Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Minnesota House Bill HF2073 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1.1 A bill for an act
2	2	1.2 relating to elections; making various changes related to election administration;
3	3	1.3 modifying provisions related to voter registration; modifying provisions related
4	4	1.4 to absentee voting; modifying requirements relating to appointing election judges;
5	5	1.5 clarifying terminology; modifying timelines; modifying annexation laws in relation
6	6	1.6 to election timelines; repealing the voting equipment grant account; transferring
7	7	1.7 money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 201.061, subdivisions 3, 3a;
8	8	1.8 201.071, subdivision 1; 203B.04, subdivision 1; 203B.05, subdivision 1; 203B.08,
9	9	1.9 subdivisions 1, 3; 203B.081, subdivision 4; 203B.121, subdivisions 4, 5; 203B.30,
10	10	1.10 subdivision 3; 204B.06, subdivision 1b; 204B.09, subdivisions 1a, 2; 204B.14,
11	11	1.11 subdivision 4a; 204B.21, subdivisions 1, 2; 204B.24; 204B.25, subdivision 3;
12	12	1.12 204B.44; 204B.45, subdivision 2; 204C.08, subdivision 1d; 204C.09, subdivision
13	13	1.13 1; 204C.10; 205.185, subdivision 3; 205A.10, subdivision 3; 205A.11, subdivision
14	14	1.14 2; 368.47; 375.20; 414.09, subdivision 3; 447.32, subdivision 4; proposing coding
15	15	1.15 for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 204B; repealing Minnesota Statutes
16	16	1.16 2024, sections 206.95; 209.06.
17	17	1.17BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
18	18	1.18 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 201.061, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
19	19	1.19 Subd. 3.Election day registration.(a) An individual who is eligible to vote may register
20	20	1.20on election day by appearing in person at the polling place for the precinct in which the
21	21	1.21individual maintains residence, by completing a registration application, making an oath in
22	22	1.22the form prescribed by the secretary of state and providing proof of residence. An individual
23	23	1.23may prove residence for purposes of registering by:
24	24	1.24 (1) presenting a driver's license or Minnesota identification card issued pursuant to
25	25	1.25section 171.07;
26	26	1.26 (2) presenting any document approved by the secretary of state as proper identification;
27	27	1Section 1.
28	28	REVISOR JFK/CH 25-0422503/03/25
29	29	State of Minnesota
30	30	This Document can be made available
31	31	in alternative formats upon request
32	32	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
33	33	H. F. No. 2073
34	34	NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
35	35	Authored by Freiberg03/10/2025
36	36	The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Elections Finance and Government Operations 2.1 (3) presenting a current student fee statement that contains the student's valid address
37	37	2.2in the precinct together with a picture identification card; or
38	38	2.3 (4) having a voter who is registered to vote in the precinct, or an employee who provides
39	39	2.4proof that they are employed by and working in a residential facility in the precinct and
40	40	2.5vouching for a resident in the facility, sign an oath in the presence of the election judge
41	41	2.6vouching that the voter or employee personally knows that the individual is a resident of
42	42	2.7the precinct. A voter who has been vouched for on election day may not sign a proof of
43	43	2.8residence oath vouching for any other individual on that election day. A voter who is
44	44	2.9registered to vote in the precinct may sign up to eight proof-of-residence oaths on any
45	45	2.10election day. This limitation does not apply to an employee of a residential facility described
46	46	2.11in this clause. The secretary of state shall provide a form for election judges to use in
47	47	2.12recording the number of individuals for whom a voter signs proof-of-residence oaths on
48	48	2.13election day. The form must include space for the maximum number of individuals for
49	49	2.14whom a voter may sign proof-of-residence oaths. For each proof-of-residence oath, the form
50	50	2.15must include a statement that the individual: (i) is registered to vote in the precinct or is an
51	51	2.16employee of a residential facility in the precinct, (ii) personally knows that the voter is a
52	52	2.17resident of the precinct, and (iii) is making the statement on oath. The form must include a
53	53	2.18space for the voter's printed name, signature, telephone number, and address.
54	54	2.19 The oath required by this subdivision and Minnesota Rules, part 8200.9939, must be
55	55	2.20attached to the voter registration application.
56	56	2.21 (b) The operator of a residential facility shall prepare a list of the names of its employees
57	57	2.22currently working in the residential facility and the address of the residential facility. The
58	58	2.23operator shall certify the list and provide it to the appropriate county auditor no less than
59	59	2.2420 days before each election for use in election day registration.
60	60	2.25 (c) (b) "Residential facility" means transitional housing as defined in section 256K.48,
61	61	2.26subdivision 1; a supervised living facility licensed by the commissioner of health under
62	62	2.27section 144.50, subdivision 6; a nursing home as defined in section 144A.01, subdivision
63	63	2.285; an assisted living facility licensed by the commissioner of health under chapter 144G; a
64	64	2.29veterans home operated by the board of directors of the Minnesota Veterans Homes under
65	65	2.30chapter 198; a residence licensed by the commissioner of human services to provide a
66	66	2.31residential program as defined in section 245A.02, subdivision 14; a residential facility for
67	67	2.32persons with a developmental disability licensed by the commissioner of human services
68	68	2.33under section 252.28; setting authorized to provide housing support as defined in section
69	69	2.34256I.03, subdivision 10a; a shelter for battered women as defined in section 611A.37,
70	70	2.35subdivision 4; a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter or dwelling designed to
71	71	2Section 1.
72	72	REVISOR JFK/CH 25-0422503/03/25 3.1provide temporary living accommodations for the homeless; a facility where a provider
73	73	3.2operates a residential treatment program as defined in section 245.462, subdivision 23; or
74	74	3.3a facility where a provider operates an adult foster care program as defined in section
75	75	3.4245A.02, subdivision 6c.
76	76	3.5 (d) (c) For tribal band members, an individual may prove residence for purposes of
77	77	3.6registering by:
78	78	3.7 (1) presenting an identification card issued by the tribal government of a tribe recognized
79	79	3.8by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, United States Department of the Interior, that contains the
80	80	3.9name, address, signature, and picture of the individual; or
81	81	3.10 (2) presenting an identification card issued by the tribal government of a tribe recognized
82	82	3.11by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, United States Department of the Interior, that contains the
83	83	3.12name, signature, and picture of the individual and also presenting one of the documents
84	84	3.13listed in Minnesota Rules, part 8200.5100, subpart 2, item B.
85	85	3.14 (e) (d) A county, school district, or municipality may require that an election judge
86	86	3.15responsible for election day registration initial each completed registration application.
87	87	3.16 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 201.061, subdivision 3a, is amended to read:
88	88	3.17 Subd. 3a.Additional proofs of residence permitted for students.(a) If an eligible
89	89	3.18voter's name; student identification number, if available; and address within the precinct
90	90	3.19appear on a current residential housing list under section 135A.17 certified to the county
91	91	3.20auditor by the postsecondary educational institution, the voter may prove residence by
92	92	3.21presenting a current valid photo identification issued by a postsecondary educational
93	93	3.22institution in Minnesota; identification authorized in subdivision 3, paragraph (a), clause
94	94	3.23(1) or (2); or identification authorized in subdivision 3, paragraph (d) (c), clause (1) or (2).
95	95	3.24 (b) This additional proof of residence for students must not be allowed unless the
96	96	3.25postsecondary educational institution submits to the county auditor no later than 60 days
97	97	3.26prior to the election a written agreement that the postsecondary educational institution will
98	98	3.27certify for use at the election accurate updated residential housing lists under section 135A.17.
99	99	3.28A written agreement is effective for the election and all subsequent elections held in that
100	100	3.29calendar year, including the November general election.
101	101	3.30 (c) The additional proof of residence for students must be allowed on an equal basis for
102	102	3.31voters who reside in housing meeting the requirements of section 135A.17, if the residential
103	103	3.32housing lists certified by the postsecondary educational institution meet the requirements
104	104	3.33of this subdivision.
105	105	3Sec. 2.
106	106	REVISOR JFK/CH 25-0422503/03/25 4.1 (d) An updated residential housing list must be certified to the county auditor no later
107	107	4.2than 20 days prior to each election. The certification must be dated and signed by the chief
108	108	4.3officer or designee of the postsecondary educational institution and must state that the list
109	109	4.4is current and accurate and includes only the names of persons residing in the institution's
110	110	4.5housing and, for students who do not live in the institution's housing, that it reflects the
111	111	4.6institution's records as of the date of the certification.
112	112	4.7 (e) This additional proof of residence for students must be allowed during the 18 days
113	113	4.8before an election and on election day. The county auditor shall instruct the election judges
114	114	4.9of the precinct in procedures for use of the list in conjunction with photo identification. The
115	115	4.10auditor shall supply a list to the election judges with the election supplies for the precinct.
116	116	4.11 (f) The county auditor shall notify all postsecondary educational institutions in the county
117	117	4.12of the provisions of this subdivision.
