1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to elections; modifying certain voting administration provisions, including 
1.3 	candidate filing, registration, vouching, election judges, polling places, ballots, 
1.4 	postelection review; appropriating money; requiring reports; providing criminal 
1.5 	penalties; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 13.607, by adding a 
1.6 	subdivision; 201.061, subdivision 3; 201.091, subdivision 2; 201.14; 201.225, 
1.7 	subdivision 1; 203B.06, subdivision 3; 203B.121, subdivision 1; 203B.23, 
1.8 	subdivision 1; 204B.06, subdivision 1b; 204B.14, subdivision 2; 204B.19, 
1.9 	subdivision 5; 204B.21, subdivision 1, by adding a subdivision; 204B.25, 
1.10 	subdivision 1; 204B.27, subdivision 2, by adding a subdivision; 204B.40; 204C.07; 
1.11 	204C.15, subdivisions 1, 2; 204C.24, subdivision 1; 204C.35, by adding a 
1.12 	subdivision; 204D.17, by adding a subdivision; 206.845, subdivisions 1, 2, 3; 
1.13 	206.89, subdivisions 2, 3; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, 
1.14 	chapter 204C; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 204B.21, subdivision 
1.15 	3; 204C.07, subdivision 5.
1.16 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.17 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 13.607, is amended by adding a subdivision 
1.18 	to read:
1.19 		Subd. 10.Election judge party affiliation. The party affiliation of election judges is 
1.20 	classified as provided in section 204B.21, subdivision 4.

1.21 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 201.061, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
1.22 		Subd. 3.Election day registration. (a) An individual who is eligible to vote may register 
1.23 	on election day by appearing in person at the polling place for the precinct in which the 
1.24 	individual maintains residence, by completing a registration application, making an oath in 
1.25 	the form prescribed by the secretary of state and providing proof of residence. An individual 
1.26 	may prove residence for purposes of registering by:
2.1 	(1) presenting a driver's license or Minnesota identification card issued pursuant to 
2.2 	section 171.07;
2.3 	(2) presenting any document approved by the secretary of state as proper identification;
2.4 	(3) presenting a current student fee statement that contains the student's valid address 
2.5 	in the precinct together with a picture identification card; or
2.6 	(4) having a voter who is registered to vote in the precinct, or an employee employed 
2.7 	by and working in a residential facility in the precinct and vouching for a resident in the 
2.8 	facility, sign an oath in the presence of the election judge vouching that the voter or employee 
2.9 	personally knows that the individual is a resident of the precinct. A voter who has been 
2.10 	vouched for on election day may not sign a proof of residence oath vouching for any other 
2.11 	individual on that election day. An election judge may not sign a proof of residence oath 
2.12 	vouching for any individual who appears in the precinct where the election judge is working. 
2.13 	A voter who is registered to vote in the precinct may sign up to eight proof-of-residence 
2.14 	oaths on any election day. This limitation does not apply to an employee of a residential 
2.15 	facility described in this clause.
2.16 	(b) The secretary of state shall provide a form for election judges to use in recording the 
2.17 	number and identity of individuals for whom a voter signs proof-of-residence oaths on 
2.18 	election day. The form must include space for the maximum number of individuals for 
2.19 	whom a voter may sign proof-of-residence oaths. For each proof-of-residence oath, the form 
2.20 	must include a statement that the individual: (i) is registered to vote in the precinct or is an 
2.21 	employee of a residential facility in the precinct, (ii) personally knows that the voter is a 
2.22 	resident of the precinct, and (iii) is making the statement on oath. The form must include a 
2.23 	space for the voter's printed name, signature, telephone number, and address. The form must 
2.24 	be maintained as required by section 204B.40 and is public information.
2.25 	(c) The oath required by this subdivision and Minnesota Rules, part 8200.9939, must 
2.26 	be attached to the voter registration application.
2.27 	(b) (d) The operator of a residential facility shall prepare a list of the names of its 
2.28 	employees currently working in the residential facility and the address of the residential 
2.29 	facility. The operator shall certify the list and provide it to the appropriate county auditor 
2.30 	no less than 20 days before each election for use in election day registration. The secretary 
2.31 	of state must publish guidance for residential facilities and residential facility employees 
2.32 	on the vouching process and the requirements of this paragraph.
2.33 	(c) (e) "Residential facility" means transitional housing as defined in section 256K.48, 
2.34 	subdivision 1; a supervised living facility licensed by the commissioner of health under 
3.1 	section 144.50, subdivision 6; a nursing home as defined in section 144A.01, subdivision 
3.2 	5; an assisted living facility licensed by the commissioner of health under chapter 144G; a 
3.3 	veterans home operated by the board of directors of the Minnesota Veterans Homes under 
3.4 	chapter 198; a residence licensed by the commissioner of human services to provide a 
3.5 	residential program as defined in section 245A.02, subdivision 14; a residential facility for 
3.6 	persons with a developmental disability licensed by the commissioner of human services 
3.7 	under section 252.28; setting authorized to provide housing support as defined in section 
3.8 	256I.03, subdivision 10a; a shelter for battered women as defined in section 611A.37, 
3.9 	subdivision 4; a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter or dwelling designed to 
3.10 	provide temporary living accommodations for the homeless; a facility where a provider 
3.11 	operates a residential treatment program as defined in section 245.462, subdivision 23; or 
3.12 	a facility where a provider operates an adult foster care program as defined in section 
3.13 	245A.02, subdivision 6c.
3.14 	(d)(f) For tribal band members, an individual may prove residence for purposes of 
3.15 	registering by:
3.16 	(1) presenting an identification card issued by the tribal government of a tribe recognized 
3.17 	by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, United States Department of the Interior, that contains the 
3.18 	name, address, signature, and picture of the individual; or
3.19 	(2) presenting an identification card issued by the tribal government of a tribe recognized 
3.20 	by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, United States Department of the Interior, that contains the 
3.21 	name, signature, and picture of the individual and also presenting one of the documents 
3.22 	listed in Minnesota Rules, part 8200.5100, subpart 2, item B.
3.23 	(e) A county, school district, or municipality may require that an election judge 
3.24 	responsible for election day registration initial each completed registration application.

