HF37

Purpose

To protect and guarantee voting rights by enshrining a clear constitutional standard that elections must be free, fair, and equal, and by prohibiting interference with the right to vote by any civil or military power.

Main Provisions

• Adds a new section (Sec. 18) to Article I of the Minnesota Constitution containing the core principle: “Elections shall be free fair and equal.”
• Establishes that no civil or military power may interfere with the free exercise of the right to vote.
• Requires the proposed amendment to be submitted to voters at the 2026 general election.
• If approved, the amendment becomes effective on January 1, 2027.
• Ballot measure title for voters: “Free Fair and Equal Elections.”

Submission and Timing

• The amendment is presented to Minnesota voters in the 2026 general election.
• If ratified, it takes effect on January 1, 2027.
• Ballot question wording for voters will be: “Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to provide for free fair and equal elections and prohibit civil and military powers from interfering with the right to vote?”
• Ballot title: “Free Fair and Equal Elections.”

Impact and Significance

• Elevates the standard for how elections must operate by constitutional decree.
• Creates a broad prohibition on interference with voting by any civil or military authority, potentially affecting how election administration and security are handled.
• Provides a high-level constitutional guarantee without detailing specific procedures or enforcement methods.

Relationship to Existing Law

• This is a proposed constitutional amendment rather than a change to ordinary statutes.
• If adopted, it would supersede any conflicting interpretations in current law by establishing a nationwide- or state-level constitutional principle governing elections.

Potential Considerations

• The amendment lays out a broad principle but does not define terms like “free,” “fair,” or “equal,” nor does it specify enforcement mechanisms.
• The phrase “civil or military power” could raise questions about what entities are covered and how the prohibition is applied in practice.

Relevant Terms - free elections - fair elections - equal elections - right to vote - civil power - military power - Minnesota Constitution Article I - Sec. 18 - constitutional amendment - free fair and equal elections (ballot title) - submission to voters - 2026 general election - January 1, 2027 - ballot question text - protective principle against interference - voting rights

If you’d like, I can provide a shorter one-paragraph plain-language summary or a side-by-side comparison with current law.