HF4481

Purpose

Establish a formal process for updating the design of the “I VOTED” stickers used for voters, while keeping the sticker itself simple and nonpartisan. The bill amends existing Minnesota law to create rules for who can give out the sticker and how its design can be refreshed.

Main Provisions

• Creation of I VOTED stickers: The sticker must contain the words I VOTED and nothing more; it may be given to individuals who have completed voting via a ballot box, have been provided an absentee ballot, or have been provided a ballot by mail.
  • Eligible issuers include the secretary of state, county auditor, municipal clerk, or election judge.
  • Eligible distribution circumstances include: depositing a ballot into a ballot box, receiving an absentee ballot under specified sections (203B.07(1) or 203B.21(2)), or receiving a ballot by mail under sections 204B.45 or 204B.46.
• Design updates via competition: The secretary of state, county auditor, municipal clerk, or school district clerk may periodically run a competition to update the I VOTED sticker design.
• Design rules and content: Updated designs may include graphic design elements but must only include the words I VOTED. The imagery must not advocate for or against any political party, candidate, ballot question, or public policy issue. No other words or numbers may be included.
• Multiple winners: The competition may result in multiple winning designs; nothing in this section prohibits that outcome.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Adds a formal mechanism to periodically refresh the visual design of the I VOTED sticker while preserving a strict limit on what the sticker may say.
• Specifies who may issue the sticker and under what voting scenarios (in-person ballot box, absentee voting, or mail-in ballot).
• Establishes an authorized process (design competitions) to update sticker design, with neutrality requirements that protect political nonpartisanship.

How It Works in Practice

• When someone votes in person, or is provided an absentee or mail ballot, they may receive an I VOTED sticker containing only the words “I VOTED.”
• Election officials can organize design competitions to refresh the sticker’s appearance over time, but any updated design must keep the same essential wording and avoid political or policy messaging.

Key Terms and Phrases From the Bill (for clarity)

• I VOTED
• I VOTED sticker
• ballot box
• absentee ballot
• mail ballot
• secretary of state
• county auditor
• municipal clerk
• school district clerk
• election judge
• design competition
• graphic design elements
• words or numbers (restriction)
• political party, candidate, ballot question, public policy issue (neutrality restrictions)
• Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 204B.49
• 203B.07 subdivision 1
• 203B.21 subdivision 2
• 204B.45
• 204B.46
• multiple winning designs

Relevant Terms I VOTED; I VOTED sticker; ballot box; absentee ballot; mail ballot; secretary of state; county auditor; municipal clerk; school district clerk; election judge; design competition; graphic design elements; political party; candidate; ballot question; public policy issue; Minnesota Statutes 2024; 203B.07; 203B.21; 204B.45; 204B.46; 204B.49