3.25 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 201.091, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
3.26 		Subd. 2.Corrected list. By February 15 of each year, the secretary of state shall prepare 
3.27 	the master list for each county auditor. The records in the statewide registration system must 
3.28 	be periodically corrected and updated by the county auditor. An updated master list for each 
3.29 	precinct must be available for absentee voting at least 46 days before each election. The 
3.30 	updated master list must not be made available until the secretary of state certifies that all 
3.31 	registered voters have been verified consistent with the requirements of the Help America 
3.32 	Vote Act of 2002, Public Law 107-252, as amended, including verification using the Help 
3.33 	America Vote Verification system administered by the Social Security Administration, and 
3.34 	that all individuals previously on the list and who have been determined to be ineligible 
4.1 	have been removed from the list. A final corrected master list must be available seven days 
4.2 	before each election. The secretary of state must provide each county auditor with a separate 
4.3 	list identifying each individual that was removed after the individual was determined to be 
4.4 	ineligible. No later than March 15 of each year, the secretary of state must submit a report 
4.5 	to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction 
4.6 	over elections certifying compliance with the requirements of this subdivision and the 
4.7 	number of individuals who were removed from each county's master list.

4.8 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 201.14, is amended to read:
4.9 	201.14 COURT ADMINISTRATOR OF DISTRICT COURT; REPORT CHANGES 
4.10 	OF NAMES.
4.11 	(a) The state court administrator shall regularly report by electronic means to the secretary 
4.12 	of state the name, address, and, if available, driver's license or state identification card 
4.13 	number of each individual, 18 years of age or over, whose name was changed since the last 
4.14 	report, by marriage, divorce, or any order or decree of the court. The secretary of state shall 
4.15 	determine if any of the persons in the report are registered to vote under their previous name 
4.16 	and shall prepare a list of those registrants for each county auditor. Upon receipt of the list, 
4.17 	the county auditor shall make the change in the voter's record and mail to the voter the notice 
4.18 	of registration required by section 201.121, subdivision 2. A notice must not be mailed if 
4.19 	the voter's record is challenged due to a felony conviction, lack of United States citizenship, 
4.20 	legal incompetence, or court-ordered revocation of voting rights of persons under 
4.21 	guardianship.
4.22 	(b) The state court administrator shall report quarterly by electronic means to the secretary 
4.23 	of state the name, address, and, if available, driver's license or state identification card 
4.24 	number of each individual who identified themselves as not being citizens of the United 
4.25 	States as part of their response to a summons to serve as a juror during the time since the 
4.26 	previous report. The secretary of state must verify whether any individuals identified on 
4.27 	the report are registered to vote and, if so, remove that individual's entry in the statewide 
4.28 	voter registration system. The secretary of state must notify any individuals whose registration 
4.29 	status is changed under this paragraph.

4.30 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 201.225, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
4.31 		Subdivision 1.Authority. A county, municipality, or school district may use electronic 
4.32 	rosters for any election. A county administering a municipal or school district election may 
4.33 	not require the municipality or school district to use an electronic roster if the governing 
5.1 	body of the municipality or school district has voted to prohibit their use. In a county, 
5.2 	municipality, or school district that uses electronic rosters, the head elections official may 
5.3 	designate that some or all of the precincts use electronic rosters. An electronic roster must 
5.4 	comply with all of the requirements of this section. An electronic roster must include 
5.5 	information required in section 201.221, subdivision 3, and any rules adopted pursuant to 
5.6 	that section.

5.7 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 203B.06, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
5.8 		Subd. 3.Delivery of ballots. (a) The county auditor, municipal clerk, school district 
5.9 	clerk, or full-time clerk of any city or town administering an election pursuant to section 
5.10 	203B.05, shall mail absentee ballots to voters on the permanent absentee ballot list pursuant 
5.11 	to section 203B.04, subdivision 5, on the following timelines:
5.12 	(1) except as otherwise provided by this section, at leastno more than 46 days before 
5.13 	each regularly scheduled primary and general election and each special primary and special 
5.14 	election;
5.15 	(2) as soon as practicable for a special election held pursuant to section 204D.19, 
5.16 	subdivisions 2 and 3; and
5.17 	(3) at least no more than 30 days before a town general election held in March.
5.18 	(b) The commissioner of corrections must provide the secretary of state with a list of 
5.19 	the names and mailing addresses of state adult correctional facilities. An application for an 
5.20 	absentee ballot that provides an address included on the list provided by the commissioner 
5.21 	of corrections must not be accepted and an absentee ballot must not be provided to the 
5.22 	applicant. The county auditor or municipal clerk must promptly transmit a copy of the 
5.23 	application to the county attorney. The Department of Corrections must implement procedures 
5.24 	to ensure that absentee ballots issued under this chapter are not received or mailed by 
5.25 	offenders incarcerated at state adult correctional facilities.
5.26 	(c) If an application for absentee ballots is accepted at a time when absentee ballots are 
5.27 	not yet available for distribution, the county auditor, or municipal clerk accepting the 
5.28 	application shall file it and as soon as absentee ballots are available for distribution shall 
5.29 	mail them to the address specified in the application. If an application for absentee ballots 
5.30 	is accepted when absentee ballots are available for distribution, the county auditor or 
5.31 	municipal clerk accepting the application shall promptly:
6.1 	(1) mail the ballots to the voter whose signature appears on the application if the 
6.2 	application is submitted by mail and does not request commercial shipping under clause 
6.3 	(2);
6.4 	(2) ship the ballots to the voter using a commercial shipper requested by the voter at the 
6.5 	voter's expense;
6.6 	(3) deliver the absentee ballots directly to the voter if the application is submitted in 
6.7 	person; or
6.8 	(4) deliver the absentee ballots in a sealed transmittal envelope to an agent who has been 
6.9 	designated to bring the ballots, as provided in section 203B.11, subdivision 4, to a voter 
6.10 	who would have difficulty getting to the polls because of incapacitating health reasons, or 
6.11 	who is disabled, or who is a patient in a health care facility, a resident of an assisted living 
6.12 	facility licensed under chapter 144G, a participant in a residential program for adults licensed 
6.13 	under section 245A.02, subdivision 14, or a resident of a shelter for battered women as 
6.14 	defined in section 611A.37, subdivision 4.
6.15 	(d) If an application does not indicate the election for which absentee ballots are sought, 
6.16 	the county auditor or municipal clerk shall mail or deliver only the ballots for the next 
6.17 	election occurring after receipt of the application. Only one set of ballots may be mailed, 
6.18 	shipped, or delivered to an applicant for any election, except as provided in section 203B.121, 
6.19 	subdivision 2, or when a replacement ballot has been requested by the voter for a ballot that 
6.20 	has been spoiled or lost in transit.

