1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to elections; allowing eligible voters to vote by absentee ballot under 
1.3 	certain public health circumstances;amending Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 
1.4 	203B.02, subdivision 1.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 203B.02, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.7 		Subdivision 1.Unable to go to polling place. Any eligible voter who reasonably 
1.8 	expects to be unable to go to the polling place on election day in the precinct where the 
1.9 	individual maintains residence because of  may vote by absentee ballot as provided in 
1.10 	sections  203B.04 to 203B.15 for any of the following reasons:absence from the precinct,;
1.11 	illness,; disability,; religious discipline,; observance of a religious holiday,; isolation or 
1.12 	quarantine orders under sections 144.419 to 144.4196; an advisory to avoid polling places 
1.13 	in the precinct due to bioterrorism, the spread of a communicable disease, or other threat 
1.14 	to public health issued by the secretary of state after consultation with the governor, 
1.15 	commissioner of health, and commissioner of public safety; or service as an election 
1.16 	judge in another precinct may vote by absentee ballot as provided in sections  203B.04 to 
1.17 	203B.15. 

1.18 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.