118	118	4.13 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 201.071, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
119	119	4.14 Subdivision 1.Form.Both paper and electronic voter registration applications must
120	120	4.15contain the same information unless otherwise provided by law. A voter registration
121	121	4.16application must contain spaces for the following required information: voter's first name,
122	122	4.17middle name, and last name; voter's previous name, if any; voter's current address; voter's
123	123	4.18previous address, if any; voter's date of birth; voter's municipality and county of residence;
124	124	4.19voter's telephone number, if provided by the voter; date of registration; current and valid
125	125	4.20Minnesota driver's license number or Minnesota state identification number, or if the voter
126	126	4.21has no current and valid Minnesota driver's license or Minnesota state identification, the
127	127	4.22last four digits of the voter's Social Security number; a box to indicate a voter's preference
128	128	4.23to join the permanent absentee voter list; and voter's signature. The paper registration
129	129	4.24application must provide a space for a voter to provide a physical description of the location
130	130	4.25of their residence, if the voter resides in an area lacking a specific physical address. The
131	131	4.26description must be sufficient for the county auditor to identify the correct precinct for the
132	132	4.27voter. The description may include the closest cross street or the nearest address to the
133	133	4.28described location that is identified on a precinct map, and directions from that cross street
134	134	4.29or address to the described location, including but not limited to the cardinal direction and
135	135	4.30approximate distance to the location. The paper registration application may include the
136	136	4.31voter's email address, if provided by the voter. The electronic voter registration application
137	137	4.32must include the voter's email address. The registration application may include the voter's
138	138	4.33interest in serving as an election judge, if indicated by the voter. The application must also
139	139	4.34contain the following certification of voter eligibility:
140	140	4Sec. 3.
141	141	REVISOR JFK/CH 25-0422503/03/25 5.1 "I certify that I:
142	142	5.2 (1) am at least 16 years old and understand that I must be at least 18 years old to be
143	143	5.3eligible to vote;
144	144	5.4 (2) am a citizen of the United States;
145	145	5.5 (3) will have maintained residence in Minnesota for 20 days immediately preceding
146	146	5.6election day;
147	147	5.7 (4) maintain residence at the address or location given on the registration form;
148	148	5.8 (5) am not under court-ordered guardianship in which the court order revokes my right
149	149	5.9to vote;
150	150	5.10 (6) have not been found by a court to be legally incompetent to vote;
151	151	5.11 (7) am not currently incarcerated for a conviction of a felony offense; and
152	152	5.12 (8) have read and understand the following statement: that giving false information is a
153	153	5.13felony punishable by not more than five years imprisonment or a fine of not more than
154	154	5.14$10,000, or both."
155	155	5.15 The certification must include boxes for the voter to respond to the following questions:
156	156	5.16 "(1) Are you a citizen of the United States?" and
157	157	5.17 "(2) Are you at least 16 years old and will you be at least 18 years old on or before the
158	158	5.18day of the election in which you intend to vote?"
159	159	5.19 And the instruction:
160	160	5.20 "If you checked 'no' to either of these questions, do not complete this form."
161	161	5.21 The form of the voter registration application and the certification of voter eligibility
162	162	5.22must be as provided in this subdivision and approved by the secretary of state. Voter
163	163	5.23registration forms authorized by the National Voter Registration Act must also be accepted
164	164	5.24as valid. The federal postcard application form must also be accepted as valid if it is not
165	165	5.25deficient and the voter is eligible to register in Minnesota.
166	166	5.26 An individual may use a voter registration application to apply to register to vote in
167	167	5.27Minnesota or to change information on an existing registration.
168	168	5.28 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 203B.04, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
169	169	5.29 Subdivision 1.Application procedures.(a) Except as otherwise allowed by subdivision
170	170	5.302 or by section 203B.11, subdivision 4, an application for absentee ballots for any election
171	171	5Sec. 4.
172	172	REVISOR JFK/CH 25-0422503/03/25 6.1may be submitted at any time not less than one day before the day of that election. The
173	173	6.2county auditor shall prepare absentee ballot application forms in the format provided by the
174	174	6.3secretary of state and shall furnish them to any person on request. By January 1 of each
175	175	6.4even-numbered year, the secretary of state shall make the forms to be used available to
176	176	6.5auditors through electronic means. An application submitted pursuant to this subdivision
177	177	6.6shall be in writing. An application may be submitted in person, by electronic facsimile
178	178	6.7device, by electronic mail, or by mail to:
179	179	6.8 (1) the county auditor of the county where the applicant maintains residence; or
180	180	6.9 (2) the municipal clerk of the municipality, or school district if applicable, where the
181	181	6.10applicant maintains residence.
182	182	6.11 (b) An absentee ballot application may alternatively be submitted electronically through
183	183	6.12a secure website that shall be maintained by the secretary of state for this purpose.
184	184	6.13Notwithstanding paragraph (d), the secretary of state must require applicants using the
185	185	6.14website to submit the applicant's email address and verifiable Minnesota driver's license
186	186	6.15number, Minnesota state identification card number, or the last four digits of the applicant's
187	187	6.16Social Security number. This paragraph does not apply to a town election held in March.
188	188	6.17 (c) An application submitted electronically under this paragraph may only be transmitted
189	189	6.18to the county auditor for processing if the secretary of state has verified the application
190	190	6.19information matches the information in a government database associated with the applicant's
191	191	6.20driver's license number, state identification card number, or Social Security number. The
192	192	6.21secretary of state must review all unverifiable applications for evidence of suspicious activity
193	193	6.22and must forward any such application to an appropriate law enforcement agency for
194	194	6.23investigation.
195	195	6.24 (d) An application shall be approved if it is timely received, signed and dated by the
196	196	6.25applicant, contains the applicant's name and residence and mailing addresses, date of birth,
197	197	6.26and at least one of the following:
198	198	6.27 (1) the applicant's Minnesota driver's license number;
199	199	6.28 (2) Minnesota state identification card number;
200	200	6.29 (3) the last four digits of the applicant's Social Security number; or
201	201	6.30 (4) a statement that the applicant does not have any of these numbers.
202	202	6.31 (e) To be approved, the application must contain an oath that the information contained
203	203	6.32on the form is accurate, that the applicant is applying on the applicant's own behalf, and
204	204	6.33that the applicant is signing the form under penalty of perjury.
205	205	6Sec. 4.
206	206	REVISOR JFK/CH 25-0422503/03/25 7.1 (f) An applicant's full date of birth, Minnesota driver's license or state identification
207	207	7.2number, and the last four digits of the applicant's Social Security number must not be made
208	208	7.3available for public inspection. An application may be submitted to the county auditor or
209	209	7.4municipal clerk by an electronic facsimile device. An application mailed or returned in
210	210	7.5person to the county auditor or municipal clerk on behalf of a voter by a person other than
211	211	7.6the voter must be deposited in the mail or returned in person to the county auditor or
212	212	7.7municipal clerk within ten days after it has been dated by the voter and no later than six
213	213	7.8days before the election.
214	214	7.9 (g) An application under this subdivision may must contain an application under
215	215	7.10subdivision 5 a space to apply to automatically receive an absentee ballot under subdivision
216	216	7.115.
217	217	7.12 Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 203B.05, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
218	218	7.13 Subdivision 1.Generally.The full-time clerk of any city or town shall administer the
219	219	7.14provisions of sections 203B.04 to 203B.15 and 203B.30 if:
220	220	7.15 (1) the county auditor of that county has designated the clerk to administer them; or
221	221	7.16 (2) the clerk has given the county auditor of that county notice of intention to administer
222	222	7.17them.
223	223	7.18 The designation or notice must specify whether the clerk will be responsible for the
224	224	7.19administration of a ballot board as provided in section 203B.121 and whether the
225	225	7.20municipality's office will be designated an absentee voting location pursuant to section
226	226	7.21203B.081, subdivision 1, or only for early voting pursuant to section 203B.081, subdivision
227	227	7.221a.
228	228	7.23 A clerk of a city that is located in more than one county may only administer the
229	229	7.24provisions of sections 203B.04 to 203B.15 and 203B.30 if the clerk has been designated
230	230	7.25by each of the county auditors or has provided notice to each of the county auditors that the
231	231	7.26city will administer absentee voting. A clerk may only administer the provisions of sections
232	232	7.27203B.04 to 203B.15 and 203B.30 if the clerk has technical capacity to access the statewide
233	233	7.28voter registration system in the secure manner prescribed by the secretary of state. The
234	234	7.29secretary of state must identify hardware, software, security, or other technical prerequisites
235	235	7.30necessary to ensure the security, access controls, and performance of the statewide voter
236	236	7.31registration system. A clerk must receive training approved by the secretary of state on the
237	237	7.32use of the statewide voter registration system before administering this section. A clerk may
238	238	7.33not use the statewide voter registration system until the clerk has received the required
239	239	7Sec. 5.
240	240	REVISOR JFK/CH 25-0422503/03/25 8.1training. The county auditor must notify the secretary of state of any municipal clerk who
241	241	8.2will be administering the provisions of this section and the duties that the clerk will
242	242	8.3administer.
243	243	8.4 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective upon the revisor of statutes' receipt of
244	244	8.5the early voting certification and applies to elections held on or after the 85th day after the
245	245	8.6revisor of statutes receives the certification, whichever is later.
246	246	8.7 Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 203B.08, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
247	247	8.8 Subdivision 1.Marking and return by voter.(a) An eligible voter who receives absentee
248	248	8.9ballots as provided in this chapter shall mark them in the manner specified in the directions
249	249	8.10for casting the absentee ballots. The return signature envelope containing marked ballots
250	250	8.11may be mailed as provided in the directions for casting the absentee ballots, may be left
251	251	8.12with the county auditor or municipal clerk who transmitted the absentee ballots to the voter,
252	252	8.13or may be left in a drop box as provided in section 203B.082. If delivered in person, the
253	253	8.14return signature envelope must be submitted to the county auditor or municipal clerk by
254	254	8.158:00 p.m. on election day.
255	255	8.16 (b) The voter may designate an agent to deliver in person the sealed absentee ballot
256	256	8.17return signature envelope to the county auditor or municipal clerk or to deposit the return
257	257	8.18signature envelope in the mail. An agent may deliver or mail the return signature envelopes
258	258	8.19of not more than three voters in any election. Any person designated as an agent who tampers
259	259	8.20with either the return signature envelope or the voted ballots or does not immediately mail
260	260	8.21or deliver the return signature envelope to the county auditor or municipal clerk is guilty
261	261	8.22of a misdemeanor.