6.21 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 203B.121, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
6.22 		Subdivision 1.Establishment; applicable laws. (a) The governing body of each county, 
6.23 	municipality, and school district with responsibility to accept and reject absentee ballots or 
6.24 	to administer early voting must, by ordinance or resolution, establish a ballot board. The 
6.25 	board must consist of a sufficient number of election judges appointed as provided in sections 
6.26 	204B.19 to 204B.22. The board may include deputy county auditors or deputy city clerks 
6.27 	who have received training in the processing and counting of absentee ballots. Each member 
6.28 	of the ballot board must be provided adequate training on the processing and counting of 
6.29 	absentee ballots, including but not limited to instruction on accepting and rejecting absentee 
6.30 	ballots, storage of absentee ballots, timelines and deadlines, the role of the ballot board, 
6.31 	procedures for opening absentee ballot envelopes, procedures for counting absentee ballots, 
6.32 	and procedures for reporting absentee ballot totals.
7.1 	(b) Each jurisdiction must pay a reasonable compensation to each member of that 
7.2 	jurisdiction's ballot board for services rendered during an election. The names and job title 
7.3 	of all members of a ballot board are public information and must be provided to a requestor 
7.4 	within five business days of a request.
7.5 	(c) Except as otherwise provided by this section, all provisions of the Minnesota Election 
7.6 	Law apply to a ballot board.

7.7 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 203B.23, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
7.8 		Subdivision 1.Establishment. The county auditor must establish an absentee ballot 
7.9 	board for ballots issued under sections 203B.16 to 203B.27. The board may consist of staff 
7.10 	trained as election judges, in which case, the board is exempt from Sections 204B.19, 
7.11 	subdivision 5, and 204C.15, relating to party balance in appointment of judges and to duties 
7.12 	to be performed by judges of different major political parties, apply to the makeup of an 
7.13 	absentee ballot board.

7.14 	Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 204B.06, subdivision 1b, is amended to read:
7.15 		Subd. 1b.Address, electronic mail address, and telephone number. (a) An affidavit 
7.16 	of candidacy must state a telephone number where the candidate can be contacted. An 
7.17 	affidavit must also state the candidate's or campaign's nongovernment issued electronic 
7.18 	mail address or an attestation that the candidate and the candidate's campaign do not possess 
7.19 	an electronic mail address. An affidavit must also state the candidate's current address of 
7.20 	residence as determined under section 200.031, or at the candidate's request in accordance 
7.21 	with paragraph (c), the candidate's campaign contact address and include a statement, signed 
7.22 	under oath by at least two residents of the district who are not related to the candidate, 
7.23 	attesting to their personal knowledge that the candidate resides at the address identified in 
7.24 	the affidavit. When filing the affidavit, the candidate must present the filing officer with 
7.25 	the candidate's valid driver's license or state identification card that contains the candidate's 
7.26 	current address of residence, or documentation of proof of residence authorized for election 
7.27 	day registration in section 201.061, subdivision 3, paragraph (a), clause (2); clause (3), item 
7.28 	(ii); or paragraph (d). If the address on the affidavit and the documentation do not match, 
7.29 	the filing officer must not accept the affidavit. The form for the affidavit of candidacy must 
7.30 	allow the candidate to request, if eligible, that the candidate's address of residence be 
7.31 	classified as private data, and to provide the certification required under paragraph (c) for 
7.32 	classification of that address.
8.1 	(b) If an affidavit for an office where a residency requirement must be satisfied by the 
8.2 	close of the filing period is filed as provided by paragraph (c), the filing officer must, within 
8.3 	one business day of receiving the filing, determine whether the address provided in the 
8.4 	affidavit of candidacy is within the area represented by the office the candidate is seeking. 
8.5 	For all other candidates who filed for an office whose residency requirement must be satisfied 
8.6 	by the close of the filing period, a registered voter in this state may request in writing that 
8.7 	the filing officer receiving the affidavit of candidacy review the address as provided in this 
8.8 	paragraph, at any time up to one day after the last day for filing for office. If requested, the 
8.9 	filing officer must determine whether the address provided in the affidavit of candidacy is 
8.10 	within the area represented by the office the candidate is seeking. If the filing officer 
8.11 	determines that the address is not within the area represented by the office, the filing officer 
8.12 	must immediately notify the candidate and the candidate's name must be removed from the 
8.13 	ballot for that office. A determination made by a filing officer under this paragraph is subject 
8.14 	to judicial review under section 204B.44.
8.15 	(c) If the candidate requests that the candidate's address of residence be classified as 
8.16 	private data, the candidate must list the candidate's address of residence on a separate form 
8.17 	to be attached to the affidavit. The candidate must also certify on the affidavit that either: 
8.18 	(1) a police report has been submitted, an order for protection has been issued, or the 
8.19 	candidate has a reasonable fear in regard to the safety of the candidate or the candidate's 
8.20 	family; or (2) the candidate's address is otherwise private pursuant to Minnesota law. The 
8.21 	address of residence provided by a candidate who makes a request for classification on the 
8.22 	candidate's affidavit of candidacy and provides the certification required by this paragraph 
8.23 	is classified as private data, as defined in section 13.02, subdivision 12, but may be reviewed 
8.24 	by the filing officer as provided in this subdivision.
8.25 	(d) The requirements of this subdivision do not apply to affidavits of candidacy for a 
8.26 	candidate for: (1) judicial office; (2) the office of county attorney; or (3) county sheriff.
8.27 	(e) A candidate or other signatory who willfully makes a false statement on an affidavit 
8.28 	of candidacy may be subject to 90 days imprisonment, a $10,000 fine, or both.

