HF 558

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 01/30/2023 08:27pm

A bill for an act
relating to elections; providing for early voting; appropriating money; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2022, sections 201.022, subdivision 1; 203B.001; 203B.01,
by adding a subdivision; 203B.03, subdivision 1; 203B.05, subdivision 1; 203B.081,
subdivision 2; 203B.085; 203B.121, subdivisions 1, 3, 4, 5, by adding a subdivision;
204B.28, subdivision 2; 206.82, subdivision 1; 206.83; proposing coding for new
law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 203B; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2022,
section 203B.081, subdivision 3.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 201.022, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Establishment.

The secretary of state shall maintain a statewide voter
registration system to facilitate voter registration and to provide a central database containing
voter registration information from around the state. The system must be accessible to the
county auditor of each county in the state. The system must also:

(1) provide for voters to submit their voter registration applications to any county auditor,
the secretary of state, or the Department of Public Safety;

(2) provide for the definition, establishment, and maintenance of a central database for
all voter registration information;

(3) provide for entering data into the statewide registration system;

(4) provide for electronic transfer of completed voter registration applications from the
Department of Public Safety to the secretary of state or the county auditor;

(5) assign a unique identifier to each legally registered voter in the state;

(6) provide for the acceptance of the Minnesota driver's license number, Minnesota state
identification number, and last four digits of the Social Security number for each voter
record;

(7) coordinate with other agency databases within the state;

(8) allow county auditors and the secretary of state to add or modify information in the
system to provide for accurate and up-to-date records;

(9) allow county auditors, municipal and school district clerks, and the secretary of state
to have electronic access to the statewide registration system for review and search
capabilities;

(10) provide security and protection of all information in the statewide registration
system and ensure that unauthorized access is not allowed;

(11) provide access to municipal clerks to use the system;

(12) provide a system for each county to identify the precinct to which a voter should
be assigned for voting purposes;

(13) provide daily reports accessible by county auditors on the driver's license numbers,
state identification numbers, or last four digits of the Social Security numbers submitted on
voter registration applications that have been verified as accurate by the secretary of state;
deleted text begin and
deleted text end

(14) provide reports on the number of absentee ballots transmitted to and returned and
cast by voters under section 203B.16 deleted text begin . deleted text end new text begin ; and
new text end

new text begin (15) provide reports necessary for early voting.
new text end

The appropriate state or local official shall provide security measures to prevent
unauthorized access to the computerized list established under section 201.021.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 203B.001, is amended to read:

203B.001 ELECTION LAW APPLICABILITY.

The Minnesota Election Law is applicable to voting by absentee ballot new text begin and early voting new text end
unless otherwise provided in this chapter.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 203B.01, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Early voting. new text end

new text begin "Early voting" means voting in person before election day at the
office of the county auditor or designated municipal clerk within the time period provided
in section 203B.31.
new text end

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 203B.03, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Violation.

(a) No individual shall intentionally:

(1) make or sign any false certificate required by this chapter;

(2) make any false or untrue statement in any application for absentee ballots;

(3) apply for absentee ballots more than once in any election with the intent to cast an
illegal ballot;

(4) exhibit a ballot marked by that individual to any other individual;

(5) do any act in violation of the provisions of this chapter for the purpose of casting an
illegal vote in any precinct or for the purpose of aiding another to cast an illegal vote;

(6) use information from absentee ballot new text begin or early voting new text end materials or records for purposes
unrelated to elections, political activities, or law enforcement;

(7) provide assistance to an absentee new text begin or early new text end voter except in the manner provided by
section 204C.15, subdivision 1;

(8) solicit the vote of an absentee new text begin or early new text end voter while in the immediate presence of the
voter during the time the individual knows the absentee new text begin or early new text end voter is voting; or

(9) alter an absentee ballot application after it has been signed by the voter, except by
an election official for administrative purposes.

(b) Before inspecting information from absentee ballot new text begin or early voting new text end materials or
records, an individual shall provide identification to the public official having custody of
the material or information.

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 203B.05, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Generally.

The full-time clerk of any city or town shall administer the
provisions of sections 203B.04 to 203B.15 if:

(1) the county auditor of that county has designated the clerk to administer them; or

(2) the clerk has given the county auditor of that county notice of intention to administer
them.

The designation or notice must specify whether the clerk will be responsible for the
administration of a ballot board as provided in section 203B.121.