262	262	8.23 Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 203B.08, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
263	263	8.24 Subd. 3.Procedures on receipt of ballots.When absentee ballots are returned to a
264	264	8.25county auditor or municipal clerk, that official shall stamp or initial and date the return
265	265	8.26signature envelope and place it in a locked ballot container or other secured and locked
266	266	8.27space with other return signature envelopes received by that office. Within five days after
267	267	8.28receipt, the county auditor or municipal clerk shall deliver to the ballot board all ballots
268	268	8.29signature envelopes received, except that during the 14 days immediately preceding an
269	269	8.30election, the county auditor or municipal clerk shall deliver all ballots signature envelopes
270	270	8.31received to the ballot board within three days. Ballots Signature envelopes received on
271	271	8.32election day after 8:00 p.m. shall be marked as received late by the county auditor or
272	272	8.33municipal clerk, and must not be delivered to the ballot board.
273	273	8Sec. 7.
274	274	REVISOR JFK/CH 25-0422503/03/25 9.1 Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 203B.081, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
275	275	9.2 Subd. 4.Temporary locations.(a) A county auditor or municipal clerk authorized under
276	276	9.3section 203B.05 to administer voting before election day may designate additional polling
277	277	9.4places with days and hours that differ from those required by section 203B.085. A designation
278	278	9.5authorized by this subdivision must be made at least 47 days before the election. The county
279	279	9.6auditor or municipal clerk must provide notice to the secretary of state at the time that the
280	280	9.7designations are made.
281	281	9.8 (b) At the request of a federally recognized Indian Tribe with a reservation or
282	282	9.9off-reservation Tribal lands in the county, the county auditor must establish an additional
283	283	9.10polling place for at least one day on the Indian reservation or off-reservation Tribal lands
284	284	9.11on a site agreed upon by the Tribe and the county auditor that is accessible to the county
285	285	9.12auditor by a public road.
286	286	9.13 (c) At the request of a postsecondary institution or the student government organization
287	287	9.14of a postsecondary institution in the county or municipality, the county auditor or a municipal
288	288	9.15clerk authorized to administer absentee voting under section 203B.05 must establish an
289	289	9.16additional temporary polling place for the state general election or the odd-year city general
290	290	9.17election for at least one day at a location agreed upon by the institution and the county
291	291	9.18auditor or municipal clerk that:
292	292	9.19 (1) is accessible to the public;
293	293	9.20 (2) satisfies the requirements of state and federal law; and
294	294	9.21 (3) is on the institution's campus or is within one-half mile of the institution's campus
295	295	9.22and is reasonably accessible to the institution's students.
296	296	9.23A request must be made no later than May 31 before an election and the request is valid
297	297	9.24only for that election. This paragraph only applies to a postsecondary institution that provides
298	298	9.25on-campus student housing to 100 or more students. Nothing in this paragraph prevents the
299	299	9.26county auditor or municipal clerk from engaging in a dialogue with the entity that made the
300	300	9.27request regarding potential alternative locations for a temporary polling place that does not
301	301	9.28meet the requirements of clause (3). An entity that made a request for a temporary polling
302	302	9.29place may withdraw its request by notifying the county auditor or municipal clerk.
303	303	9.30 Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 203B.121, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
304	304	9.31 Subd. 4.Opening of envelopes.(a) After the close of business on the 19th day before
305	305	9.32the election, the ballots from secrecy ballot envelopes within the signature envelopes marked
306	306	9.33"Accepted" may be opened, duplicated as needed in the manner provided in section 206.86,
307	307	9Sec. 9.
308	308	REVISOR JFK/CH 25-0422503/03/25 10.1subdivision 5, initialed by the members of the ballot board, and deposited in the appropriate
309	309	10.2ballot box. If more than one voted ballot is enclosed in the ballot envelope, the ballots must
310	310	10.3be returned in the manner provided by section 204C.25 for return of spoiled ballots, and
311	311	10.4may not be counted.
312	312	10.5 (b) Accepted signature envelopes must be segregated by precinct and processed in
313	313	10.6accordance with this subdivision on a precinct-by-precinct basis. Precincts within a
314	314	10.7combination polling place established in section 205A.11, subdivision 2, may be processed
315	315	10.8together. At each step, members of the ballot board must notify the official responsible for
316	316	10.9the ballot board if there is a discrepancy in the count. Any discrepancy must be noted in the
317	317	10.10ballot board incident log.
318	318	10.11 (c) Before opening accepted signature envelopes, two members of the ballot board must
319	319	10.12count and record the number of envelopes and ensure that the count matches either the
320	320	10.13number of accepted signature envelopes provided by the official responsible for the ballot
321	321	10.14board or the number of signature envelopes accepted by the ballot board that day.
322	322	10.15 (d) After ballot envelopes have been removed from the signature envelopes, two members
323	323	10.16of the ballot board must count and record the number of ballot envelopes to ensure the count
324	324	10.17matches the number of accepted signature envelopes. Any discrepancy must be noted in
325	325	10.18the ballot board incident log. The governing body responsible for the ballot board must
326	326	10.19retain all ballot envelopes through the contest period of that election.
327	327	10.20 (e) After ballots have been removed from the ballot envelopes, two members of the
328	328	10.21ballot board must count and record the number of ballots to ensure the count matches the
329	329	10.22number of accepted signature envelopes, accounting for any empty envelopes or spoiled
330	330	10.23ballots, which must be noted on the ballot board incident log.
331	331	10.24Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 203B.121, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
332	332	10.25 Subd. 5.Storage and counting of absentee ballots.(a) On a day on which absentee
333	333	10.26ballots are inserted into a ballot box, two members of the ballot board must:
334	334	10.27 (1) remove the ballots from the ballot box at the end of the day;
335	335	10.28 (2) without inspecting the ballots, ensure that the number of ballots removed from the
336	336	10.29ballot box is equal to the number of voters whose absentee ballots were accepted from the
337	337	10.30tally in subdivision 4 that were to be inserted into the ballot box that day; and
338	338	10.31 (3) seal and secure all voted and unvoted ballots present in that location at the end of
339	339	10.32the day.
340	340	10Sec. 10.
341	341	REVISOR JFK/CH 25-0422503/03/25 11.1 (b) After the polls have closed on election day, two members of the ballot board must
342	342	11.2count the ballots, tabulating the vote in a manner that indicates each vote of the voter and
343	343	11.3the total votes cast for each candidate or question. In state primary and state general elections,
344	344	11.4the results must indicate the total votes cast for each candidate or question in each precinct
345	345	11.5and report the vote totals tabulated for each precinct. The count must be recorded on a
346	346	11.6summary statement in substantially the same format as provided in section 204C.26. The
347	347	11.7ballot board shall must submit at least one completed summary statement to the county
348	348	11.8auditor or municipal clerk. The county auditor or municipal clerk may require the ballot
349	349	11.9board to submit a sufficient number of completed summary statements to comply with the
350	350	11.10provisions of section 204C.27, or the county auditor or municipal clerk may certify reports
351	351	11.11containing the details of the ballot board summary statement to the recipients of the summary
352	352	11.12statements designated in section 204C.27.
353	353	11.13 In state primary and state general elections, These vote totals shall must be added to the
354	354	11.14vote totals on the summary statements of the returns for the appropriate precinct. In other
355	355	11.15elections, these vote totals may be added to the vote totals on the summary statement of
356	356	11.16returns for the appropriate precinct or may be reported as a separate total.
357	357	11.17 The count shall must be public. No vote totals from ballots may be made public before
358	358	11.18the close of voting on election day.
359	359	11.19 (c) In addition to the requirements of paragraphs (a) and (b), if the task has not been
360	360	11.20completed previously, the members of the ballot board must verify as soon as possible, but
361	361	11.21no later than 24 hours after the end of the hours for voting, that voters whose absentee ballots
362	362	11.22arrived after the rosters were marked or supplemental reports were generated and whose
363	363	11.23ballots were accepted did not vote in person on election day. An absentee ballot submitted
364	364	11.24by a voter who has voted in person on election day must be rejected. All other accepted
365	365	11.25absentee ballots must be opened in accordance with the procedures outlined in subdivision
366	366	11.264, except for the absentee ballots cast using the alternative procedure in section 203B.081,
367	367	11.27subdivision 3, duplicated if necessary, and counted by members of the ballot board. The
368	368	11.28vote totals from these ballots must be incorporated into the totals with the other absentee
369	369	11.29ballots and handled according to paragraph (b).
370	370	11.30Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 203B.30, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
371	371	11.31 Subd. 3.Processing of ballots.At the end of each day when early voting occurs, the
372	372	11.32early voting officials must:
373	373	11Sec. 11.
374	374	REVISOR JFK/CH 25-0422503/03/25 12.1 (1) remove and secure ballots cast during the early voting period following the procedures
375	375	12.2in section 203B.121, subdivision 5, paragraph (a). that day, noting the date, voting location,
376	376	12.3and number of ballots cast;
377	377	12.4 (2) without inspecting the ballots, ensure that the number of ballots removed from the
378	378	12.5ballot box is equal to the number of voter certificates that were signed by voters in subdivision
379	379	12.62, paragraph (b); and
380	380	12.7 (3) seal and secure all voted and unvoted ballots present in that location at the end of
381	381	12.8the day.
382	382	12.9 The absentee ballot board must count the ballots after the polls have closed on election
383	383	12.10day following the procedures in section 203B.121, subdivision 5, paragraph (b).
384	384	12.11 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective upon the revisor of statutes' receipt of
385	385	12.12the early voting certification and applies to elections held on or after the 85th day after the
386	386	12.13revisor of statutes receives the certification, whichever is later.