8.29 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment and 
8.30 	applies to affidavits of candidacy submitted during filing periods beginning on or after that 
8.31 	date.

8.32 	Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 204B.14, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
8.33 		Subd. 2.Separate precincts; combined polling place. (a) The following shall constitute 
8.34 	at least one election precinct:
9.1 	(1) each city ward; and
9.2 	(2) each town and each statutory city.
9.3 	(b) A single, accessible, combined polling place may be established no later than 
9.4 	November 1 if a presidential nomination primary is scheduled to occur in the following 
9.5 	year or May 1 of any other year:
9.6 	(1) for any city of the third or fourth class, any town, or any city having territory in more 
9.7 	than one county, in which all the voters of the city or town shall cast their ballots;
9.8 	(2) for contiguous precincts in the same municipality;
9.9 	(3) for up to four contiguous municipalities located entirely outside the metropolitan 
9.10 	area, as defined by section 200.02, subdivision 24, that are contained in the same county; 
9.11 	or
9.12 	(4) for noncontiguous precincts located in one or more counties.
9.13 	Subject to the requirements of paragraph (c), a single, accessible, combined polling place 
9.14 	may be established after May 1 of any year in the event of an emergency.
9.15 	A copy of the ordinance or resolution establishing a combined polling place must be 
9.16 	filed with the county auditor within 30 days after approval by the governing body, and the 
9.17 	county auditor must provide notice within ten days to the secretary of state, in a manner 
9.18 	and including information prescribed by the secretary of state. A polling place combined 
9.19 	under clause (3) must be approved by the governing body of each participating municipality. 
9.20 	A polling place combined under clause (4) must be approved by the governing body of each 
9.21 	participating municipality and the secretary of state and may be located outside any of the 
9.22 	noncontiguous precincts. A municipality withdrawing from participation in a combined 
9.23 	polling place must do so by filing a resolution of withdrawal with the county auditor no 
9.24 	later than October 1 if a presidential nomination primary is scheduled to occur in the 
9.25 	following year or April 1 of any other year, and the county auditor must provide notice 
9.26 	within ten days to the secretary of state, in a manner and including information prescribed 
9.27 	by the secretary of state.
9.28 	The secretary of state shall provide a separate polling place roster for each precinct 
9.29 	served by the combined polling place, except that in a precinct that uses electronic rosters 
9.30 	the secretary of state shall provide separate data files for each precinct. The secretary of 
9.31 	state and county auditor must provide guidance to the election judges serving in a combined 
9.32 	polling place on the procedures to be used to ensure each voter is provided the correct ballot 
9.33 	for that voter's precinct. A single set of election judges may be appointed to serve at a 
10.1 	combined polling place. The number of election judges required must be based on the total 
10.2 	number of persons voting at the last similar election in all precincts to be voting at the 
10.3 	combined polling place. Separate ballot boxes must be provided for the ballots from each 
10.4 	precinct. The results of the election must be reported separately for each precinct served by 
10.5 	the combined polling place, except in a polling place established under clause (2) where 
10.6 	one of the precincts has fewer than ten registered voters, in which case the results of that 
10.7 	precinct must be reported in the manner specified by the secretary of state. In addition to 
10.8 	other required informational material and notices, a map showing the precincts served by 
10.9 	the combined polling place, along with a notice that multiple ballot styles are in use, must 
10.10 	be prominently displayed near the entrance to the combined polling place.
10.11 	(c) If a local elections official determines that an emergency situation preventing the 
10.12 	safe, secure, and full operation of a polling place on election day has occurred or is imminent, 
10.13 	the local elections official may combine two or more polling places for that election pursuant 
10.14 	to this subdivision. To the extent possible, the polling places must be combined and the 
10.15 	election conducted according to the requirements of paragraph (b), except that:
10.16 	(1) polling places may be combined after May 1 and until the polls close on election 
10.17 	day;
10.18 	(2) any city or town, regardless of size or location, may establish a combined polling 
10.19 	place under this paragraph;
10.20 	(3) the governing body is not required to adopt an ordinance or resolution to establish 
10.21 	the combined polling place;
10.22 	(4) a polling place combined under paragraph (b), clause (3) or (4), must be approved 
10.23 	by the local election official of each participating municipality;
10.24 	(5) the local elections official must immediately notify the county auditor and the 
10.25 	secretary of state of the combination, including the reason for the emergency combination 
10.26 	and the location of the combined polling place. As soon as possible, the local elections 
10.27 	official must also post a notice stating the reason for the combination and the location of 
10.28 	the combined polling place. The notice must also be posted on the governing board's website, 
10.29 	if one exists. The local elections official must also notify the election judges and request 
10.30 	that local media outlets publicly announce the reason for the combination and the location 
10.31 	of the combined polling place; and
10.32 	(6) on election day, the local elections official must post a notice in large print in a 
10.33 	conspicuous place at the polling place where the emergency occurred, if practical, stating 
10.34 	the location of the combined polling place. The local election official must also post the 
11.1 	notice, if practical, in a location visible by voters who vote from their motor vehicles as 
11.2 	provided in section 204C.15, subdivision 2. If polling place hours are extended pursuant to 
11.3 	section 204C.05, subdivision 2, paragraph (b), the posted notices required by this paragraph 
11.4 	must include a statement that the polling place hours at the combined polling place will be 
11.5 	extended until the specified time.

11.6 	Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 204B.19, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
11.7 		Subd. 5.Party balance requirement. No more than half of the election judges in a 
11.8 	precinct, or at any location where ballots are being counted, recounted, or reviewed, may 
11.9 	be members of the same major political party unless the election board consists of an odd 
11.10 	number of election judges, in which case the number of election judges who are members 
11.11 	of the same major political party may be one more than half the number of election judges 
11.12 	in that precinct. Each major political party must be represented by at least one election judge 
11.13 	in each precinct.

