HF 3918

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 02/19/2024 02:12pm

A bill for an act
relating to elections; allowing absentee ballot applications to be submitted
electronically for certain standalone local elections; amending Minnesota Statutes
2023 Supplement, section 203B.04, subdivision 1.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 203B.04, subdivision 1, is amended
to read:

Subdivision 1.

Application procedures.

(a) Except as otherwise allowed by subdivision
2 or by section 203B.11, subdivision 4, an application for absentee ballots for any election
may be submitted at any time not less than one day before the day of that election. The
county auditor shall prepare absentee ballot application forms in the format provided by the
secretary of state and shall furnish them to any person on request. By January 1 of each
even-numbered year, the secretary of state shall make the forms to be used available to
auditors through electronic means. An application submitted pursuant to this subdivision
shall be in writing. An application may be submitted in person, by electronic facsimile
device, by electronic mail, or by mail to:

(1) the county auditor of the county where the applicant maintains residence; or

(2) the municipal clerk of the municipality, or school district if applicable, where the
applicant maintains residence.

deleted text begin For a federal, state, or county election, deleted text end new text begin (b) new text end an absentee ballot application may alternatively
be submitted electronically through a secure website that shall be maintained by the secretary
of state for this purpose. Notwithstanding paragraph deleted text begin (b) deleted text end new text begin (d) new text end , the secretary of state must
require applicants using the website to submit the applicant's email address and verifiable
Minnesota driver's license number, Minnesota state identification card number, or the last
four digits of the applicant's Social Security number. new text begin This paragraph does not apply to a
town election held in March.
new text end

new text begin (c) new text end An application submitted electronically under this paragraph may only be transmitted
to the county auditor for processing if the secretary of state has verified the application
information matches the information in a government database associated with the applicant's
driver's license number, state identification card number, or Social Security number. The
secretary of state must review all unverifiable applications for evidence of suspicious activity
and must forward any such application to an appropriate law enforcement agency for
investigation.

deleted text begin (b) deleted text end new text begin (d) new text end An application shall be approved if it is timely received, signed and dated by the
applicant, contains the applicant's name and residence and mailing addresses, date of birth,
and at least one of the following:

(1) the applicant's Minnesota driver's license number;

(2) Minnesota state identification card number;

(3) the last four digits of the applicant's Social Security number; or

(4) a statement that the applicant does not have any of these numbers.

deleted text begin (c) deleted text end new text begin (e) new text end To be approved, the application must contain an oath that the information contained
on the form is accurate, that the applicant is applying on the applicant's own behalf, and
that the applicant is signing the form under penalty of perjury.

deleted text begin (d) deleted text end new text begin (f) new text end An applicant's full date of birth, Minnesota driver's license or state identification
number, and the last four digits of the applicant's Social Security number must not be made
available for public inspection. An application may be submitted to the county auditor or
municipal clerk by an electronic facsimile device. An application mailed or returned in
person to the county auditor or municipal clerk on behalf of a voter by a person other than
the voter must be deposited in the mail or returned in person to the county auditor or
municipal clerk within ten days after it has been dated by the voter and no later than six
days before the election.

deleted text begin (e) deleted text end new text begin (g) new text end An application under this subdivision may contain an application under subdivision
5 to automatically receive an absentee ballot.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective September 1, 2025, and applies to
elections held on or after November 4, 2025.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin REVISOR INSTRUCTION.
new text end

new text begin The revisor of statutes must correct all cross-references to the paragraphs that were
relettered in Minnesota Statutes, section 203B.04, subdivision 1, as provided in section 1.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective September 1, 2025.
new text end