan like Florida or even Ohio. Ritchie, a Democrat, even was commended by Republican Norm Coleman’s lawyers, who articulated that the recount was fair.

Four years ago, Ritchie told this Editorial Board that the parties were intended for the purpose of elections and otherwise he would operate in a nonpartisan fashion, like the secretaries of state did through much of the 20th century. He wanted to return to that model of classy, respectable governance.

Ritchie upheld his campaign promise to us in more ways than just the recount battle. He has cleansed his office of political appointees and hired civil servants recruited from elections institutions statewide. He has torn down barriers to military voting, so much so that the Pentagon now holds Minnesota as an example.

The list of positive reforms go on — such as his push to change the date of the primary election — but to save readers time, know this:

Fill in the oval for Mark Ritchie when you fill out your ballot.