SF2702

Purpose of the Bill

The bill is intended to amend Minnesota election laws by changing the date of the state primary elections from August to May. This change affects primary elections conducted by the state as well as by political subdivisions in certain circumstances.

Main Provisions

• State Primary Date Change: The state primary will now be held on the first Tuesday in May, instead of August, in even-numbered years to select candidates for the general election.
• Applicability to Subdivisions: The date change also applies to primary elections conducted by municipalities and school districts, with adjustments to the relevant statutes guiding those processes.
• Polling Place Procedures: The bill outlines procedures for establishing combined polling places and how to handle precinct boundary changes in alignment with the new primary schedule.
• Election Judge Lists: Dates for the preparation and submission of election judge lists by political parties and the Secretary of State are adjusted to align with the new primary date.
• Notification and Planning: Amendments outline changes to the deadlines for notifying election changes and for submitting election plans when electronic voting systems are used.

Significant Changes

• The shift in timing ensures that elections are held earlier in the year, potentially affecting candidate preparation and voter turnout.
• The revised timelines for boundary changes, candidate filings, and election judge appointments will occur earlier in the year under this new schedule.
• Emergency procedures for polling place combinations are updated to reflect the new primary dates.

Relevant Terms

• State primary
• Election judge
• Combined polling place
• Municipal election
• School district election
• Precinct boundary change
• Electronic voting system