SF5245

Purpose

• The bill aims to align Minnesota voter registration with federal requirements, ensure federal election rules are followed, and help counties pay for compliance. It requires that voter registration forms include any applicable federal requirements, directs the secretary of state to oversee federal compliance, and creates funding to support counties in meeting new federal rules for elections.

Key provisions

• Section 1: Voter registration forms and eligibility certification

  • Both paper and electronic voter registration applications must contain the same required information. The form must collect:
  • Voter’s first, middle, and last names; any previous name
  • Current address and any previous address
  • Date of birth
  • Municipality and county of residence
  • Phone number (if provided)
  • Date of registration
  • Current and valid Minnesota driver’s license or Minnesota state ID number; if none, the last four digits of the voter’s Social Security number; and voter’s signature
  • Paper form includes a space for a physical description of the residence location to locate the correct precinct (may include cross streets or nearest address, directions, etc.).
  • Electronic form must include the voter’s email address.
  • The form may include the voter’s interest in serving as an election judge.
  • The form must include a certification of eligibility with eight statements, including:
  • You are a citizen of the United States
  • You are at least 16 years old and will be at least 18 by Election Day
  • You have maintained Minnesota residence for at least 20 days before the election
  • You will maintain residence at the address on the form
  • You are not under court-ordered guardianship revoking voting rights
  • You have not been legally found incompetent to vote
  • You are not currently incarcerated for a felony conviction
  • You have read and understood that giving false information is a felony with penalties
  • Responding “no” to citizenship or age questions ends the form; otherwise, the form must follow the specified certification.
  • The form must include any federal requirements, including documentation of citizenship if required by federal law.
  • The final form must be approved by the secretary of state.
  • National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) forms must be accepted as valid, and the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) form must be accepted if not deficient and the voter is eligible to register in Minnesota.

• Section 2: Federal compliance oversight

  • The secretary of state must ensure that all state and local election officials comply with applicable federal requirements related to elections, including any new federal requirements enacted after the bill’s effective date.
  • By January 15, 2027 and each year thereafter, the secretary of state must submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over elections, certifying compliance with the relevant federal laws as of the report date.

• Section 3: Federal compliance grants

  • A one-time appropriation of $5,000,000 in fiscal year 2027 is made from the general fund to the secretary of state to provide grants to counties for complying with federal election requirements.
  • The secretary of state will distribute the funds to counties, allocating money in inverse proportion to each county’s turnout in the 2024 state general election.
  • Each county must place the money into a dedicated “federal compliance account.”
  • Funds may only be used to meet any new federal election requirements for federal offices that are enacted on or after the bill’s effective date.

• Section 4

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Effects and potential impact

• On voters

  • The registration process may require more information (and explicit citizenship considerations where federal law applies). Voters will see a standardized set of data collected across paper and electronic forms, plus a clear citizenship/age certification.
  • Acceptance of NVRA and FPCA forms helps ensure that individuals using federal registration channels can register in Minnesota if eligible.

• On election administration

  • Counties receive targeted funding to address new federal requirements, which could improve compliance but also introduce new procedures to document how funds are used.
  • The secretary of state is given ongoing responsibility to monitor and report federal compliance.

• On law and governance

  • The bill amends Minnesota Statutes to formalize federal compliance requirements and to codify a funding mechanism for counties to meet those requirements.
  • It establishes a measurable reporting timeline and a method for allocating federal compliance funds based on past voter turnout.

Significant changes from current law

• Adds explicit requirement that voter registration forms (paper and electronic) include fields and certifications aligned with federal requirements.
• Requires certification language about citizenship and eligibility, with potential penalties for false information.
• Directs the secretary of state to monitor and certify federal compliance annually and to report to legislators.
• Creates a dedicated, one-time $5 million grant program for counties to fund compliance with newly enacted federal election requirements, with distribution tied to historic turnout and strict use restrictions.

Relevant terms - voter registration form, paper registration, electronic registration - spaces for required information (name, address, date of birth, county/municipality, phone, date of registration) - Minnesota driver’s license number, Minnesota state ID number, last four digits of SSN - physical description for precinct identification - cross streets, nearest address, directions to residence - email address (on both forms) - interest in serving as election judge - certification of voter eligibility (eight items) - United States citizenship, age requirements (16/18), residence, guardianship, legal competence, incarceration for felony - false information penalty (felony) - federal requirements, including documentation of citizenship - National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) - Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) - secretary of state, county auditors - compliance reporting, annual certification - federal compliance grants, general fund appropriation, $5,000,000 (FY 2027) - inverse turnout allocation, federal compliance account - new federal requirements enacted after effective date

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