1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to elections; preventing rejection of ballots that carry identifying marks; 
1.3 	amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204C.18, subdivision 2; repealing 
1.4 	Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204C.22, subdivision 13.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204C.18, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
1.7 		Subd. 2.Ballots; identifying marks; penalty. No ~~voter,~~ election judge~~,~~ or other 
1.8 	individual shall place at any time a mark as a means of identification upon any ballot 
1.9 	handed to or cast by a voter or upon spoiled or discarded ballots, except the initials 
1.10 	authorized by section 204C.09. A violation of this subdivision is a gross misdemeanor.
1.11 	 This subdivision does not prohibit marks made by a voter on the voter's own ballot.

1.12 	Sec. 2.  REPEALER.
 1.13 	Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204C.22, subdivision 13, is repealed.

1.14 	Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 1.15 	This act is effective the day following final enactment and applies to ballots cast at 
1.16 	elections conducted on or after that date.