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SF2693 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Requirements modification for identifying and verifying a candidate's residence on an affidavit of candidacy

Related bill: HF1872

AI Generated Summary

Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to modify the requirements for candidates filing an affidavit of candidacy in Minnesota, particularly focusing on verifying and documenting their residence. It introduces a process for confirming a candidate's residency and imposes penalties for false statements.

Main Provisions

  • Affidavit Requirements: Candidates must provide a contact telephone number and either a personal or campaign email address, if available. They are also required to state their current residential address.

  • Residency Verification: The affidavit must include a statement signed under oath by two district residents attesting to the candidate’s residency. A valid driver's license, state ID, or an accepted form of proof of residence must match the address on the affidavit for it to be accepted.

  • Residency Review and Challenges: Filing officers must verify that the candidate's provided address is within the area the candidate seeks to represent. Voters can request this verification as well, and candidates with incorrectly stated addresses will be removed from the ballot.

  • Classification of Residence Information: Candidates can request to keep their residential address private if they can demonstrate a legitimate need, such as safety concerns, allowing it to be classified as private data.

  • Judicial Review: The decision made by a filing officer regarding residency can be subject to judicial review.

Exemptions

  • This bill does not apply to candidates running for judicial offices, county attorney, or sheriff.

Criminal Penalties

  • It establishes a penalty for candidates or signatories making false statements in the affidavit, which includes up to 90 days of imprisonment, a $10,000 fine, or both.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

  • The bill introduces more stringent measures for verifying a candidate's residency and adds the option for candidates to keep residential addresses private under certain conditions. It also adds the ability for judicial review of filing decisions and enforces penalties to deter false declarations.

Relevant Terms

  • Affidavit of candidacy
  • Residency verification
  • Private data classification
  • Judicial review
  • Criminal penalty for false statement

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
March 19, 2025SenateFloorActionIntroduction and first reading
March 19, 2025SenateFloorActionReferred toElections

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "A requirement for two residents to attest to the candidate's residence under oath."
      ],
      "removed": [
        "No previous content explicitly removed."
      ],
      "summary": "The bill amends section 204B.06 regarding the affidavit of candidacy requirements.",
      "modified": [
        "Adjusts the information required on the affidavit including electronic mail and private data classification requests."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "204B.06"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Ensures candidates provide current address as defined under this section."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Reference to section 200.031 in determining the current address of residence for candidates.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "200.031"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Clarifies acceptable documentation for proof of residence."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Incorporates 201.061 subdivision 3 regarding the proof of residence documentation.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "201.061 subdivision 3"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Provides a route for judicial review of filing officer's decisions."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Amendment subjects filing officer determinations to judicial review under section 204B.44.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "204B.44"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Confirms classification of address as private data."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Defines private data in reference to candidate's address of residence classification.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "13.02 subdivision 12"
  }
]

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