11.14 	Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 204B.21, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
11.15 		Subdivision 1.Appointment lists; duties of political parties and secretary of state. On 
11.16 	May 1 in a year in which there is an election for a partisan political office, each major 
11.17 	political party shall prepare a list of eligible voters to act as election judges in each election 
11.18 	precinct. The list provided by the party must indicate which eligible voters are willing to 
11.19 	travel to a precinct outside of their home jurisdiction to act as an election judge, and the 
11.20 	jurisdictions to which each eligible voter is willing to travel for that purpose. The list may 
11.21 	also designate certain eligible voters as available to serve as alternates, to be appointed in 
11.22 	the event of unexpected vacancies or if all positions representing that party affiliation are 
11.23 	not able to be filled. The political parties shall furnish the lists electronically to the secretary 
11.24 	of state, in a format specified by the secretary of state. The secretary of state must combine 
11.25 	the data received from each political party under this subdivision and must process the data 
11.26 	to locate the precinct in which the address provided for each potential election judge is 
11.27 	located. If the data submitted by a political party is insufficient for the secretary of state to 
11.28 	locate the proper precinct, the associated name must not appear in any list forwarded to an 
11.29 	appointing authority under this subdivision. The secretary of state shall notify political 
11.30 	parties of any proposed election judges with addresses that could not be located in a precinct.
11.31 	By May 15, the secretary of state shall furnish electronically to the county auditor a list 
11.32 	of the appropriate names for each election precinct in the jurisdiction of the appointing 
11.33 	authority, and a list of the names of individuals residing outside of the jurisdiction who 
12.1 	indicated a willingness to travel to that jurisdiction to act as an election judge, noting the 
12.2 	political party affiliation of each individual on the list. The county auditor must promptly 
12.3 	forward the appropriate names to the appropriate municipal clerk. The county auditor or 
12.4 	municipal clerk must notify the secretary of state if there are not a sufficient number of 
12.5 	election judges affiliated with a political party to meet the party balance requirements of 
12.6 	each precinct in the auditor or clerk's jurisdiction. The secretary of state must forward the 
12.7 	notification to the designated representatives of that party and request that the party provide 
12.8 	further names, to the extent practicable.
12.9 	The secretary of state must provide a form that may be used by a political party to recruit 
12.10 	individuals willing to serve as election judges. The form must allow an interested individual 
12.11 	to indicate a willingness to travel to a precinct outside of the individual's home jurisdiction, 
12.12 	or to serve as a member of an absentee ballot board.

12.13 	Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 204B.21, is amended by adding a subdivision 
12.14 	to read:
12.15 		Subd. 4.Election judge major party affiliation; data classification.  (a) Each appointing 
12.16 	authority must maintain a list of all election judges that indicates the major political party 
12.17 	affiliation of each election judge or a statement that the judge does not affiliate with a major 
12.18 	political party. A list created under this paragraph is public data on individuals.
12.19 	(b) The lists described in subdivisions 1 and 2 are not public data on individuals.

12.20 	Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 204B.25, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
12.21 		Subdivision 1.Duties of county auditor. Each county auditor shall provide training for 
12.22 	all election judges who are appointed to serve at any election to be held in the county. The 
12.23 	county auditor shall also provide a procedure for emergency training of election judges 
12.24 	elected to fill vacancies. The county auditor may delegate to a municipal election official 
12.25 	the duty to provide training of election judges in that municipality or school district. The 
12.26 	training must be consistent with the training programs established by the secretary of state 
12.27 	under subdivision 2.

12.28 	Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 204B.27, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
12.29 		Subd. 2.Election law and instructions. The secretary of state shall prepare and publish 
12.30 	a volume containing all state general laws relating to elections. The attorney general shall 
12.31 	provide annotations to the secretary of state for this volume. On or before August 1 of every 
12.32 	odd-numbered year the secretary of state shall furnish to the county auditors and municipal 
13.1 	clerks enough copies of this volume so that each county auditor and municipal clerk will 
13.2 	have at least one copy. On or before July 1 of every even-numbered year, the secretary of 
13.3 	state shall prepare and make an electronic copy available on the office's website. The 
13.4 	secretary of state may must prepare and transmit to the county auditors and municipal clerks 
13.5 	detailed written instructions for complying with election laws relating to the conduct of 
13.6 	elections, conduct of voter registration and voting procedures the Minnesota Election Law.
13.7 	The materials must be kept up to date and include all requirements of the applicable laws 
13.8 	related to the conduct of elections, conduct of voter registration, and voting procedures.

13.9 	Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 204B.27, is amended by adding a subdivision 
13.10 	to read:
13.11 		Subd. 8a.Election judge advice telephone line. The secretary of state shall provide a 
13.12 	dedicated telephone line for use by election judges on each election day. The line must be 
13.13 	available for election judges to seek advice and to clarify procedures. The secretary of state 
13.14 	must maintain a log of calls received and the advice given to each election judge caller.

13.15 	Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 204B.40, is amended to read:
13.16 	204B.40 BALLOTS; ELECTION RECORDS AND OTHER MATERIALS; 
13.17 	DISPOSITION; INSPECTION OF BALLOTS.
13.18 	(a) The county auditors, municipal clerks, and school district clerks shall retain all 
13.19 	election materials returned to them after any election, along with any other election materials 
13.20 	used in conducting the election, including but not limited to registration forms, and absentee 
13.21 	ballot envelopes, for at least 22 months from the date of that election. All records and 
13.22 	materials must be stored in a locked container or other secured and locked space. All election 
13.23 	materials involved in a contested election must be retained for 22 months or until the contest 
13.24 	has been finally determined, whichever is later. Abstracts filed by canvassing boards shall 
13.25 	be retained permanently by any officer with whom those abstracts are filed. Election materials 
13.26 	no longer required to be retained pursuant to this section shall be disposed of in accordance 
13.27 	with sections 138.163 to 138.21. Sealed envelopes containing voted ballots must be retained 
13.28 	unopened, except as provided in this section, in a secure location. The county auditor, 
13.29 	municipal clerk, or school district clerk shall not permit any voted ballots to be tampered 
13.30 	with or defaced.
13.31 	(b) After the time for filing a notice of contest for an election has passed, the secretary 
13.32 	of state may, for the purpose of monitoring and evaluating election procedures: (1) open 
13.33 	the sealed ballot envelopes and inspect the ballots for that election maintained by the county 
14.1 	auditors, municipal clerks, or school district clerks; (2) inspect the polling place rosters and 
14.2 	completed voter registration applications; or (3) examine other forms required in the 
14.3 	Minnesota election laws for use in the polling place. No inspected ballot or document may 
14.4 	be marked or identified in any manner. After inspection, all ballots must be returned to the 
14.5 	ballot envelope and the ballot envelope must be securely resealed. Any other election 
14.6 	materials inspected or examined must be secured or resealed. No polling place roster may 
14.7 	be inspected until the voting history for that precinct has been posted. No voter registration 
14.8 	application may be inspected until the information on it has been entered into the statewide 
14.9 	registration system.
14.10 	(c) Destruction or disposal of voted ballots before the end of the retention period 
14.11 	established in paragraph (a) is a felony.

