HF 510

as introduced - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 02/14/2011 11:09am

A bill for an act
relating to elections; changing certain voter registration requirements and
provisions; amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, sections 13.607, by adding a
subdivision; 201.121, subdivision 2; 201.161; 204C.08, by adding a subdivision.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 13.607, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 9. new text end

new text begin Data derived from driver's license applications. new text end

new text begin Data on an application
for a driver's license, a Minnesota identification card, or a learner's permit transferred to
the secretary of state that are provided by a person whom the secretary of state determines
is not eligible to vote is governed by section 201.161.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 201.121, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Notice of registration; challenges.

The county auditor shall mail a notice
indicating the individual's name, address, precinct and polling place to each registered
voter. new text begin The notice must inform the voter that if eligible, the voter is now registered to
vote, that it is a felony to vote if an individual is not eligible, and that the voter should
immediately call the county auditor if the voter is not eligible or does not want to be
registered to vote. The notice must contain a description of voter eligibility criteria. The
notice must also inform the voter that the voter may contact the county auditor to correct
the registration. The notice must provide the contact information for the county auditor.
new text end The notice shall indicate that it must be returned if it is not deliverable to the voter at the
named address. Upon return of the notice by the postal service, the county auditor shall
change the registrant's status to "challenged" in the statewide registration system. An
individual challenged in accordance with this subdivision shall comply with the provisions
of section 204C.12, before being allowed to vote.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 201.161, is amended to read:

201.161 new text begin AUTOMATIC REGISTRATION OF new text end DRIVER'S LICENSE new text begin ,
INSTRUCTION PERMIT, new text end AND IDENTIFICATION CARD deleted text begin APPLICATIONS deleted text end new text begin
APPLICANTS new text end .

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Automatic registration. new text end

new text begin An individual who properly completes
an application for a new or renewed Minnesota driver's license, instruction permit, or
identification card, and who is eligible to vote under section 201.014, must be registered to
vote as provided in this section, unless the applicant declines to be registered.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Applications. new text end

The deleted text begin Department deleted text end new text begin commissioner new text end of public safety new text begin , in
consultation with the secretary of state, new text end shall change deleted text begin its deleted text end new text begin the new text end applications for an original,
duplicate, or change of address driver's license new text begin , instruction permit, new text end or identification card so
that the forms may also serve as voter registration applications. The forms must contain
spaces for all information collected by voter registration applications prescribed by the
secretary of state new text begin and a box for the applicant to decline to be registered to vote new text end . deleted text begin Applicants
for driver's licenses or identification cards must be asked if they want to register to vote
at the same time and that information must be transmitted at least weekly deleted text end new text begin Unless the
applicant has declined to be registered to vote or has provided an address other than the
applicant's address of residence under section 5B.05 or 171.12, subdivision 7, paragraph
(d), the commissioner shall transmit the information daily new text end by electronic means to the
secretary of state. Pursuant to the Help America Vote Act of 2002, Public Law 107-252,
the computerized driver's license record containing the voter's name, address, date of
birth, new text begin citizenship, new text end driver's license number or state identification number, county, deleted text begin town, and deleted text end
city new text begin or town, and signature new text end must be made available for access by the secretary of state and
interaction with the statewide voter registration system.

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Registration. new text end

new text begin (a) The secretary of state shall determine whether the
applicant is currently registered in the statewide voter registration system. For each
currently registered voter whose name or address data is identical, the secretary of state
shall update the voter's registration data in the statewide voter registration system. For
each currently registered voter whose name or address data is not identical, the secretary
of state shall transmit the registration daily by electronic means to the county auditor of
the county where the voter resides.
new text end

new text begin (b) If the applicant is not currently registered in the statewide voter registration
system, the secretary of state shall determine whether the data indicate that the applicant
is 18 years of age or older and a citizen of the United States and compare the voter
registration information received from the commissioner of public safety with the
information on wards, incompetents, and felons received from the state court administrator
under sections 201.15 and 201.155, and with data received from the commissioner of
corrections under section 201.157, to determine whether the applicant is ineligible to
vote. If an applicant is less than 18 years of age, the secretary of state shall wait until the
applicant has turned 18 years of age to determine whether the applicant is otherwise
ineligible to vote. For each applicant the secretary of state has not found to be ineligible,
the secretary of state shall transmit the registration daily by electronic means to the county
auditor of the county where the voter resides.
new text end

new text begin (c) Any data on applicants who the secretary of state determines are not eligible to
vote are private data on individuals.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Notice. new text end

new text begin Upon receipt of the registration, the county auditor shall process
the registration and mail to the voter the notice of registration required by section 201.121,
subdivision 2.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Effective date. new text end

new text begin An application for registration that is dated during the 20
days before an election in any jurisdiction within which the voter resides is not effective
until the day after the election.
new text end

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 204C.08, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 2b. new text end

new text begin Roster notice. new text end

new text begin A notice must be placed prominently by the roster to
inform each voter that by signing the roster, the voter is swearing or affirming that the
voter is eligible to vote, and that it is a felony for an individual to vote if the individual is
not eligible. The notice must provide a description of eligibility criteria for voting.
new text end

Sec. 5. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE.
new text end

new text begin Sections 1 to 4 are effective on August 1, 2015.
new text end