387	387	12.14Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 204B.06, subdivision 1b, is amended to read:
388	388	12.15 Subd. 1b.Address, electronic mail address, and telephone number.(a) An affidavit
389	389	12.16of candidacy must state a telephone number where the candidate can be contacted. An
390	390	12.17affidavit must also state the candidate's or campaign's nongovernment issued electronic
391	391	12.18mail address or an attestation that the candidate and the candidate's campaign do not possess
392	392	12.19an electronic mail address. Except for affidavits of candidacy for (1) judicial office, (2) the
393	393	12.20office of county attorney, or (3) county sheriff, an affidavit must also state the candidate's
394	394	12.21current address of residence as determined under section 200.031, or at the candidate's
395	395	12.22request in accordance with paragraph (c), the candidate's campaign contact address. When
396	396	12.23filing the affidavit, the candidate must present the filing officer with the candidate's valid
397	397	12.24driver's license or state identification card that contains the candidate's current address of
398	398	12.25residence, or documentation of proof of residence authorized for election day registration
399	399	12.26in section 201.061, subdivision 3, paragraph (a), clause (2); clause (3), item (ii); or paragraph
400	400	12.27(d). If an original bill is shown, the due date on the bill must be within 30 days before or
401	401	12.28after the beginning of the filing period or, for bills without a due date, dated within 30 days
402	402	12.29before the beginning of the filing period. If the address on the affidavit and the documentation
403	403	12.30do not match, the filing officer must not accept the affidavit. The form for the affidavit of
404	404	12.31candidacy must allow the candidate to request, if eligible, that the candidate's address of
405	405	12.32residence be classified as private data, and to provide the certification required under
406	406	12.33paragraph (c) for classification of that address.
407	407	12Sec. 12.
408	408	REVISOR JFK/CH 25-0422503/03/25 13.1 (b) If an affidavit for an office where a residency requirement must be satisfied by the
409	409	13.2close of the filing period is filed as provided by paragraph (c), the filing officer must, within
410	410	13.3one business day of receiving the filing, determine whether the address provided in the
411	411	13.4affidavit of candidacy is within the area represented by the office the candidate is seeking.
412	412	13.5For all other candidates who filed for an office whose residency requirement must be satisfied
413	413	13.6by the close of the filing period, a registered voter in this state may request in writing that
414	414	13.7the filing officer receiving the affidavit of candidacy review the address as provided in this
415	415	13.8paragraph, at any time up to one day after the last day for filing for office. If requested, the
416	416	13.9filing officer must determine whether the address provided in the affidavit of candidacy is
417	417	13.10within the area represented by the office the candidate is seeking. If the filing officer
418	418	13.11determines that the address is not within the area represented by the office, the filing officer
419	419	13.12must immediately notify the candidate and the candidate's name must be removed from the
420	420	13.13ballot for that office. A determination made by a filing officer under this paragraph is subject
421	421	13.14to judicial review under section 204B.44.
422	422	13.15 (c) If the candidate requests that the candidate's address of residence be classified as
423	423	13.16private data, the candidate must list the candidate's address of residence on a separate form
424	424	13.17to be attached to the affidavit. The candidate must also certify on the affidavit that either:
425	425	13.18(1) a police report has been submitted, an order for protection has been issued, or the
426	426	13.19candidate has a reasonable fear in regard to the safety of the candidate or the candidate's
427	427	13.20family; or (2) the candidate's address is otherwise private pursuant to Minnesota law. The
428	428	13.21address of residence provided by a candidate who makes a request for classification on the
429	429	13.22candidate's affidavit of candidacy and provides the certification required by this paragraph
430	430	13.23is classified as private data, as defined in section 13.02, subdivision 12, but may be reviewed
431	431	13.24by the filing officer as provided in this subdivision.
432	432	13.25 (d) The requirements of this subdivision do not apply to affidavits of candidacy for a
433	433	13.26candidate for: (1) judicial office; (2) the office of county attorney; or (3) county sheriff.
434	434	13.27Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 204B.09, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:
435	435	13.28 Subd. 1a.Absent candidates.(a) A candidate for special district, county, state, or federal
436	436	13.29office who will be absent from the state during the filing period may submit a properly
437	437	13.30executed affidavit of candidacy, the appropriate filing fee, and any necessary petitions in
438	438	13.31person to the filing officer. The candidate shall state in writing the reason for being unable
439	439	13.32to submit the affidavit during the filing period. The affidavit, filing fee, if any, and petitions
440	440	13.33must be submitted to the filing officer during the seven days immediately preceding the
441	441	13Sec. 13.
442	442	REVISOR JFK/CH 25-0422503/03/25 14.1candidate's absence from the state. Nominating petitions may be signed during the 14 days
443	443	14.2immediately preceding the date when the affidavit of candidacy is filed.
444	444	14.3 (b) A candidate for special district, county, state, or federal office who will be absent
445	445	14.4from the state during the entire filing period or who must leave the state for the remainder
446	446	14.5of the filing period and who certifies to the secretary of state that the circumstances constitute
447	447	14.6an emergency and were unforeseen, may submit a properly executed affidavit of candidacy
448	448	14.7by facsimile device or by transmitting electronically a scanned image of the affidavit and
449	449	14.8proof of residence required in section 204B.06, subdivision 1b, to the secretary of state
450	450	14.9during the filing period. The candidate shall state in writing the specific reason for being
451	451	14.10unable to submit the affidavit by mail or by hand during the filing period or in person prior
452	452	14.11to the start of the filing period. The affidavit of candidacy, filing fee, if any, and any necessary
453	453	14.12petitions must be received by the secretary of state by 5:00 p.m. on the last day for filing.
454	454	14.13If the candidate is filing for a special district or county office, the secretary of state shall
455	455	14.14forward the affidavit of candidacy, filing fee, if any, and any necessary petitions to the
456	456	14.15appropriate filing officer. Copies of a proof of residence submitted under this subdivision
457	457	14.16are private data.
458	458	14.17Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 204B.09, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
459	459	14.18 Subd. 2.Other elections.Affidavits of candidacy and nominating petitions for city,
460	460	14.19town or other elective offices shall be filed during the time and with the official specified
461	461	14.20in chapter 205 or other applicable law or charter, except as provided for a special district
462	462	14.21candidate under subdivision 1a. Affidavits of candidacy and applications filed on behalf of
463	463	14.22eligible voters for school board office shall be filed during the time and with the official
464	464	14.23specified in chapter 205A or other applicable law. Affidavits of candidacy, including proof
465	465	14.24of residence required in section 204B.06, subdivision 1b, and nominating petitions filed
466	466	14.25under this subdivision must be submitted by mail or by hand, notwithstanding chapter 325L,
467	467	14.26or any other law to the contrary, and must be received by the appropriate official within the
468	468	14.27specified time for the filing of affidavits and petitions for the office. Copies of a proof of
469	469	14.28residence submitted by mail are private data.
470	470	14.29Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 204B.14, subdivision 4a, is amended to read:
471	471	14.30 Subd. 4a.Municipal boundary adjustment procedure.A change in the boundary of
472	472	14.31an election precinct that has occurred as a result of a municipal boundary adjustment made
473	473	14.32under chapter 414 that is effective more than 21 46 days before a regularly scheduled election
474	474	14.33takes effect at the scheduled election.
475	475	14Sec. 15.
476	476	REVISOR JFK/CH 25-0422503/03/25 15.1 A change in the boundary of an election precinct that has occurred as a result of a
477	477	15.2municipal boundary adjustment made under chapter 414 that is effective less than 21 46 or
478	478	15.3fewer days before a regularly scheduled election takes effect the day after the scheduled
479	479	15.4election.
480	480	15.5 Sec. 16. [204B.182] CHAIN OF CUSTODY PLANS.
481	481	15.6 (a) The county auditor must develop a county elections chain of custody plan to be used
482	482	15.7in all state, county, municipal, school district, and special district elections held in that
483	483	15.8county. If any of the political subdivisions cross county lines, the affected counties must
484	484	15.9make efforts to ensure that the elections chain of custody procedures affecting the local
485	485	15.10jurisdiction are uniform throughout the jurisdiction. County auditors must file the elections
486	486	15.11chain of custody plans with the secretary of state.
487	487	15.12 (b) The chain of custody plan must account for both the physical and cyber security of
488	488	15.13elections-related materials. The plan must include sample chain of custody documentation.
489	489	15.14 (c) The secretary of state may provide additional guidance to counties on elections chain
490	490	15.15of custody best practices and planning.
491	491	15.16 (d) A municipal clerk, school district clerk, or special district clerk may create a local
492	492	15.17chain of custody plan for use in local elections not held in conjunction with federal, state,
493	493	15.18or county elections that meets or exceeds the requirements of the county elections chain of
494	494	15.19custody plan. Any plan adopted under this paragraph must be adopted and filed with the
495	495	15.20secretary of state at least 84 days before the first election in which it will be used.
496	496	15.21 (e) Each political subdivision clerk who develops a local elections chain of custody plan
497	497	15.22pursuant to paragraph (d) and each county auditor must review their respective elections
498	498	15.23chain of custody plan prior to each state primary election. Any revisions to the elections
499	499	15.24chain of custody plan must be completed and filed with the secretary of state by June 1 prior
500	500	15.25to the state primary election.
501	501	15.26 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment and
502	502	15.27county auditors must file an elections chain of custody plan with the secretary of state by
503	503	15.28September 1, 2025.
504	504	15.29Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 204B.21, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
505	505	15.30 Subdivision 1.Appointment lists; duties of political parties and secretary of state.(a)
506	506	15.31On May March 1 in a year in which there is an election for a partisan political office, each
507	507	15.32major political party shall must prepare a list of eligible voters who have indicated within
508	508	15Sec. 17.