14.12 	Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 204C.07, is amended to read:
14.13 	204C.07 CHALLENGERS.
14.14 		Subdivision 1.Partisan elections. At an election to fill partisan offices, the chair of an 
14.15 	authorized committee of each major political party may appoint by written certificate voters 
14.16 	from that political party to act as challengers or observers of voters at the polling place for 
14.17 	each precinct. Only one challenger and one observer from each major political party for 
14.18 	each precinct shall be allowed to remain in the polling place at one time. The role of 
14.19 	appointed challenger and appointed observer may be performed by the same person.
14.20 		Subd. 2.Nonpartisan elections. At an election to fill nonpartisan offices, each 
14.21 	nonpartisan candidate may appoint by written certificate voters to act as challengers or 
14.22 	observers of voters at the polling place for each precinct. Only one challenger for each 
14.23 	candidate shall be allowed to remain in the polling place for each precinct at one time. The 
14.24 	role of appointed challenger and appointed observer may be performed by the same person.
14.25 		Subd. 3.Elections on a question. At an election where a question is to be voted upon 
14.26 	in an election jurisdiction, the appropriate mayor of a city, school board of a school district, 
14.27 	or board of supervisors of a town, upon receiving a written petition signed by at least 25 
14.28 	eligible voters, shall appoint by written certificate one voter for each precinct in the 
14.29 	municipality, or school district if applicable, to act as a challenger and observer of voters 
14.30 	in the polling place for that precinct. The petition must be delivered to the clerk of the 
14.31 	municipality or school conducting the election.
14.32 		Subd. 3a.Residence requirement. A challenger or observer must be a resident of this 
14.33 	state. Appointed challengers and observers seeking admission to a polling place to serve in 
15.1 	that capacity must prove their status as a resident of this state by presenting one of the 
15.2 	documents listed in section 201.061, subdivision 3. Challengers and observers need not 
15.3 	prove residence in the precinct in which they seek to act as a challenger.
15.4 		Subd. 4.Restrictions on conduct. An election judge must not be appointed as a 
15.5 	challenger or observer. The election judges must permit challengers and observers appointed 
15.6 	pursuant to this section to be present in the polling place during the hours of voting and to 
15.7 	remain there until the votes are counted and the results declared. A challenger or observer
15.8 	must not handle or inspect registration cards, files, or lists. Challengers and observers must 
15.9 	not prepare in any manner any list of individuals who have or have not voted. They must 
15.10 	not attempt to influence voting in any manner. In accordance with section 204C.12, 
15.11 	challengers and observers must not converse with a voter. Observers must be permitted to 
15.12 	observe activities at any location in the polling place where ballots are being cast, handled, 
15.13 	stored, or counted, and take photographs and videos of these activities, so long as the 
15.14 	photographs and videos are not further disseminated until after the polling place is closed.
15.15 		Subd. 5.Prohibited challenges. Challengers and the political parties that appointed 
15.16 	them must not compile lists of voters to challenge on the basis of mail sent by a political 
15.17 	party that was returned as undeliverable or if receipt by the intended recipient was not 
15.18 	acknowledged in the case of registered mail. This subdivision applies to any local, state, or 
15.19 	national affiliate of a political party that has appointed challengers, as well as any 
15.20 	subcontractors, vendors, or other individuals acting as agents on behalf of a political party.
15.21 	A violation of this subdivision is a gross misdemeanor.

15.22 	Sec. 19. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 204C.15, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
15.23 		Subdivision 1.Physical assistance in marking ballots. A voter who claims a need for 
15.24 	assistance because of inability to read English or physical inability to mark a ballot may 
15.25 	obtain the aid of two election judges who are members of different major political parties
15.26 	at any location where ballots may be cast, including early and in-person absentee voting 
15.27 	locations, and in a polling place on election day. The election judges shall mark the ballots 
15.28 	as directed by the voter and in as secret a manner as circumstances permit. A voter in need 
15.29 	of assistance may alternatively obtain the assistance of any individual the voter chooses. 
15.30 	Only the following persons may not provide assistance to a voter: the voter's employer, an 
15.31 	agent of the voter's employer, or an officer or agent of the voter's union. The person who 
15.32 	assists the voter shall, unaccompanied by an election judge, retire with that voter to a booth 
15.33 	and mark the ballot as directed by the voter. Before the ballots are deposited, the voter may 
15.34 	show them privately to an election judge to ascertain that they are marked as the voter 
16.1 	directed. An election judge or other individual assisting a voter shall not in any manner 
16.2 	request, persuade, induce, or attempt to persuade or induce the voter to vote for any particular 
16.3 	political party or candidate. The election judges or other individuals who assist the voter 
16.4 	shall not reveal to anyone the name of any candidate for whom the voter has voted or 
16.5 	anything that took place while assisting the voter.