A clerk of a city that is located in more than one county may only administer the
provisions of sections 203B.04 to 203B.15 new text begin and 203B.30 to 203B.35 new text end if the clerk has been
designated by each of the county auditors or has provided notice to each of the county
auditors that the city will administer absentee voting. A clerk may only administer the
provisions of sections 203B.04 to 203B.15 if the clerk has technical capacity to access the
statewide voter registration system in the secure manner prescribed by the secretary of state.
The secretary of state must identify hardware, software, security, or other technical
prerequisites necessary to ensure the security, access controls, and performance of the
statewide voter registration system. A clerk must receive training approved by the secretary
of state on the use of the statewide voter registration system before administering this section.
A clerk may not use the statewide voter registration system until the clerk has received the
required training. The county auditor must notify the secretary of state of any municipal
clerk who will be administering the provisions of this section and the duties that the clerk
will administer.

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 203B.081, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Town elections.

Voters casting absentee ballots in person for a town election
held in March may do so during the 30 days before the election new text begin , except that an eligible voter
may not vote by absentee ballot in person during the period designated for early voting, as
provided in section 203B.31 new text end . The county auditor shall make such designations at least 14
weeks before the election. At least one voting booth in each polling place must be made
available by the county auditor for this purpose. The county auditor must also make available
at least one electronic ballot marker in each polling place that has implemented a voting
system that is accessible for individuals with disabilities pursuant to section 206.57,
subdivision 5.

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 203B.085, is amended to read:

203B.085 COUNTY AUDITOR'S AND MUNICIPAL CLERK'S OFFICES TO
REMAIN OPEN DURING CERTAIN HOURS PRECEDING ELECTION.

The county auditor's office in each county and the clerk's office in each city or town
authorized under section 203B.05 to administer absentee balloting must be open for
acceptance of absentee ballot applications and casting of absentee ballots new text begin from 8:00 a.m.
to 12:00 noon on the day immediately preceding an election subject to early voting under
section 203B.30 unless that day falls on a Sunday. When performing the duties of the county
auditor in an election not subject to early voting under section 203B.30, the clerk's office
must be open new text end from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday and until 5:00 p.m. on the day
immediately preceding a primary, special, or general election unless that day falls on a
Saturday or Sunday. Town clerks' offices must be open for absentee voting from 10:00 a.m.
to 12:00 noon on the Saturday before a town general election held in March. The school
district clerk, when performing the county auditor's election duties, need not comply with
this section.

Sec. 8.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 203B.121, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Establishment; applicable laws.

(a) The governing body of each county,
municipality, and school district with responsibility to accept and reject absentee ballots new text begin or
to administer early voting new text end must, by ordinance or resolution, establish a ballot board. The
board must consist of a sufficient number of election judges appointed as provided in sections
204B.19 to 204B.22. The board may include deputy county auditors or deputy city clerks
who have received training in the processing and counting of absentee ballots. Each member
of the ballot board must be provided adequate training on the processing and counting of
absentee ballots, including but not limited to instruction on accepting and rejecting absentee
ballots, storage of absentee ballots, timelines and deadlines, the role of the ballot board,
procedures for opening absentee ballot envelopes, procedures for counting absentee ballots,
and procedures for reporting absentee ballot totals.

(b) Each jurisdiction must pay a reasonable compensation to each member of that
jurisdiction's ballot board for services rendered during an election.

(c) Except as otherwise provided by this section, all provisions of the Minnesota Election
Law apply to a ballot board.

Sec. 9.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 203B.121, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 2a. new text end

new text begin Duties of ballot board; early voting. new text end

new text begin The members of the ballot board shall
administer the process of early voting as prescribed in section 203B.35, and shall make a
record of voters who cast ballots early and count those ballots as provided in subdivisions
4 and 5.
new text end

Sec. 10.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 203B.121, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Record of voting.

(a) When applicable, the county auditor or municipal clerk
must immediately record that a voter's absentee ballot has been accepted new text begin or that the voter
has cast a ballot pursuant to the early voting procedures provided in this chapter. A voter
whose record indicates that the voter has cast an early ballot must not be permitted to cast
another ballot in that election new text end . After the close of business on the deleted text begin seventh day before the
election deleted text end new text begin day prior to the beginning of the early voting period as provided in section 203B.31 new text end ,
a voter whose record indicates that an absentee ballot has been accepted must not be permitted
to cast another ballot at that election. In a state primary, general, or state special election
for federal deleted text begin or deleted text end new text begin , new text end state new text begin , or county new text end office, the auditor or clerk must also record this information
in the statewide voter registration system.