509	509	REVISOR JFK/CH 25-0422503/03/25 16.1the last 24 months they are willing to act as election judges in each election precinct. The
510	510	16.2list provided by the party must indicate:
511	511	16.3 (1) which eligible voters are willing to travel to a precinct outside of their home
512	512	16.4jurisdiction to act as an election judge, and the jurisdictions to which each eligible voter is
513	513	16.5willing to travel for that purpose;
514	514	16.6 (2) which eligible voters are willing to serve on an absentee ballot board; and
515	515	16.7 (3) each eligible voter's residential address, telephone number, and email address, along
516	516	16.8with the date the eligible voter indicated their willingness to act as an election judge.
517	517	16.9 (b) The political parties shall must furnish the lists electronically to the secretary of state,
518	518	16.10in a format specified by the secretary of state. The secretary of state must combine the data
519	519	16.11received from each political party under this subdivision and must process the data to locate
520	520	16.12the precinct in which the address provided for each potential election judge is located. If
521	521	16.13the data submitted by a political party is insufficient for the secretary of state to locate the
522	522	16.14proper precinct or does not include the eligible voter's telephone number, email address,
523	523	16.15and date the eligible voter indicated their willingness to act as an election judge, the
524	524	16.16associated name must not appear in any list forwarded to an appointing authority under this
525	525	16.17subdivision. The secretary of state shall must notify political parties of any proposed election
526	526	16.18judges with addresses that could not be located in a precinct.
527	527	16.19 (c) By May March 15, the secretary of state shall must furnish electronically to the
528	528	16.20county auditor a list of the appropriate names for each election precinct and absentee ballot
529	529	16.21board in the jurisdiction of the appointing authority, and a list of the names of individuals
530	530	16.22residing outside of the jurisdiction who indicated a willingness to travel to that jurisdiction
531	531	16.23to act as an election judge, noting the political party affiliation of each individual on the
532	532	16.24list. The county auditor must promptly forward the appropriate names to the appropriate
533	533	16.25municipal clerk within seven days of receipt.
534	534	16.26Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 204B.21, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
535	535	16.27 Subd. 2.Appointing authority; powers and duties.(a) Election judges for precincts
536	536	16.28in a municipality shall must be appointed by the governing body of the municipality. Election
537	537	16.29judges for precincts in unorganized territory and for performing election-related duties
538	538	16.30assigned by the county auditor shall must be appointed by the county board. Election judges
539	539	16.31for a precinct composed of two or more municipalities must be appointed by the governing
540	540	16.32body of the municipality or municipalities responsible for appointing election judges as
541	541	16.33provided in the agreement to combine for election purposes. Except as otherwise provided
542	542	16Sec. 18.
543	543	REVISOR JFK/CH 25-0422503/03/25 17.1in this section, appointments shall be made from At least two election judges in each precinct
544	544	17.2and serving on the absentee ballot board must be affiliated with different major political
545	545	17.3parties. Election judges must meet all eligibility requirements and other qualifications
546	546	17.4established or authorized under section 204B.19.
547	547	17.5 (b) The appointing authority must first exhaust the list of voters who maintain residence
548	548	17.6in each precinct or, for appointment to an absentee ballot board, the list of voters who
549	549	17.7maintain residence in a jurisdiction covered by the absentee ballot board, furnished pursuant
550	550	17.8to subdivision 1, subject to the eligibility requirements and other qualifications established
551	551	17.9or authorized under section 204B.19. At least two election judges in each precinct must be
552	552	17.10affiliated with different major political parties. If no lists have been furnished or if additional
553	553	17.11election judges are required after all listed names in that municipality have been exhausted,
554	554	17.12the appointing authority may appoint other individuals who meet the qualifications to serve
555	555	17.13as an election judge, including persons on the list furnished pursuant to subdivision 1 who
556	556	17.14indicated a willingness to travel to the municipality, and persons who are not affiliated with
557	557	17.15a major political party. before appointing other individuals who meet the qualifications to
558	558	17.16serve as an election judge. An appointing authority may exhaust the list furnished pursuant
559	559	17.17to subdivision 1 by:
560	560	17.18 (1) contacting once each person who appears on the list;
561	561	17.19 (2) identifying the opportunities available for the person to serve as an election judge;
562	562	17.20 (3) including the qualifications necessary to serve as an election judge, information about
563	563	17.21the required training, and the dates and times at which the person must be available to
564	564	17.22perform those duties; and
565	565	17.23 (4) explaining how the person may apply for appointment as an election judge.
566	566	17.24Any person on the list furnished pursuant to subdivision 1 who does not respond to the
567	567	17.25appointing authority within 14 days is deemed to have waived their interest in appointment
568	568	17.26to any election judge position.
569	569	17.27 (c) An individual who is appointed from a source other than the list furnished pursuant
570	570	17.28to subdivision 1 must provide to the appointing authority the individual's major political
571	571	17.29party affiliation or a statement that the individual does not affiliate with any major political
572	572	17.30party. An individual who refuses to provide the individual's major political party affiliation
573	573	17.31or a statement that the individual does not affiliate with a major political party must not be
574	574	17.32appointed as an election judge. The appointments shall must be made at least 25 days before
575	575	17.33the election at which the election judges will serve, except that the appointing authority
576	576	17.34may pass a resolution authorizing the appointment of additional election judges within the
577	577	17Sec. 18.
578	578	REVISOR JFK/CH 25-0422503/03/25 18.125 days before the election if the appointing authority determines that additional election
579	579	18.2judges will be required.
580	580	18.3 Sec. 19. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 204B.24, is amended to read:
581	581	18.4 204B.24 ELECTION JUDGES; OATH.
582	582	18.5 Each election judge shall sign the following oath before assuming the duties of the office:
583	583	18.6 "I .......... solemnly swear (or affirm) that:
584	584	18.7 (1) I will perform the duties of election judge according to law and the best of my ability
585	585	18.8and will diligently endeavor to prevent fraud, deceit and abuse in conducting this election.
586	586	18.9 (2) I will perform my duties in a fair and impartial manner and not attempt to create an
587	587	18.10advantage for my party or for any candidate.
588	588	18.11 (3) In accordance with Minnesota Statutes, section 211B.075, I will not share information
589	589	18.12about voting that I know to be materially false and will not intentionally hinder, interfere
590	590	18.13with, or prevent a person from voting, registering to vote, or aiding another person in casting
591	591	18.14a ballot or registering to vote, except as specifically required by law."
592	592	18.15 The oath shall be attached to the summary statement of the election returns of that
593	593	18.16precinct. If there is no individual present who is authorized to administer oaths, the election
594	594	18.17judges may administer the oath to each other.
595	595	18.18Sec. 20. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 204B.25, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
596	596	18.19 Subd. 3.Trained election judges; number required.Each election precinct in which
597	597	18.20less than 100 individuals voted at the last state general election shall have at least two
598	598	18.21election judges who are members of different major political parties who have received
599	599	18.22training as required in this section. In every other election precinct, No individual may serve
600	600	18.23as an election judge who has not received training as required by subdivision 1.
601	601	18.24Sec. 21. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 204B.44, is amended to read:
602	602	18.25 204B.44 ERRORS AND OMISSIONS; REMEDY.
603	603	18.26 (a) Any individual may file a petition in the manner provided in this section for the
604	604	18.27correction of any of the following errors, omissions, or wrongful acts which have occurred
605	605	18.28or are about to occur:
606	606	18Sec. 21.
607	607	REVISOR JFK/CH 25-0422503/03/25 19.1 (1) an error or omission in the placement or printing of the name or description of any
608	608	19.2candidate or any question on any official ballot, including the placement of a candidate on
609	609	19.3the official ballot who is not eligible to hold the office for which the candidate has filed;
610	610	19.4 (2) any other error in preparing or printing any official ballot;
611	611	19.5 (3) failure of the chair or secretary of the proper committee of a major political party to
612	612	19.6execute or file a certificate of nomination;
613	613	19.7 (4) any wrongful act, omission, or error of any election judge, municipal clerk, county
614	614	19.8auditor, canvassing board or any of its members, the secretary of state, or any other individual
615	615	19.9charged with any duty concerning an election.
616	616	19.10 (b) The petition shall describe the error, omission, or wrongful act and the correction
617	617	19.11sought by the petitioner. The petition shall be filed with any judge of the supreme court in
618	618	19.12the case of an election for state or federal office or any judge of the district court in that
619	619	19.13county in the case of an election for county, municipal, or school district office. The petitioner
620	620	19.14shall serve a copy of the petition on the officer, board or individual charged with the error,
621	621	19.15omission, or wrongful act, on all candidates for the office in the case of an election for state,
622	622	19.16federal, county, municipal, or school district office, and on any other party as required by
623	623	19.17the court. Upon receipt of the petition the court shall immediately set a time for a hearing
624	624	19.18on the matter and order the officer, board or individual charged with the error, omission or
625	625	19.19wrongful act to correct the error or wrongful act or perform the duty or show cause for not
626	626	19.20doing so. In the case of a review of a candidate's eligibility to hold office, the court may
627	627	19.21order the candidate to appear and present sufficient evidence of the candidate's eligibility.
628	628	19.22The court shall issue its findings and a final order for appropriate relief as soon as possible
629	629	19.23after the hearing. Failure to obey the order is contempt of court.
630	630	19.24 (c) Any service required on a candidate may be accomplished by electronic mail sent
631	631	19.25to the address the candidate provided on their affidavit of candidacy pursuant to section
632	632	19.26204B.06, subdivision 1b, or by any other means permitted by law.
633	633	19.27 (d) If the candidate for an office and the officer, board, or individual charged with the
634	634	19.28error, omission, or wrongful act unanimously agree in writing:
635	635	19.29 (1) that an error, omission, or wrongful act occurred; and
636	636	19.30 (2) on the appropriate correction for the error, omission, or wrongful act,
637	637	19.31then the officer, board, or individual charged with the error, omission, or wrongful act must
638	638	19.32correct the error in the manner agreed to without an order from the court.
