SF2232

SF2232 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Various election administration provisions modifications

Related bill: HF2428

AI Generated Summary

This bill makes several modifications to Minnesota's election laws, including changes to election administration, absentee voting procedures, timelines, and filing periods for certain local offices. Below are key provisions:

Electronic Rosters
- Updates requirements for electronic voter rosters, ensuring they support scanning driver's licenses, alert election judges to voter eligibility issues, and provide instructions for resolving challenges.
Absentee Voting Changes
- Adjusts the deadline for submitting absentee ballot applications when not delivered in person (from one day before to seven days before the election).
- Allows electronic submission of absentee ballot applications with verification against government databases.
- Requires the absentee ballot board to process ballot envelopes within specific timeframes and attempt to contact voters if a ballot is rejected within five days of the election.
Expanded Electronic Transmission of Ballots
- Permits ballots to be sent electronically to emergency response providers deployed during a state of emergency and to voters with print disabilities in an accessible format.
Filing Period Modifications
- Changes the timeframes during which candidates for city, town, and school board elections must file their affidavits of candidacy.
- Requires notification of ballot changes within one business day of a filing or immediately after the close of the filing period.
Combined Polling Places
- Allows emergency polling place consolidation on election day if an emergency prevents normal voting operations, subject to notification and signage requirements.
- Establishes new rules for combining precincts for elections.
Mail Ballot Procedures
- Modifies the timeline for mailing and processing ballots in precincts using mail balloting, including requiring absentee ballot boards to mark ballots as accepted or rejected within defined timeframes.
Write-In Candidates
- Extends the deadline for write-in candidates for county, state, and federal office to file their intent from seven days before the election to 19 days before.
Election Judge Appointments and Training
- Requires better election judge training on absentee ballot processes.
- Changes open ballot board membership rules by allowing some deputy clerks to serve.

This bill aims to streamline election operations, improve absentee voting accessibility, enhance security features in voter registration, and update election deadlines to allow more efficient administration.

Bill text versions

Introduction PDF file

Actions

Date	Chamber	Where	Type	Name	Committee Name
March 05, 2025	Senate	Floor	Action	Introduction and first reading
March 05, 2025	Senate	Floor	Action	Referred to	Elections

Citations

[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Clarifies the requirements for electronic rosters to handle voter verification and data export."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill modifies technology requirements for electronic rosters under section 201.225, subdivision 2.",
      "modified": [
        "Specifies the data handling and security standards for electronic rosters in elections."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "201.225, subdivision 2"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill refers to the oath required by section 204C.10 for voter signature certificates.",
      "modified": [
        "Ensures that electronic rosters are used to print voter information including the required oath."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "204C.10"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Allows for electronic submission of applications through a secure website."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill modifies the application procedures for absentee ballots under section 203B.04, subdivision 1.",
      "modified": [
        "Adjusts the timeframe for submission of absentee ballot applications."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "203B.04, subdivision 1"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Allows healthcare facilities to manage absentee ballot delivery when necessary for safety reasons."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill changes the designation of election judges for absentee ballots under section 203B.11, subdivision 1.",
      "modified": [
        "Specifies the involvement of healthcare employees in the absentee ballot process."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "203B.11, subdivision 1"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Allows for emergency combination of polling places under specific circumstances."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill modifies how precincts can be combined for polling purposes under section 204B.14, subdivision 2.",
      "modified": [
        "Updates timelines and procedures for combined polling places."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "204B.14, subdivision 2"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill amends procedures for using special mail voting under section 204B.45, subdivision 2.",
      "modified": [
        "Adjusts the timelines and requirements for mailing and processing ballots."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "204B.45, subdivision 2"
  }
]