(b) The roster must be marked, and a supplemental report of absentee new text begin and early new text end voters
who submitted a voter registration application with their ballot must be created, no later
than the start of voting on election day to indicate the voters that have already cast a ballot
at the election. The roster may be marked either:

(1) by the county auditor or municipal clerk before election day;

(2) by the ballot board before election day; or

(3) by the election judges at the polling place on election day.

The record of a voter whose absentee ballot was received after the close of business on
the seventh day before the election is not required to be marked on the roster or contained
in a supplemental report as required by this paragraph.

Sec. 11.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 203B.121, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Opening of envelopes.

After the close of business on the deleted text begin seventh day before
the election deleted text end new text begin day prior to the beginning of the early voting period as provided in section
203B.31 new text end , the ballots from secrecy envelopes within the signature envelopes marked
"Accepted" may be opened, duplicated as needed in the manner provided in section 206.86,
subdivision 5, initialed by the members of the ballot board, and deposited in the appropriate
ballot box. If more than one voted ballot is enclosed in the ballot envelope, the ballots must
be returned in the manner provided by section 204C.25 for return of spoiled ballots, and
may not be counted.

Sec. 12.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 203B.121, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Storage and counting of absentee new text begin and early voting new text end ballots.

(a) On a day on
which absentee new text begin or early voting new text end ballots are inserted into a ballot box, two members of the
ballot board must:

(1) remove the ballots from the ballot box at the end of the day;

(2) without inspecting the ballots, ensure that the number of ballots removed from the
ballot box is equal to the number of voters new text begin who cast early votes and new text end whose absentee ballots
were accepted that day; and

(3) seal and secure all voted and unvoted ballots present in that location at the end of
the day.

(b) After the polls have closed on election day, two members of the ballot board must
count the ballots, tabulating the vote in a manner that indicates each vote of the voter and
the total votes cast for each candidate or question. In state primary and state general elections,
the results must indicate the total votes cast for each candidate or question in each precinct
and report the vote totals tabulated for each precinct. The count must be recorded on a
summary statement in substantially the same format as provided in section 204C.26. The
ballot board shall submit at least one completed summary statement to the county auditor
or municipal clerk. The county auditor or municipal clerk may require the ballot board to
submit a sufficient number of completed summary statements to comply with the provisions
of section 204C.27, or the county auditor or municipal clerk may certify reports containing
the details of the ballot board summary statement to the recipients of the summary statements
designated in section 204C.27.

In state primary and state general elections, these vote totals shall be added to the vote
totals on the summary statements of the returns for the appropriate precinct. In other elections,
these vote totals may be added to the vote totals on the summary statement of returns for
the appropriate precinct or may be reported as a separate total.

The count shall be public. No vote totals from ballots may be made public before the
close of voting on election day.

(c) In addition to the requirements of paragraphs (a) and (b), if the task has not been
completed previously, the members of the ballot board must verify as soon as possible, but
no later than 24 hours after the end of the hours for voting, that voters whose absentee ballots
arrived after the rosters were marked or supplemental reports were generated and whose
ballots were accepted did not vote in person on election day. An absentee ballot submitted
by a voter who has voted in person on election day must be rejected. All other accepted
absentee ballots must be opened, duplicated if necessary, and counted by members of the
ballot board. The vote totals from these ballots must be incorporated into the totals with the
other absentee ballots and handled according to paragraph (b).

Sec. 13.

new text begin [203B.30] EARLY VOTING; APPLICABILITY.
new text end

new text begin (a) Any eligible voter may vote in person in a federal, state, or county election prior to
the date of the election, in the manner provided in sections 203B.31 to 203B.35.
new text end

new text begin (b)(1) Subject to clause (2), for city elections not held in conjunction with a federal,
state, or county election, the city may authorize eligible voters to vote in the manner provided
in sections 203B.31 to 203B.35 upon resolution of the governing body of the city, adopted
prior to the first day for filing affidavits of candidacy for the election. In the case of a home
rule charter city, authorization may alternatively be made by amendment to the city's charter
for this purpose.
new text end

new text begin (2) A city may only authorize voting under sections 203B.31 to 203B.35 if the municipal
clerk has the technical capacity to access the statewide voter registration system in the secure
manner prescribed by the secretary of state. The secretary of state must identify hardware,
software, security, or other technical prerequisites necessary to ensure the security, access
controls, and performance of the statewide voter registration system. The clerk must receive
training approved by the secretary of state on the use of the statewide voter registration
system before administering voting authorized under this paragraph. The clerk may not use
the statewide voter registration system until the clerk has received the required training.
new text end

