HF1617

This Minnesota House of Representatives bill (H.F. No. 1617), authored by Representatives Altendorf and Murphy, amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 206.83, to improve testing procedures for voting systems. The key changes include:

• Extending the timeframe for required pre-election testing of voting systems from at least three days to at least ten days before use.
• Expanding the public notice period for testing from at least two days to at least five days before the test, to be published in official newspapers.
• Ensuring that tests cover all voting methods, including assistive technology.
• Requiring observation by at least two election judges from different major political parties.
• Mandating that testing be open to representatives of political parties, candidates, the press, and the public.
• Strengthening testing protocols, including:
  • Preaudited ballots marked to produce a predetermined number of valid votes and ballots exceeding permitted vote limits to assess system accuracy.
  • Additional test ballots created using electronic ballot markers and assistive voting technology.
• Requiring correction of any errors before the voting system can be used in the election.
• Mandating that a detailed precinct report of the test results be made publicly available within 24 hours.
• Ensuring programs and ballot cards used in testing are securely sealed, retained, and disposed of according to legal requirements for paper ballots.

These amendments aim to enhance election security, transparency, and accuracy in Minnesota's voting system.