16.6 	Sec. 20. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 204C.15, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
16.7 		Subd. 2.Outside the polling place. An individual who is unable to enter any location 
16.8 	where ballots may be cast, including early and in-person absentee voting locations, or a 
16.9 	polling place where paper ballots or an electronic voting system are used may register and 
16.10 	vote without leaving a motor vehicle. Two election judges who are members of different 
16.11 	major political parties shall assist the voter to register and to complete a voter's certificate 
16.12 	and shall provide the necessary ballots. The voter may request additional assistance in 
16.13 	marking ballots as provided in subdivision 1.

16.14 	Sec. 21. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 204C.24, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
16.15 		Subdivision 1.Information requirements. Precinct summary statements shall be 
16.16 	submitted by the election judges in every precinct. For all elections, the election judges 
16.17 	shall complete three or more copies of the summary statements, and each copy shall contain 
16.18 	the following information for each kind of ballot:
16.19 	(1) the number of ballots delivered to the precinct as adjusted by the actual count made 
16.20 	by the election judges, the number of unofficial ballots made, and the number of absentee 
16.21 	ballots delivered to the precinct;
16.22 	(2) the number of votes each candidate received or the number of yes and no votes on 
16.23 	each question, the number of undervotes, the number of overvotes, and the number of 
16.24 	defective ballots with respect to each office or question;
16.25 	(3) the number of spoiled ballots, the number of duplicate ballots made, the number of 
16.26 	absentee ballots rejected, and the number of unused ballots, presuming that the total count 
16.27 	provided on each package of unopened prepackaged ballots is correct;
16.28 	(4) the number of voted ballots indicating only a voter's choices as provided by section 
16.29 	206.80, paragraph (b), clause (2), item (ii), in precincts that use an assistive voting device 
16.30 	that produces this type of ballot;
17.1 	(5) the number of individuals who voted at the election in the precinct which must equal 
17.2 	the total number of ballots cast in the precinct, as required by sections 204C.20 and 206.86, 
17.3 	subdivision 1;
17.4 	(6) the number of voters registering on election day in that precinct;
17.5 	(7) the signatures of the election judges who counted the ballots certifying that all of the 
17.6 	ballots cast were properly piled, checked, and counted, or that the election judges complied 
17.7 	with the requirements of chapter 206; and that the numbers entered by the election judges 
17.8 	on the summary statements correctly show the number of votes cast for each candidate and 
17.9 	for and against each question;
17.10 	(8) the number of election judges that worked in that precinct on election day; and
17.11 	(9) the number of voting booths used in that precinct on election day.
17.12 	At least two copies of the summary statement must be prepared for elections not held 
17.13 	on the same day as the state elections.

17.14 	Sec. 22. [204C.295] RELEASE OF UNOFFICIAL RESULTS.
17.15 	If the secretary of state, county auditor, or municipal clerk makes unofficial election 
17.16 	results available on a public website, the website must identify any precinct in which the 
17.17 	vote totals are changed after the totals were first reported on the website, along with a 
17.18 	notation indicating the number of impacted votes and the candidates for which those votes 
17.19 	were cast; an explanation for the discrepancy; the date and time on which the discrepancy 
17.20 	was discovered; the date and time on which the unofficial results were changed; and the 
17.21 	initials of the elections official who made the change.

17.22 	Sec. 23. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 204C.35, is amended by adding a subdivision 
17.23 	to read:
17.24 		Subd. 6.Chain of custody procedures. No later than December 31 of each year, the 
17.25 	governing body of each municipality and county must adopt a chain of custody procedure 
17.26 	for the purpose of ensuring the integrity and security of all ballots prepared for the conduct 
17.27 	of an election in the following year. The procedure must, at a minimum, require the county 
17.28 	auditor or municipal clerk to maintain a log that identifies each person who handles a ballot, 
17.29 	ballot tabulator, or other voting equipment; the date and time on which that action occurred; 
17.30 	and the person's purpose for doing so. The log must also identify the serial number or other 
17.31 	appropriate identifier for any seals that were newly placed or broken by the person in the 
17.32 	process. The log must be signed and notarized. Prior to counting any ballots, the county 
18.1 	auditor or municipal clerk must affirm under oath that a complete and accurate chain of 
18.2 	custody log has been maintained for each ballot to be counted. This subdivision does not 
18.3 	apply to a town with fewer than 5,000 residents.

18.4 	Sec. 24. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 204D.17, is amended by adding a subdivision 
18.5 	to read:
18.6 		Subd. 3.Candidate to bear costs of special election in certain 
18.7 	circumstances. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, if a special election under sections 
18.8 	204D.17 to 204D.27 is required because a candidate was determined to have engaged in 
18.9 	fraud or deception to misrepresent the candidate's eligibility to hold the office, that candidate 
18.10 	must pay all costs incurred by the affected county and municipal jurisdictions to conduct 
18.11 	the special election.

18.12 	Sec. 25. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 206.845, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
18.13 		Subdivision 1.Prohibited connections. The county auditor and municipal clerk must 
18.14 	secure ballot recording and tabulating systems physically and electronically against 
18.15 	unauthorized access. Except for wired connections within the polling place, ballot recording 
18.16 	and tabulating systems must not be connected to or operated on, directly or indirectly, any 
18.17 	electronic network, including a local area network, a wide-area network, the Internet, or the 
18.18 	World Wide Web. Wireless communications may not be used in any way in a vote recording 
18.19 	or vote tabulating system. Wireless, device-to-device capability is not permitted. No 
18.20 	connection by modem is permitted.
18.21 	Transfer of information from the ballot recording or tabulating system to another system 
18.22 	for network distribution or broadcast must be made by disk, tape, or other physical means 
18.23 	of communication, other than direct or indirect electronic connection of the vote recording 
18.24 	or vote tabulating system. A county auditor or municipal clerk may not create or disclose, 
18.25 	or permit any other person to create or disclose, an electronic image of the hard drive of 
18.26 	any vote recording or tabulating system or any other component of an electronic voting 
18.27 	system, except as authorized in writing by the secretary of state or for the purpose of 
18.28 	conducting official duties as expressly authorized by law. A password used to access any 
18.29 	ballot recording or tabulating system must be kept in a secure location in a precinct that is 
18.30 	not accessible or visible to the public.