Sec. 14.

new text begin [203B.31] TIME PERIOD FOR EARLY VOTING.
new text end

new text begin Early voting must be available to any eligible voter as provided in section 203B.32 for
every primary, general, and special election subject to early voting under section 203B.30
from 30 days before the election through 5:00 p.m. on the third day before the election. All
voters in line at 5:00 p.m. on the third day before the election must be allowed to vote in
the same manner as provided in section 204C.05, subdivision 2.
new text end

Sec. 15.

new text begin [203B.32] HOURS FOR EARLY VOTING.
new text end

new text begin Early voting must be available between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on each
weekday during the time period provided in section 203B.31, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
on at least one weekday, and from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the two Saturdays before the
election.
new text end

Sec. 16.

new text begin [203B.33] LOCATIONS FOR EARLY VOTING.
new text end

new text begin (a) Early voting must be made available at polling places designated in the county
auditor's offices in county-owned or operated buildings, at the municipal clerk's office in
every municipality that has been delegated the responsibility to administer absentee voting
as provided in section 203B.05 or which is conducting an election that includes early voting,
as authorized in section 203B.30, and at any other county or city-owned or operated buildings
designated by the county auditor or municipal clerk. At least one voting station and one
ballot marking device for disabled voters must be made available in each polling place.
new text end

new text begin (b) The county auditor or municipal clerk must make an electronic ballot counter available
in each polling place.
new text end

Sec. 17.

new text begin [203B.34] NOTICE TO VOTERS.
new text end

new text begin The county auditor or municipal clerk must prepare a notice to the voters of the days,
times, and locations for early voting. This notice must be posted on the county's website,
if applicable, and the website for each municipality in the county where an early voting
location is designated for the election at least 14 days before the first day for early voting.
If a county or municipality does not have a website, the county auditor or municipal clerk
must publish the notice at least once in the jurisdiction's official newspaper at least seven
days and not more than 14 days before the first day for early voting.
new text end

Sec. 18.

new text begin [203B.35] PROCEDURES FOR EARLY VOTING.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Voting procedure. new text end

new text begin Each voter shall sign the certification provided in
section 204C.10. An individual who is not registered to vote must register in the manner
provided in section 201.061, subdivision 3.
new text end

new text begin After the voter has signed the certification, a member of the ballot board must provide
a ballot to the voter. Ballots must be prepared and distributed by members of the ballot
board in the manner provided in section 204C.09. The voter must mark the ballot and deposit
it in either a precinct voting system or a sealed ballot box. A voter may not leave the polling
place with the ballot.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Processing of ballots. new text end

new text begin Ballots cast pursuant to sections 203B.30 to 203B.35
must be processed and counted by a ballot board.
new text end

Sec. 19.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 204B.28, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Election supplies; duties of county auditors and clerks.

new text begin (a) new text end Except as
otherwise provided for absentee ballots new text begin in this section and new text end in section 204B.35, subdivision
4, the county auditor shall complete the preparation of the election materials for which the
auditor is responsible at least four days before every state primary and state general election.
At any time after all election materials are available from the county auditor but not later
than four days before the election each municipal clerk shall secure from the county auditor:

deleted text begin (a) deleted text end new text begin (1) new text end the forms that are required for the conduct of the election;

deleted text begin (b) deleted text end new text begin (2) new text end any printed voter instruction materials furnished by the secretary of state;

deleted text begin (c) deleted text end new text begin (3) new text end any other instructions for election officers; and

deleted text begin (d) deleted text end new text begin (4) new text end a sufficient quantity of the official ballots, registration files, envelopes for ballot
returns, and other supplies and materials required for each precinct in order to comply with
the provisions of the Minnesota Election Law. The county auditor may furnish the election
supplies to the municipal clerks in the same manner as the supplies are furnished to precincts
in unorganized territory pursuant to section 204B.29, subdivision 1.

new text begin (b) The county auditor must prepare and make available election materials for early
voting to city clerks designated to administer early voting under section 203B.05 at least
one day prior to the beginning of the early voting period as provided in section 203B.31.
new text end

Sec. 20.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 206.82, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Program.