639	639	19Sec. 21.
640	640	REVISOR JFK/CH 25-0422503/03/25 20.1The officer, board, or individual must notify the secretary of state in writing of the error
641	641	20.2and proposed correction within one business day of receiving notification of the candidate's
642	642	20.3written agreement and must not distribute any ballots reflecting the proposed correction for
643	643	20.4two business days unless the secretary of state waives this notice period.
644	644	20.5 (e) Any candidate for an office who does not enter into an agreement under paragraph
645	645	20.6(d) and who does not prevail at any subsequent proceeding involving a petition filed under
646	646	20.7this section must pay the costs and disbursements of the prevailing party or parties unless
647	647	20.8the court determines that the candidate's position was substantially justified or such costs
648	648	20.9and disbursements would impose undue hardship or otherwise be inequitable.
649	649	20.10 (f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, an official may correct any
650	650	20.11official ballot without order from the court if the ballot is not in compliance with sections
651	651	20.12204B.35 to 204B.37 or any rules promulgated under sections 204B.35 to 204B.37.
652	652	20.13Sec. 22. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 204B.45, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
653	653	20.14 Subd. 2.Procedure; voting prior to election day.Notice of the election and the special
654	654	20.15mail procedure must be given at least ten weeks prior to the election. Not more than 46 days
655	655	20.16nor later than 14 28 days before a regularly scheduled any election and not more than 30
656	656	20.17days nor later than 14 days before any other election, the auditor shall mail ballots by
657	657	20.18nonforwardable mail to all voters registered in the city, town, or unorganized territory. No
658	658	20.19later than 14 days before the election, the auditor must make a subsequent mailing of ballots
659	659	20.20to those voters who register to vote after the initial mailing but before the 20th day before
660	660	20.21the election. Eligible voters not registered at the time the ballots are mailed may apply for
661	661	20.22ballots as provided in chapter 203B. Ballot return envelopes, with return postage provided,
662	662	20.23must be preaddressed to the auditor or clerk and the voter may return the ballot by mail or
663	663	20.24in person to the office of the auditor or clerk. The auditor or clerk must appoint a ballot
664	664	20.25board to examine the mail and absentee ballot return envelopes and mark them "accepted"
665	665	20.26or "rejected" within three days of receipt if there are 14 or fewer days before election day,
666	666	20.27or within five days of receipt if there are more than 14 days before election day. The board
667	667	20.28may consist of deputy county auditors or deputy municipal clerks who have received training
668	668	20.29in the processing and counting of mail ballots, who need not be affiliated with a major
669	669	20.30political party. Election judges performing the duties in this section must be of different
670	670	20.31major political parties, unless they are exempt from that requirement under section 205.075,
671	671	20.32subdivision 4, or section 205A.10. If an envelope has been rejected at least five days before
672	672	20.33the election, the ballots in the envelope must remain sealed and the auditor or clerk shall
673	673	20.34provide the voter with a replacement ballot and return envelope in place of the spoiled ballot.
674	674	20Sec. 22.
675	675	REVISOR JFK/CH 25-0422503/03/25 21.1If the ballot is rejected within five days of the election, the envelope must remain sealed
676	676	21.2and the official in charge of the ballot board must attempt to contact the voter by telephone
677	677	21.3or email to notify the voter that the voter's ballot has been rejected. The official must
678	678	21.4document the attempts made to contact the voter.
679	679	21.5 If the ballot is accepted, the county auditor or municipal clerk must mark the roster to
680	680	21.6indicate that the voter has already cast a ballot in that election. After the close of business
681	681	21.7on the 19th day before the election, the ballots from return envelopes marked "Accepted"
682	682	21.8may be opened, duplicated as needed in the manner provided by section 206.86, subdivision
683	683	21.95, initialed by the members of the ballot board, and deposited in the ballot box.
684	684	21.10 In all other respects, the provisions of the Minnesota Election Law governing deposit
685	685	21.11and counting of ballots apply.
686	686	21.12 The mail and absentee ballots for a precinct must be counted together and reported as
687	687	21.13one vote total. No vote totals from mail or absentee ballots may be made public before the
688	688	21.14close of voting on election day.
689	689	21.15 The costs of the mailing shall be paid by the election jurisdiction in which the voter
690	690	21.16maintains residence. Any ballot received by 8:00 p.m. on the day of the election must be
691	691	21.17counted.
692	692	21.18Sec. 23. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 204C.08, subdivision 1d, is amended to read:
693	693	21.19 Subd. 1d.Voter's Bill of Rights.The county auditor shall prepare and provide to each
694	694	21.20polling place sufficient copies of a poster setting forth the Voter's Bill of Rights as set forth
695	695	21.21in this section. Before the hours of voting are scheduled to begin, the election judges shall
696	696	21.22post it in a conspicuous location or locations in the polling place. The Voter's Bill of Rights
697	697	21.23is as follows:
698	698	21.24 "VOTER'S BILL OF RIGHTS
699	699	21.25 For all persons residing in this state who meet federal voting eligibility requirements:
700	700	21.26 (1) You have the right to be absent from work for the purpose of voting in a state, federal,
701	701	21.27or regularly scheduled election without reduction to your pay, personal leave, or vacation
702	702	21.28time on election day for the time necessary to appear at your polling place, cast a ballot,
703	703	21.29and return to work.
704	704	21.30 (2) If you are in line at your polling place any time before 8:00 p.m., you have the right
705	705	21.31to vote.
706	706	21Sec. 23.
707	707	REVISOR JFK/CH 25-0422503/03/25 22.1 (3) If you can provide the required proof of residence, you have the right to register to
708	708	22.2vote and to vote on election day.
709	709	22.3 (4) If you are unable to sign your name, you have the right to orally confirm your identity
710	710	22.4with an election judge and to direct another person to sign your name for you.
711	711	22.5 (5) You have the right to request special assistance when voting.
712	712	22.6 (6) If you need assistance, you may be accompanied into the voting booth by a person
713	713	22.7of your choice, except by an agent of your employer or union or a candidate.
714	714	22.8 (7) You have the right to bring your minor children into the polling place and into the
715	715	22.9voting booth with you.
716	716	22.10 (8) You have the right to vote if you are not currently incarcerated for conviction of a
717	717	22.11felony offense.
718	718	22.12 (9) If you are under a guardianship, you have the right to vote, unless the court order
719	719	22.13revokes your right to vote.
720	720	22.14 (10) You have the right to vote without anyone in the polling place trying to influence
721	721	22.15your vote.
722	722	22.16 (11) If you make a mistake or spoil your ballot before it is submitted, you have the right
723	723	22.17to receive a replacement ballot and vote.
724	724	22.18 (12) You have the right to file a written complaint at your polling place if you are
725	725	22.19dissatisfied with the way an election is being run.
726	726	22.20 (13) You have the right to take a sample ballot into the voting booth with you.
727	727	22.21 (14) You have the right to take a copy of this Voter's Bill of Rights into the voting booth
728	728	22.22with you."
729	729	22.23Sec. 24. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 204C.09, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
730	730	22.24 Subdivision 1.Counting and initialing.(a) Before the voting begins, at least two election
731	731	22.25judges must certify the number of ballots delivered to the precinct. Election judges may
732	732	22.26conduct this count, presuming that the total count provided for prepackaged ballots is correct.
733	733	22.27As each package is opened, two judges must count the ballots in the package to ensure that
734	734	22.28the total count provided for the package is correct. Any discrepancy must be noted on the
735	735	22.29incident log.
736	736	22Sec. 24.
737	737	REVISOR JFK/CH 25-0422503/03/25 23.1 (b) Before the voting begins, or as soon as possible after it begins, at least two election
738	738	23.2judges shall each initial the backs of all the ballots. The election judges shall not otherwise
739	739	23.3mark the ballots.
740	740	23.4 Sec. 25. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 204C.10, is amended to read:
741	741	23.5 204C.10 POLLING PLACE ROSTER; VOTER SIGNATURE CERTIFICATE;
742	742	23.6VOTER RECEIPT.
743	743	23.7 (a) An individual seeking to vote shall sign a polling place roster or voter signature
744	744	23.8certificate which states that the individual:
745	745	23.9 (1) is at least 18 years old;
746	746	23.10 (2) is a citizen of the United States;
747	747	23.11 (3) has maintained residence in Minnesota for 20 days immediately preceding the election;
748	748	23.12 (4) maintains residence at the address or location shown;
749	749	23.13 (5) is not under a guardianship in which the court order revokes the individual's right to
750	750	23.14vote;
751	751	23.15 (6) has not been found by a court of law to be legally incompetent to vote;
752	752	23.16 (7) has the right to vote because, if the individual was convicted of a felony, the individual
753	753	23.17is not currently incarcerated for that conviction;
754	754	23.18 (8) is registered; and
755	755	23.19 (9) has not already voted in the election.
756	756	23.20 The roster must also state: "I understand that deliberately providing false information
757	757	23.21is a felony punishable by not more than five years imprisonment and a fine of not more than
758	758	23.22$10,000, or both."
759	759	23.23 (b) At the presidential nomination primary, the polling place roster must also state: "I
760	760	23.24am in general agreement with the principles of the party for whose candidate I intend to
761	761	23.25vote." This statement must appear separately from the statements required in paragraph (a).
762	762	23.26The felony penalty provided for in paragraph (a) does not apply to this paragraph.
763	763	23.27 (c) A judge may, before the applicant signs the roster or voter signature certificate,
764	764	23.28confirm the applicant's name, address, and date of birth.
