Minnesota Legislature
HF 495
1st Engrossment - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/15/2023 05:05pm
Bill Text Versions
| Engrossments | ||
|---|---|---|
| Introduction | Posted on 01/17/2023 | |
| 1st Engrossment | Posted on 03/06/2023 |
Current Version - 1st Engrossment
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A bill for an act
relating to elections; modifying postsecondary student voter registration provisions;
requiring a report; amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, sections 135A.17,
subdivision 2; 201.061, by adding a subdivision; 201.1611, subdivision 1, by
adding a subdivision.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 135A.17, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2.
Residential housing list.
All postsecondary institutions that enroll students
accepting deleted text begin state ordeleted text end federal financial aid may prepare a current list of students enrolled in the
institution and residing in the institution's housing or within ten miles of the institution's
campus. new text begin All postsecondary institutions that enroll students accepting state financial aid
must, to the extent the information may be disclosed pursuant to Code of Federal Regulations,
title 34, part 99, prepare a current list of students enrolled in the institution and residing in
the institution's housing or within ten miles of the institution's campus. new text end The list shall include
each student's current addressnew text begin , unless the student is enrolled in the Safe at Home address
confidentiality program as provided in chapter 5Bnew text end . The list shall be certified and sent to the
appropriate county auditor or auditors for use in election day registration as provided under
section 201.061, subdivision 3. A residential housing list provided under this subdivision
may not be used or disseminated by a county auditor or the secretary of state for any other
purpose.
Sec. 2.
Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 201.061, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:
new text begin Subd. 3a. new text end
new text begin Additional proofs of residence permitted for students. new text end
new text begin
(a) An eligible voter
may prove residence by presenting a current valid photo identification issued by a
postsecondary educational institution in Minnesota if the voter's name; student identification
number, if available; and address within the precinct appear on a current residential housing
list under section 135A.17, certified to the county auditor by the postsecondary educational
institution.
new text end
new text begin
(b) This additional proof of residence for students must not be allowed unless the
postsecondary educational institution submits to the county auditor no later than 60 days
prior to the election a written agreement that the postsecondary educational institution will
certify for use at the election accurate updated residential housing lists under section 135A.17.
A written agreement is effective for the election and all subsequent elections held in that
calendar year, including the November general election.
new text end
new text begin
(c) The additional proof of residence for students must be allowed on an equal basis for
voters who reside in housing meeting the requirements of section 135A.17, if the residential
housing lists certified by the postsecondary educational institution meet the requirements
of this subdivision.
new text end
new text begin
(d) An updated residential housing list must be certified to the county auditor no earlier
than 20 days prior to each election. The certification must be dated and signed by the chief
officer or designee of the postsecondary educational institution and must state that the list
is current and accurate and includes only the names of persons residing as of the date of the
certification.
new text end
new text begin
(e) The county auditor shall instruct the election judges of the precinct in procedures for
use of the list in conjunction with photo identification. The auditor shall supply a list to the
election judges with the election supplies for the precinct.
new text end
new text begin
(f) The county auditor shall notify all postsecondary educational institutions in the county
of the provisions of this subdivision.
new text end
Sec. 3.
Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 201.1611, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1.
Forms.
new text begin (a) new text end All postsecondary institutions that enroll students accepting
state or federal financial aid deleted text begin shalldeleted text end new text begin mustnew text end provide voter registration forms to each student deleted text begin as
early as possible in the fall quarterdeleted text end new text begin during the fall and spring of each year. In state election
years, it must be provided 15 days in advance of the deadline for registering to vote for the
state general electionnew text end . new text begin If the voter registration forms are provided electronically, the electronic
message must be devoted exclusively to voter registration.
new text end
new text begin (b) new text end All school districts deleted text begin shalldeleted text end new text begin mustnew text end make available voter registration applications each
May and September to all students registered as students of the school district who will be
eligible to vote at the next election after those months. A school district has no obligation
to provide voter registration applications to students who participate in a postsecondary
education option program or who otherwise reside in the district but do not attend a school
operated by the district. A school district fulfills its obligation to a student under this section
if it provides a voter registration application to the student one time.
new text begin (c)new text end The new text begin voter registration new text end forms must contain spaces for the information required in
section 201.071, subdivision 1, and applicable rules of the secretary of state. The institutions
and school districts may request these forms from the secretary of state. Institutions deleted text begin shalldeleted text end new text begin
mustnew text end consult with their campus student government in determining the most effective means
of distributing the forms and in seeking to facilitate election day registration of students
under section 201.061, subdivision 3. School districts must advise students that completion
of the voter registration application is not a school district requirement.
new text begin
(d) The institutions and school districts must report to the secretary of state by November
30 of each year on their implementation of this section. At a minimum, the report must
include how and when the forms were distributed, how many were distributed, and how
many were completed. Institutions and school districts may include information about
methods that were effective in increasing student registrations.
new text end
new text begin
(e) By February 1 of each year, the secretary of state must report to the chairs and ranking
minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over elections on the data
received from institutions and school districts. The secretary must highlight best practices
and innovative methods that were most effective in registering students to vote.
new text end
Sec. 4.
Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 201.1611, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:
new text begin Subd. 3. new text end
new text begin Voter information. new text end
new text begin
(a) All postsecondary institutions that enroll students
accepting state or federal financial aid must maintain a webpage to share resources to help
students determine where and how they are eligible to vote. The webpage must include the
following:
new text end
new text begin
(1) resources from state and local election officials on voter registration and voting
requirements including voter registration deadlines; residency requirements; acceptable
methods of proving residency for same day registration, as applicable; and absentee voting
options;
new text end
new text begin
(2) applicable deadlines for requesting and submitting an absentee ballot, as well as
additional options for early and in-person voting, and voting on election day;
new text end
new text begin
(3) resources to help students who are registered in another state to apply for absentee
ballots in that state, and may include resources from state and local election officials from
that state;
new text end
new text begin
(4) the campus vote coordinator's name and contact information; and
new text end
new text begin
(5) the voter engagement plan required by paragraph (b), clause (3).
new text end
new text begin
(b) All postsecondary institutions that enroll students accepting state or federal financial
aid must designate a staff person as the campus vote coordinator. The campus vote
coordinator must:
new text end
new text begin
(1) ensure the institution complies with this section;
new text end
new text begin
(2) report the number of physical and electronic voter registrations collected on an annual
basis on the institution's voting website; and
new text end
new text begin
(3) consult with the campus student association to develop a voter engagement plan that
identifies goals and activities, resources to accomplish the identified goals and activities,
and individual or key departments responsible for executing the identified goals and activities.
new text end