A program or programs for use in an election conducted by
means of an electronic voting system or using an electronic ballot marker shall be prepared
at the direction of the county auditor or municipal clerk who is responsible for the conduct
of the election and shall be independently verified by a competent person designated by
that official. The term "competent person" as used in this section means a person who can
demonstrate knowledge as a computer programmer and who is other than and wholly
independent of any person operating or employed by the counting center or the corporation
or other preparer of the program. A test deck prepared by a competent person shall be used
for independent verification of the program; it shall test the maximum digits used in totaling
the returns and shall be usable by insertion during the tabulation process as well as prior to
tabulation. A test deck must also be prepared using the electronic ballot marker program
and must also be used to verify that all valid votes counted by the vote tabulator may be
selected using the electronic ballot marker. new text begin The computer program for any election and an
exact duplicate of the program for use as backup must be completed and delivered to the
election jurisdiction or the county auditor in charge of a common central counting center
at least 40 days prior to the election. new text end The secretary of state shall adopt rules further specifying
test procedures.

Sec. 21.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 206.83, is amended to read:

206.83 TESTING OF VOTING SYSTEMS.

deleted text begin Within 14 deleted text end new text begin At least 37 new text end days before election day, the official in charge of elections shall
have the voting system tested to ascertain that the system will correctly mark ballots using
all methods supported by the system, including through assistive technology, and count the
votes cast for all candidates and on all questions. Public notice of the time and place of the
test must be given at least two days in advance by publication once in official newspapers.
The test must be observed by at least two election judges, who are not of the same major
political party, and must be open to representatives of the political parties, candidates, the
press, and the public. The test must be conducted by (1) processing a preaudited group of
ballots punched or marked to record a predetermined number of valid votes for each candidate
and on each question, and must include for each office one or more ballot cards which have
votes in excess of the number allowed by law in order to test the ability of the voting system
tabulator and electronic ballot marker to reject those votes; and (2) processing an additional
test deck of ballots marked using the electronic ballot marker for the precinct, including
ballots marked using the electronic ballot display, audio ballot reader, and any assistive
voting technology used with the electronic ballot marker. If any error is detected, the cause
must be ascertained and corrected and an errorless count must be made before the voting
system may be used in the election. After the completion of the test, the programs used and
ballot cards must be sealed, retained, and disposed of as provided for paper ballots.

Sec. 22. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2024 is appropriated from the general fund to the secretary of state
to implement this act.
new text end

Sec. 23. new text begin REPEALER.
new text end

new text begin Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 203B.081, subdivision 3, new text end new text begin is repealed.
new text end

Sec. 24. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICABILITY.
new text end

new text begin The provisions of this act related to early voting are effective when the secretary of state
has certified that:
new text end

new text begin (1) the statewide voter registration system has been tested and shown to properly allow
for the tracking of the information required to conduct early voting, and can handle the
expected volume of use; and
new text end

new text begin (2) precinct voting equipment that can tabulate at least 30 different ballot styles has been
certified for use in this state. Upon certification pursuant to this section, the provisions of
this act related to early voting apply to all federal, state, and county elections held on August
1, 2023, and thereafter. A jurisdiction may implement the requirements of this act prior to
the date provided in this section, if the secretary of state has made the required certifications
at least 90 days prior to the date of the election at which early voting will be used.
new text end

APPENDIX

Repealed Minnesota Statutes: 23-00730

203B.081 LOCATIONS AND METHODS FOR ABSENTEE VOTING IN PERSON.

Subd. 3.

Alternative procedure.

(a) The county auditor may make available a ballot counter and ballot box for use by the voters during the seven days before the election. If a ballot counter and ballot box is provided, a voter must be given the option either (1) to vote using the process provided in section 203B.08, subdivision 1, or (2) to vote in the manner provided in this subdivision.

(b) If a voter chooses to vote in the manner provided in this subdivision, the voter must state the voter's name, address, and date of birth to the county auditor or municipal clerk. The voter shall sign a voter's certificate, which must include the voter's name, identification number, and the certification required by section 201.071, subdivision 1. The signature of an individual on the voter's certificate and the issuance of a ballot to the individual is evidence of the intent of the individual to vote at that election.

(c) After signing the voter's certificate, the voter shall be issued a ballot and immediately retire to a voting station or other designated location in the polling place to mark the ballot. The ballot must not be taken from the polling place. If the voter spoils the ballot, the voter may return it to the election official in exchange for a new ballot. After completing the ballot, the voter shall deposit the ballot into the ballot box.

(d) The election official must immediately record that the voter has voted in the manner provided in section 203B.121, subdivision 3.

(e) The election duties required by this subdivision must be performed by the county auditor, municipal clerk, or a deputy of the auditor or clerk.