765	765	23.29 (d) After the applicant signs the roster or voter signature certificate, the judge shall give
766	766	23.30the applicant a voter's receipt. The voter shall deliver the voter's receipt to the judge in
767	767	23Sec. 25.
768	768	REVISOR JFK/CH 25-0422503/03/25 24.1charge of ballots as proof of the voter's right to vote, and thereupon the judge shall hand to
769	769	24.2the voter the ballot. The voters' receipts must be maintained during the time for notice of
770	770	24.3filing an election contest.
771	771	24.4 (e) Whenever a challenged status appears on the polling place roster, an election judge
772	772	24.5must ensure that the challenge is concealed or hidden from the view of any voter other than
773	773	24.6the voter whose status is challenged.
774	774	24.7 Sec. 26. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 205.185, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
775	775	24.8 Subd. 3.Canvass of returns, certificate of election, ballots, disposition.(a) Between
776	776	24.9the third eighth and tenth 14th days after an election, the governing body of a city conducting
777	777	24.10any election including a special municipal election, or the governing body of a town
778	778	24.11conducting the general election in November shall act as the canvassing board, canvass the
779	779	24.12returns, and declare the candidate duly elected who received the highest number of votes
780	780	24.13for municipal office and the results of the election any ballot questions. The governing body
781	781	24.14of a town conducting the general election in March shall act as the canvassing board, canvass
782	782	24.15the returns, and shall declare the candidate duly elected who received the highest number
783	783	24.16of votes for each town office and the results of the election any ballot question within two
784	784	24.17days after an election.
785	785	24.18 (b) After the time for contesting elections has passed, the municipal clerk shall issue a
786	786	24.19certificate of election to each successful candidate. In case of a contest, the certificate shall
787	787	24.20not be issued until the outcome of the contest has been determined by the proper court.
788	788	24.21 (c) In case of a tie vote, the canvassing board having jurisdiction over the municipality
789	789	24.22shall determine the result by lot. The clerk of the canvassing board shall certify the results
790	790	24.23of the election to the county auditor, and the clerk shall be the final custodian of the ballots
791	791	24.24and the returns of the election.
792	792	24.25Sec. 27. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 205A.10, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
793	793	24.26 Subd. 3.Canvass of returns, certificate of election, ballots, disposition.Between the
794	794	24.27third eighth and tenth 14th days after a school district election other than a recount of a
795	795	24.28special election conducted under section 126C.17, subdivision 9, or 475.59, the school board
796	796	24.29shall canvass the returns and declare the candidate duly elected who received the highest
797	797	24.30number of votes for school district office and the results of the election any ballot question.
798	798	24.31After the time for contesting elections has passed, the school district clerk shall issue a
799	799	24.32certificate of election to each successful candidate. If there is a contest, the certificate of
800	800	24.33election to that office must not be issued until the outcome of the contest has been determined
801	801	24Sec. 27.
802	802	REVISOR JFK/CH 25-0422503/03/25 25.1by the proper court. If there is a tie vote, the school board shall determine the result by lot.
803	803	25.2The clerk shall deliver the certificate of election to the successful candidate by personal
804	804	25.3service or certified mail. The successful candidate shall file an acceptance and oath of office
805	805	25.4in writing with the clerk within 30 days of the date of mailing or personal service. A person
806	806	25.5who fails to qualify prior to the time specified shall be deemed to have refused to serve, but
807	807	25.6that filing may be made at any time before action to fill the vacancy has been taken. The
808	808	25.7school district clerk shall certify the results of the election to the county auditor, and the
809	809	25.8clerk shall be the final custodian of the ballots and the returns of the election.
810	810	25.9 A school district canvassing board shall perform the duties of the school board according
811	811	25.10to the requirements of this subdivision for a recount of a special election conducted under
812	812	25.11section 126C.17, subdivision 9, or 475.59.
813	813	25.12Sec. 28. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 205A.11, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
814	814	25.13 Subd. 2.Combined polling place.(a) When no other election is being held in a school
815	815	25.14district, the school board may designate combined polling places at which the voters in
816	816	25.15those precincts may vote in the school district election.
817	817	25.16 (b) By December 31 of each year, the school board must designate, by resolution, any
818	818	25.17changes to combined polling places. The combined polling places designated in the resolution
819	819	25.18are the polling places, unless a change is made in accordance with this paragraph or:
820	820	25.19 (1) pursuant to section 204B.175; or
821	821	25.20 (2) because a polling place has become unavailable.
822	822	25.21 (c) If the school board designates combined polling places pursuant to this subdivision,
823	823	25.22polling places must be designated throughout the district, taking into account both
824	824	25.23geographical distribution and population distribution. A combined polling place must be at
825	825	25.24a location designated for use as a polling place by a county or municipality, except as
826	826	25.25provided in this paragraph. If the municipality conducts elections by mail balloting pursuant
827	827	25.26to section 204B.45, the school board may designate a polling place not used by the
828	828	25.27municipality if the polling place satisfies the requirements in section 204B.16, subdivisions
829	829	25.284 to 7.
830	830	25.29 (d) In school districts that have organized into separate board member election districts
831	831	25.30under section 205A.12, a combined polling place for a school general election must be
832	832	25.31arranged so that it does not include more than one board member election district.
833	833	25Sec. 28.
834	834	REVISOR JFK/CH 25-0422503/03/25 26.1 Sec. 29. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 368.47, is amended to read:
835	835	26.2 368.47 TOWNS MAY BE DISSOLVED.
836	836	26.3 (1) When the voters residing within a town have failed to elect any town officials for
837	837	26.4more than ten years continuously;
838	838	26.5 (2) when a town has failed for a period of ten years to exercise any of the powers and
839	839	26.6functions of a town;
840	840	26.7 (3) when the estimated market value of a town drops to less than $165,000;
841	841	26.8 (4) when the tax delinquency of a town, exclusive of taxes that are delinquent or unpaid
842	842	26.9because they are contested in proceedings for the enforcement of taxes, amounts to 12
843	843	26.10percent of its market value; or
844	844	26.11 (5) when the state or federal government has acquired title to 50 percent of the real estate
845	845	26.12of a town,
846	846	26.13which facts, or any of them, may be found and determined by the resolution of the county
847	847	26.14board of the county in which the town is located, according to the official records in the
848	848	26.15office of the county auditor, the county board by resolution may declare the town, naming
849	849	26.16it, dissolved and no longer entitled to exercise any of the powers or functions of a town.
850	850	26.17 In Cass, Itasca, and St. Louis Counties, before the dissolution is effective the voters of
851	851	26.18the town shall express their approval or disapproval. The town clerk shall, upon a petition
852	852	26.19signed by a majority of the registered voters of the town, filed with the clerk at least 60 84
853	853	26.20days before a regular or special town election, give notice at the same time and in the same
854	854	26.21manner of the election that the question of dissolution of the town will be submitted for
855	855	26.22determination at the election. At the election the question shall be voted upon by a separate
856	856	26.23ballot. The form of the question under this chapter shall be substantially in the following
857	857	26.24form: "Shall the town of ... be dissolved?" The ballot shall be deposited in a separate ballot
858	858	26.25box and The result of the voting canvassed, certified, and returned in the same manner and
859	859	26.26at the same time as other facts and returns of the election. If a majority of the votes cast at
860	860	26.27the election are for dissolution, the town shall be dissolved. If a majority of the votes cast
861	861	26.28at the election are against dissolution, the town shall not be dissolved.
862	862	26.29 When a town is dissolved under sections 368.47 to 368.49 the county shall acquire title
863	863	26.30to any telephone company or other business conducted by the town. The business shall be
864	864	26.31operated by the board of county commissioners until it can be sold. The subscribers or
865	865	26.32patrons of the business shall have the first opportunity of purchase. If the town has any
866	866	26.33outstanding indebtedness chargeable to the business, the county auditor shall levy a tax
867	867	26Sec. 29.
868	868	REVISOR JFK/CH 25-0422503/03/25 27.1against the property situated in the dissolved town to pay the indebtedness as it becomes
869	869	27.2due.
870	870	27.3 Sec. 30. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 375.20, is amended to read:
871	871	27.4 375.20 BALLOT QUESTIONS.
872	872	27.5 If the county board may do an act, incur a debt, appropriate money for a purpose, or
873	873	27.6exercise any other power or authority, only if authorized by a vote of the people, the question
874	874	27.7may be submitted at a special or general election, by a resolution specifying the matter or
875	875	27.8question to be voted upon. If the question is to authorize the appropriation of money, creation
876	876	27.9of a debt, or levy of a tax, it shall state the amount. Notice of the election shall be given as
877	877	27.10in the case of special elections. If the question submitted is adopted, the board shall pass an
878	878	27.11appropriate resolution to carry it into effect. In the election the form of the ballot shall be:
879	879	27.12"Shall (here state the substance of the resolution to be submitted)?, Yes ...... No......,". The
880	880	27.13county board may call a special county election upon a question to be held within 74 84
881	881	27.14days after a resolution to that effect is adopted by the county board. Upon the adoption of
882	882	27.15the resolution the county auditor shall post and publish notices of the election, as required
883	883	27.16by section 204D.22, subdivisions 2 and 3. The election shall be conducted and the returns
884	884	27.17canvassed in the manner prescribed by sections 204D.20 to 204D.27, so far as practicable.
885	885	27.18Sec. 31. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 414.09, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
886	886	27.19 Subd. 3.Elections of municipal officers.(a) An order approving an incorporation or
887	887	27.20consolidation pursuant to this chapter, or an order requiring an election under section 414.031,
888	888	27.21subdivision 4a, shall set a date for an election of new municipal officers not less than 45
889	889	27.22days nor more than 60 days after the issuance of such order in accordance with the uniform
890	890	27.23election dates defined in section 205.10, subdivision 3a.