19.1 	Sec. 26. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 206.845, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
19.2 		Subd. 2.Transmission to central reporting location Printed record of results. After 
19.3 	the close of the polls, the head election judge must create a printed record of the results of 
19.4 	the election for that precinct. After the record has been printed, the head election judge in 
19.5 	a precinct that employs automatic tabulating equipment may transmit the accumulated tally 
19.6 	for each device to a central reporting location using a telephone, modem, Internet, or other 
19.7 	electronic connection. During the canvassing period, the results transmitted electronically 
19.8 	must be considered unofficial until the canvassing board has performed a complete 
19.9 	reconciliation of the results. Preliminary vote totals must not be printed, viewed, or accessed 
19.10 	by any person, including an election judge or other election official, prior to the closing of 
19.11 	the polls. Unauthorized access to preliminary vote totals is a felony.

19.12 	Sec. 27. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 206.845, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
19.13 		Subd. 3.Cast vote records. After the municipal clerk or county auditor has received 
19.14 	data from automatic tabulating equipment, textual data from the file is public and must be 
19.15 	available to individuals requesting it., with the following exceptions, which are protected 
19.16 	nonpublic data under section 13.02:
19.17 	(1) data that indicate the date, time, or order in which a voter cast a ballot;
19.18 	(2) data that indicate the method with which a voter cast a ballot;
19.19 	(3) data files that do not include all ballots cast in a precinct;
19.20 	(4) data files that provide data in the order it was generated; and
19.21 	(5) data from precincts in which fewer than ten votes were cast.
19.22 	Data stored as images are protected nonpublic data under section 13.02.

19.23 	Sec. 28. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 206.89, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
19.24 		Subd. 2.Selection for review; notice.  At the canvass of the state primary, the county 
19.25 	canvassing board in each county must set the date, time, and place for the postelection 
19.26 	review of the state general election to be held under this section. The postelection review 
19.27 	must not begin before the ninth day after the state general election and must be complete 
19.28 	no later than the 14th day after the state general election.
19.29 	At the canvass of the state general election, the county canvassing boards must select 
19.30 	the precincts to be reviewed by lot. The ballots to be reviewed for a precinct include both 
19.31 	the ballots counted at the polling place for that precinct and the absentee ballots counted 
20.1 	centrally by a ballot board for that precinct. The county canvassing board of a county with 
20.2 	fewer than 50,000 registered voters must conduct a postelection review of a total of at least 
20.3 	two precincts. The county canvassing board of a county with between 50,000 and 100,000 
20.4 	registered voters must conduct a review of a total of at least three precincts. The county 
20.5 	canvassing board of a county with over 100,000 registered voters must conduct a review 
20.6 	of a total of at least four precincts, or three percent of the total number of precincts in the 
20.7 	county, whichever is greater. At least one precinct selected in each county must have had 
20.8 	more than 150 votes cast at the general election. In addition to the minimum number of 
20.9 	precincts required to be chosen by lot, the county canvassing board must select by lot at 
20.10 	least one additional precinct located in a city, town, or school district if specifically requested 
20.11 	by the governing body of that city, town, or school district and a precinct representing that 
20.12 	city, town, or school district has not already been selected for review.
20.13 	The county auditor must notify the secretary of state of the precincts that have been 
20.14 	chosen for review and the time and place the postelection review for that county will be 
20.15 	conducted, as soon as the decisions are made. If the selection of precincts has not resulted 
20.16 	in the selection of at least four precincts in each congressional district, the secretary of state 
20.17 	may require counties to select by lot additional precincts to meet the congressional district 
20.18 	requirement. The secretary of state must post this information on the office website.

20.19 	Sec. 29. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 206.89, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
20.20 		Subd. 3.Scope and conduct of review.  The county canvassing board shall appoint the 
20.21 	postelection review official as defined in subdivision 1. The postelection review must be 
20.22 	conducted of the votes cast for president or governor; United States senator; and United 
20.23 	States representative. The postelection review official may conduct postelection review of 
20.24 	the votes cast for additional offices all offices and questions appearing on the ballot, 
20.25 	excluding races that are uncontested.
20.26 	The postelection review must be conducted in public at the location where the voted 
20.27 	ballots have been securely stored after the state general election or at another location chosen 
20.28 	by the county canvassing board. The postelection review official for each precinct selected 
20.29 	must conduct the postelection review and may be assisted by election judges designated by 
20.30 	the postelection review official for this purpose. The party balance requirement of section 
20.31 	204B.19 applies to election judges designated for the review. The postelection review must 
20.32 	consist of a manual count of the ballots used in the precincts selected and must be performed 
20.33 	in the manner provided by section 204C.21. The postelection review must be conducted in 
20.34 	the manner provided for recounts under section 204C.361 to the extent practicable. The 
21.1 	review must be completed no later than one day before the meeting of the state canvassing 
21.2 	board to certify the results of the state general election.

21.3 	Sec. 30. APPROPRIATION; SECRETARY OF STATE.
 21.4 	$....... in fiscal year 2026 and $....... in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated from the general 
21.5 	fund to the secretary of state for costs associated with implementing this act.

21.6 	Sec. 31. REPEALER.
 21.7 	Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 204B.21, subdivision 3; and 204C.07, subdivision 5,
21.8 	are repealed.

APPENDIX 

Repealed Minnesota Statutes: H1800-1 

204B.21 APPOINTMENT OF ELECTION JUDGES.Subd. 3.Access to election judge party affiliation.  
Notwithstanding section 13.43, the major political party affiliation of an election judge or a statement that the judge does not affiliate with a major political party may be shared with other election judges assigned to the precinct at the same election, to verify compliance with party balance requirements. This data may not be disclosed or used by the election judges for any other purpose. 

204C.07 CHALLENGERS.Subd. 5.Prohibited challenges. 
Challengers and the political parties that appointed them must not compile lists of voters to challenge on the basis of mail sent by a political party that was returned as undeliverable or if receipt by the intended recipient was not acknowledged in the case of registered mail. This subdivision applies to any local, state, or national affiliate of a political party that has appointed challengers, as well as any subcontractors, vendors, or other individuals acting as agents on behalf of a political party. 

A violation of this subdivision is a gross misdemeanor.