Relating to elections

ARTICLE 1 - ABSENTEE VOTING

Relating to elections; clarifying procedures related to absentee voting by participants in the safe-at-home address confidentiality program; modifying eligibility requirements for voting by absentee ballot; modifying certain procedures related to applying for, obtaining, or casting an absentee ballot; repealing the application for ballots ongoing absentee status termination provision

ARTICLE 2 - ELECTION ADMINISTRATION

Adjusting the house of representatives district boundaries within senate district 39; adjusting the house of representatives district boundaries within senate district 49; modifying the process for a referendum on the discontinuance of a soil and water conservation district; removing a reference to a colored ballot and replacing it with a reference to the state general election ballot; modifying the soil and water conservation district redistricting section to be consistent with state law; clarifying the question to be placed on the ballot to consider consolidating school districts; lowering the number of individuals that a voter may vouch for on election day from 15 to 8; requiring voter registration instructions to be available in an audio format instead of on a cassette tape; removing the requirement specifying the number of public buildings that must be designated as places for voter registration prior to election day; specifying that a notice to a voter that has moved out of state regarding the voter status must not be mailed if a voter record is challenged due to a felony conviction, lack of US citizenship, legal incompetence, or court-ordered revocation of voting rights; authorizing the secretary of state to determine if a person listed either on the Social Security death index or on a report from the vital records department of another state is registered to vote; specifying that a notice of registration due to a name change must not be mailed to a voter whose record is challenged due to felony conviction, lack of US citizenship, legal incompetence, or court-ordered revocation of voting rights; requiring the secretary of state to announce the date of the official state precinct caucus within two business days after the parties have agreed on the date; requiring the designation or notice that a municipal clerk will administer absentee ballot also specify whether the clerk will also be responsible for the administration of the absentee ballot board; specifying that absentee ballots received on election day after the stated deadlines must be marked as late and not be delivered to the ballot board; providing that a voter may vote by absentee ballot in person during the 46 days before any election, except that the period is lowered to 30 days before a town election held in March; permitting a ballot board to include deputy county auditors or deputy city clerks who have received training in the processing and counting of absentee ballots; removing a reference to the state write-in absentee ballot for uniformed and overseas citizen absentee voters; removing a reference to the year when annual reports were first required; prohibiting a candidate from filing multiple affidavits of candidacy unless a previous affidavit is withdrawn; removing requirements for having ballot boxes for each color of ballot; requiring that a minimum of four election judges be appointed for each precinct at a state general election except that a minimum of three election judges must be appointed for each precinct with fewer than 500 registered voters; requiring that the county auditor meet with or otherwise communicate with local election officials to review procedures for the election; adjusting the timing for notice of filing for the state primary; requiring absentee ballots to be prepared and delivered to election officials 46 days before an election, except for town elections in March for which ballots must be prepared and delivered at least 30 days before the election; expanding the authorization for towns to conduct mail balloting by allowing for any town, regardless of size; requiring notice of elections for offices that are conducted by mail be given at least 10 weeks before the election, instead of six weeks; requiring notice of elections for ballot questions conducted by mail be given 74 days prior to the election, instead of 53 days; allowing a voter who is deaf, cannot speak English, or cannot understand spoken English to be assisted by an individual chosen by the voter; modifying the recount thresholds for publicly funded recounts for federal offices, state constitutional offices, statewide judicial offices, congressional offices, state legislative offices, and district judicial offices; specifying that the filing officer is the county auditor for state offices voted on in only one county and the secretary of state is the filing officer for all other federal and state offices; amending the recount threshold for publicly funded recounts for county, municipal, or school district offices; requiring the county auditor to prepare a sample ballot for each precinct at least 46 days before the state primary; requiring the secretary of state to determine the order of the candidates nominated by petition; requiring the county auditor to post sample ballots for each precinct at least 46 days before the state general election; prohibiting a special election for a vacancy in a state legislative office from being held four days before or four days after a holiday; prohibiting a municipal special election on a ballot question from being held within 56 days after the state general election; requiring the municipal clerk's office to be open to accept candidate filings from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the last day of the filing period; setting the notice period before all municipal elections to at least 74 days; making ballot requirements the same for all cities and towns; allowing a school board to change the year in which the school district general election will be held; prohibiting school district special elections from being held 56 days before or after a regularly scheduled primary or general election conducted within the school district; providing that when more than one vacancy exists in an at-large school district office, voters must be instructed to vote for up to the number of vacancies to be filled; setting the notice period before all school district elections to at least 74 days; providing that ballot boxes with precinct count voting systems are not required to have two compartments to receive ballots; providing that the postelection review must not begin before the 11th day after the state general election and must be completed no later than the 18th day after the general election; specifying that no postelection review is required for a race that is recounted under certain conditions; specifying that a single ballot title must be used in state elections; allowing any size and number of noncommercial signs (campaign signs) to be posted beginning 46 days before the state primary until ten days after the state general election; eliminating a requirement that the county pay the cost of any fair campaign practices act complaint that relates to an office or ballot question that is not voted on statewide; modifying the ballot question that must be used when cities either start or stop issuing intoxicating liquor licenses; requiring the question that must appear on a ballot when a city votes on discontinuing the operation of a municipal liquor store; modifying the form of the question to be placed on a ballot for certain county actions; prohibiting hospital district special elections from being held 56 days before or after a regularly scheduled primary or general election conducted within the hospital district; requiring notice of elections hospital district elections be given 74 days prior to the election, instead of 53 days; modifying the filing period for hospital district offices to be 98 days to 84 days before the election; amending the special law relating to a hospital district in Yellow Medicine County to require hospital board elections to be conducted pursuant to state statutes; appropriating money to the secretary of state to develop punctuality in the statewide voter registration system to facilitate processing and tracking of mail ballot; repealing provisions relating to the number of required election judges and the prohibition of sample ballots from being printed on paper the same color as any official colored ballot and providing for different election procedures for first class cities than for all other cities

ARTICLE 3 - VOTING RIGHTS AND VOTING DATA

Requiring the commissioner of corrections to provide the secretary of state with a list of names and addresses of correctional facilities; designating signature on roster as prima facie evidence; appropriating money

ARTICLE 4 - ELECTRONIC ROSTERS

Relating to elections; establishing the electronic roster pilot project; providing for participating cities and technology requirements; authorizing the application of state election law; providing for voter signature certificates and registration application retention; requiring pilot project precinct participants to use roster on election day; requiring an evaluation; establishing an electronic roster task force, prescribing membership and duties; prohibiting task force members from having a financial interest in the technology manufacturer or distributor; requiring the secretary of state to convene the first meeting; specifying member compensation and support staff; requiring a report to the legislature by a certain date; sunset date; appropriating money

ARTICLE 5 - VACANCIES IN NOMINATION

Modifying certain procedures and requirements related to vacancies in nomination for partisan offices; repealing certain vacancy in nomination and withdrawal of candidate provisions
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