891	891	27.24 (b) The chief administrative law judge shall appoint an acting clerk for election purposes,
892	892	27.25at least three election judges who shall be residents of the new municipality, and shall
893	893	27.26designate polling places within the new municipality.
894	894	27.27 (c) The acting clerk shall prepare the official election ballot pursuant to section 205.17.
895	895	27.28 (d) Any person eligible to hold municipal office may file an affidavit of candidacy not
896	896	27.29more than four weeks nor less than two weeks before the date designated in the order for
897	897	27.30the election pursuant to section 205.13.
898	898	27.31 (e) The election shall be conducted in conformity with the charter and the laws for
899	899	27.32conducting municipal elections insofar as applicable.
900	900	27Sec. 31.
901	901	REVISOR JFK/CH 25-0422503/03/25 28.1 (f) Any person eligible to vote at a township or municipal election within the area of the
902	902	28.2new municipality, is eligible to vote at such election.
903	903	28.3 (g) Any excess in the expense of conducting the election over receipts from filing fees
904	904	28.4shall be a charge against the new municipality; any excess of receipts shall be deposited in
905	905	28.5the treasury of the new municipality.
906	906	28.6 Sec. 32. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 447.32, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
907	907	28.7 Subd. 4.Candidates; ballots; certifying election.(a) A person who wants to be a
908	908	28.8candidate for the hospital board shall file an affidavit of candidacy for the election either
909	909	28.9as member at large or as a member representing the city or town where the candidate
910	910	28.10maintains residence. The affidavit of candidacy must be filed with the city or town clerk
911	911	28.11not more than 98 days nor less than 84 days before the first Tuesday after the first Monday
912	912	28.12in November of the year in which the general election is held. The city or town clerk must
913	913	28.13forward the affidavits of candidacy to the clerk of the hospital district or, for the first election,
914	914	28.14the clerk of the most populous city or town immediately after the last day of the filing period.
915	915	28.15A candidate may withdraw from the election by filing an affidavit of withdrawal with the
916	916	28.16clerk of the district no later than 5:00 p.m. two days after the last day to file affidavits of
917	917	28.17candidacy.
918	918	28.18 (b) Between the eighth and 14th days after an election, the board must act as the
919	919	28.19canvassing board, canvass the returns, and declare the candidate duly elected who received
920	920	28.20the highest number of votes for hospital district office and the results of any ballot questions.
921	921	28.21 (c) Voting must be by secret ballot. The clerk shall prepare, at the expense of the district,
922	922	28.22necessary ballots for the election of officers. Ballots must be prepared as provided in the
923	923	28.23rules of the secretary of state. The ballots must be marked and initialed by at least two judges
924	924	28.24as official ballots and used exclusively at the election. Any proposition to be voted on may
925	925	28.25be printed on the ballot provided for the election of officers. The hospital board may also
926	926	28.26authorize the use of voting systems subject to chapter 206. Enough election judges may be
927	927	28.27appointed to receive the votes at each polling place. The election judges shall act as clerks
928	928	28.28of election, count the ballots cast, and submit them to the board for canvass.
929	929	28.29 (d) After canvassing the election, the board shall issue a certificate of election to the
930	930	28.30candidate who received the largest number of votes cast for each office. The clerk shall
931	931	28.31deliver the certificate to the person entitled to it in person or by certified mail. Each person
932	932	28.32certified shall file an acceptance and oath of office in writing with the clerk within 30 days
933	933	28.33after the date of delivery or mailing of the certificate. The board may fill any office as
934	934	28Sec. 32.
935	935	REVISOR JFK/CH 25-0422503/03/25 29.1provided in subdivision 1 if the person elected fails to qualify within 30 days, but qualification
936	936	29.2is effective if made before the board acts to fill the vacancy.
937	937	29.3 Sec. 33. VOTING EQUIPMENT GRANT ACCOUNT; TRANSFER.
938	938	29.4 Any balance remaining in the voting equipment grant account established under
939	939	29.5Minnesota Statutes, section 206.95, on the effective date of this section is transferred to the
940	940	29.6voting operations, technology, and election resources account established under Minnesota
941	941	29.7Statutes, section 5.305.
942	942	29.8 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
943	943	29.9 Sec. 34. REPEALER.
944	944	29.10 Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 206.95; and 209.06, are repealed.
945	945	29Sec. 34.
946	946	REVISOR JFK/CH 25-0422503/03/25 206.95 VOTING EQUIPMENT GRANT ACCOUNT.
947	947	Subdivision 1.Voting equipment grant account.A voting equipment grant account is
948	948	established in the special revenue fund. Funds in the account are appropriated to the secretary of
949	949	state to provide grants to political subdivisions as authorized by this section. Funds in the account
950	950	are available until expended.
951	951	Subd. 2.Authorized equipment.A political subdivision may apply to receive a grant under
952	952	this section for the purchase or lease of the following:
953	953	(1) an electronic voting system, or any individual components of an electronic voting system
954	954	as provided in section 206.56, subdivision 8;
955	955	(2) assistive voting technology;
956	956	(3) an electronic roster system meeting the technology requirements of section 201.225,
957	957	subdivision 2; and
958	958	(4) any other equipment or technology approved by the secretary of state for use in conducting
959	959	a state or local election in Minnesota consistent with the requirements of law.
960	960	Subd. 3.Application.(a) The secretary of state may make a grant from the account to a political
961	961	subdivision only after receiving an application from the political subdivision. The application must
962	962	contain the following information:
963	963	(1) the date the application is submitted;
964	964	(2) the name of the political subdivision;
965	965	(3) the name and title of the individual who prepared the application;
966	966	(4) the type of voting system currently used in each precinct in the political subdivision;
967	967	(5) the date the system currently used was acquired and at what cost;
968	968	(6) the total number of registered voters, as of the date of the application, in each precinct in
969	969	the political subdivision;
970	970	(7) the total amount of the grant requested;
971	971	(8) the total amount and source of the political subdivision's money to be used to match a grant
972	972	from the account;
973	973	(9) the type of voting system to be acquired with the grant money and whether the voting system
974	974	will permit individuals with disabilities to cast a secret ballot;
975	975	(10) the proposed schedule for purchasing and implementing the new voting system and the
976	976	precincts in which the new voting system would be used;
977	977	(11) whether the political subdivision has previously applied for a grant from the account and
978	978	the disposition of that application;
979	979	(12) a certified statement by the political subdivision that the grant will be used only to purchase
980	980	authorized equipment under subdivision 2 and that the political subdivision has insufficient resources
981	981	to purchase the voting system without obtaining a grant from the account; and
982	982	(13) any other information required by the secretary of state.
983	983	(b) The secretary of state must establish a deadline for receipt of grant applications, a procedure
984	984	for awarding and distributing grants, and a process for verifying the proper use of the grants after
985	985	distribution.
986	986	Subd. 4.Amount of grant.A political subdivision is eligible to receive a grant of no more than
987	987	75 percent of the total cost of electronic roster equipment and 50 percent of the total cost of all
988	988	other equipment or technology authorized for a grant under subdivision 2. In evaluating the
989	989	application, the secretary of state shall consider only the information set forth in the application
990	990	and is not subject to chapter 14. If the secretary of state determines that the application has been
991	991	fully and properly completed, and that there is a sufficient balance in the account to fund the grant,
992	992	either in whole or in part, the secretary of state may approve the application.
993	993	Subd. 5.Report to legislature.No later than January 15, 2018, and annually thereafter until
994	994	the appropriations provided for grants under this section have been exhausted, the secretary of state
995	995	must submit a report to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over elections policy on grants
996	996	1R
997	997	APPENDIX
998	998	Repealed Minnesota Statutes: 25-04225 awarded by this section. The report must detail each grant awarded, including the jurisdiction, the
999	999	amount of the grant, and the type of equipment purchased.
1000	1000	209.06 INSPECTION OF BALLOTS.
1001	1001	Subdivision 1.Appointment of inspectors.After a contest has been instituted, either party
1002	1002	may have the ballots inspected before preparing for trial. The party requesting an inspection shall
1003	1003	file with the district court where the contest is brought a verified petition, stating that the case cannot
1004	1004	properly be prepared for trial without an inspection of the ballots and designating the precincts in
1005	1005	which an inspection is desired. A judge of the court in which the contest is pending shall then
1006	1006	appoint as many sets of three inspectors for a contest of any office or question as are needed to
1007	1007	count and inspect the ballots expeditiously. One inspector must be selected by each of the parties
1008	1008	to the contest and a third must be chosen by those two inspectors. If either party neglects or refuses
1009	1009	to name an inspector, the judge shall appoint the inspector. The compensation of inspectors is the
1010	1010	same as for referees, unless otherwise stipulated.
1011	1011	Subd. 2.Bond, taxing of costs.The party applying for the inspection shall file with the court
1012	1012	administrator of district court a bond in the sum of $250 if the contest is in a single county. In other
1013	1013	cases the bond shall be in a sum set by the court with sureties approved by the court, and conditioned
1014	1014	that the party seeking inspection will pay the administrative costs and expenses of the inspection
1015	1015	if that party loses the contest.
1016	1016	Subd. 3.Report of inspectors.An inspection must be made in the office and in the presence
1017	1017	of the legal custodian of the ballots. The inspectors shall recanvass the votes cast for the parties to
1018	1018	the contest or the question in issue in accordance with the rules for counting ballots in the Minnesota
1019	1019	Election Law. They shall make a written report of the inspection indicating the number of votes
1020	1020	cast for each candidate or each side of the question in each precinct where the ballots were inspected
1021	1021	and indicating any disputed ballots upon which the inspectors cannot agree.
1022	1022	2R
1023	1023	APPENDIX
1024	1024	Repealed Minnesota Statutes: 25-04225