1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to elections; providing for delivery of absentee ballots to an agent of 
1.3 	certain persons and return of ballots by the agent;amending Minnesota Statutes 
1.4 	2006, sections 203B.06, subdivision 3; 203B.11, subdivision 4.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 203B.06, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
1.7 		Subd. 3.Delivery of ballots. (a) If an application for absentee ballots is accepted 
1.8 	at a time when absentee ballots are not yet available for distribution, the county auditor, 
1.9 	or municipal clerk accepting the application shall file it and as soon as absentee ballots 
1.10 	are available for distribution shall mail them to the address specified in the application. 
1.11 	If an application for absentee ballots is accepted when absentee ballots are available for 
1.12 	distribution, the county auditor or municipal clerk accepting the application shall promptly:
1.13 	(1) mail the ballots to the voter whose signature appears on the application if the 
1.14 	application is submitted by mail and does not request commercial shipping under clause 
1.15 	(2);
1.16 	(2) ship the ballots to the voter using a commercial shipper requested by the voter at 
1.17 	the voter's expense;
1.18 	(3) deliver the absentee ballots directly to the voter if the application is submitted in 
1.19 	person; or
1.20 	(4) deliver the absentee ballots in a sealed transmittal envelope to an agent who has 
1.21 	been designated to bring the ballots, as provided in section 203B.11, subdivision 4, to a 
1.22 	voter who would have difficulty getting to the polls because of incapacitating health 
1.23 	reasons, or who is disabled, or who is a patient in a health care facility, as provided in 
1.24 	section 203B.11, subdivision 4,a resident of a facility providing assisted living services 
2.1 	governed by chapter 144G, a participant in a residential program for adults licensed under 
2.2 	section 245A.02, subdivision 14, or a resident of a shelter for battered women as defined 
2.3 	in section 611A.37, subdivision 4. 
2.4 	(b) If an application does not indicate the election for which absentee ballots are 
2.5 	sought, the county auditor or municipal clerk shall mail or deliver only the ballots for 
2.6 	the next election occurring after receipt of the application. Only one set of ballots may 
2.7 	be mailed, shipped, or delivered to an applicant for any election, except as provided in 
2.8 	section 203B.13, subdivision 2, or when a replacement ballot has been requested by the 
2.9 	voter for a ballot that has been spoiled or lost in transit. 

2.10 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 203B.11, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
2.11 		Subd. 4.Agent delivery of ballots. During the four seven days preceding an 
2.12 	election and until 2:00 p.m. on election day, an eligible voter who would have difficulty 
2.13 	getting to the polls because of incapacitating health reasons, or who is disabled, or who is 
2.14 	a patient of a health care facility, a resident of a facility providing assisted living services 
2.15 	governed by chapter 144G, a participant in a residential program for adults licensed under 
2.16 	section 245A.02, subdivision 14, or a resident of a shelter for battered women as defined in 
2.17 	section 611A.37, subdivision 4, may designate an agent to deliver the ballots to the voter 
2.18 	from the county auditor or municipal clerk. An agent must have a preexisting relationship 
2.19 	with the voter. A candidate at the election may not be designated as an agent. The voted 
2.20 	ballots must be returned to the county auditor or municipal clerk no later than 3:00 p.m. 
2.21 	on election day. The voter must complete an affidavit requesting the auditor or clerk to 
2.22 	provide the agent with the ballots in a sealed transmittal envelope. The affidavit must 
2.23 	include a statement from the voter stating that the ballots were delivered to the voter by 
2.24 	the agent in the sealed transmittal envelope. An agent may deliver ballots to no more than 
2.25 	three persons in any election. The secretary of state shall provide samples of the affidavit 
2.26 	and transmission envelope for use by the county auditors.

2.27 	Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 2.28 	This act is effective for elections held after June 1, 2008.