SF 4078

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 03/05/2026 09:18 a.m.

A bill for an act
relating to elections; limiting voter preregistration to individuals who are at least
17 years of age; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 201.061, subdivision
1b; Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, sections 201.054, subdivision 1; 201.071,
subdivision 1.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 201.054, subdivision 1, is amended
to read:

Subdivision 1.

Registration.

(a) An individual may register to vote or update a voter
registration:

(1) at any time before the 20th day preceding any election as provided in section 201.061,
subdivision 1;

(2) on the day of an election as provided in section 201.061, subdivision 3; or

(3) when submitting an absentee ballot, by enclosing a completed registration application
as provided in section 203B.04, subdivision 4.

(b) An individual who is under the age of 18, but who is at least deleted text begin 16 deleted text end new text begin 17 new text end years of age and
otherwise eligible, may submit a voter registration application as provided in section 201.061,
subdivisions 1 and 1b.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 201.061, subdivision 1b, is amended to read:

Subd. 1b.

Preregistration.

An individual who is under the age of 18, but who is at least
deleted text begin 16 deleted text end new text begin 17 new text end years of age and meets all requirements for eligibility in section 201.014, except for
age, may submit a voter registration application or be automatically registered under section
201.161 at the address in which the voter maintains residence pursuant to subdivision 1.
Nothing in this section shall be construed to entitle an individual to appear on a polling
place roster or cast a ballot at an election if the individual does not meet all eligibility
requirements for voting, including age.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 201.071, subdivision 1, is amended
to read:

Subdivision 1.

Form.

Both paper and electronic voter registration applications must
contain the same information unless otherwise provided by law. A voter registration
application must contain spaces for the following required information: voter's first name,
middle name, and last name; voter's previous name, if any; voter's current address; voter's
previous address, if any; voter's date of birth; voter's municipality and county of residence;
voter's telephone number, if provided by the voter; date of registration; current and valid
Minnesota driver's license number or Minnesota state identification number, or if the voter
has no current and valid Minnesota driver's license or Minnesota state identification, the
last four digits of the voter's Social Security number; and voter's signature. The paper
registration application must provide a space for a voter to provide a physical description
of the location of their residence, if the voter resides in an area lacking a specific physical
address. The description must be sufficient for the county auditor to identify the correct
precinct for the voter. The description may include the closest cross street or the nearest
address to the described location that is identified on a precinct map, and directions from
that cross street or address to the described location, including but not limited to the cardinal
direction and approximate distance to the location. The paper registration application may
include the voter's email address, if provided by the voter. The electronic voter registration
application must include the voter's email address. The registration application may include
the voter's interest in serving as an election judge, if indicated by the voter. The application
must also contain the following certification of voter eligibility:

"I certify that I:

(1) am at least deleted text begin 16 deleted text end new text begin 17 new text end years old and understand that I must be at least 18 years old to be
eligible to vote;

(2) am a citizen of the United States;

(3) will have maintained residence in Minnesota for 20 days immediately preceding
election day;

(4) maintain residence at the address or location given on the registration form;

(5) am not under court-ordered guardianship in which the court order revokes my right
to vote;

(6) have not been found by a court to be legally incompetent to vote;

(7) am not currently incarcerated for a conviction of a felony offense; and

(8) have read and understand the following statement: that giving false information is a
felony punishable by not more than five years imprisonment or a fine of not more than
$10,000, or both."

The certification must include boxes for the voter to respond to the following questions:

"(1) Are you a citizen of the United States?" and

"(2) Are you at least deleted text begin 16 deleted text end new text begin 17 new text end years old and will you be at least 18 years old on or before
the day of the election in which you intend to vote?"

And the instruction:

"If you checked 'no' to either of these questions, do not complete this form."

The form of the voter registration application and the certification of voter eligibility
must be as provided in this subdivision and approved by the secretary of state. Voter
registration forms authorized by the National Voter Registration Act must also be accepted
as valid. The federal postcard application form must also be accepted as valid if it is not
deficient and the voter is eligible to register in Minnesota.

An individual may use a voter registration application to apply to register to vote in
Minnesota or to update information on an existing registration.

Sec. 4. new text begin TRANSITION TO NEW VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATIONS.
new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding the requirements of this act, a completed voter registration application
submitted by a voter is not deficient for purposes of registering that voter if the application
form was printed or provided to the voter prior to the effective date of this act. Beginning
on the effective date of this act, an election official must not print, copy, or publicly distribute
a blank voter registration application that does not include the required modifications.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 5. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE.
new text end

new text begin Except where otherwise provided, this act is effective July 1, 2026, and applies to voter
registration applications printed or submitted on or after that date.
new text end