HF 1186

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 02/01/2023 12:50pm

A bill for an act
relating to elections; providing requirements related to certain mailings containing
an absentee ballot application or sample ballot sent by or on behalf of a committee
or other private organization; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 211B.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [211B.075] ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATIONS DISTRIBUTED BY
COMMITTEES AND PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Required statement. new text end

new text begin (a) Any mailing sent by or on behalf of a committee
or other private organization that includes an absentee ballot application or a sample ballot
designed to encourage voting at an election must include a statement that:
new text end

new text begin (1) the mailing is not an official communication from a unit of government;
new text end

new text begin (2) the application or ballot has not been included at the request of a government official;
and
new text end

new text begin (3) if a sample ballot is enclosed, that the sample ballot is not an official ballot that may
be cast by the voter.
new text end

new text begin (b) The statement required by this section must be printed in a typeface and format
designed to be clearly visible at the time the mailing is opened. The mailing envelope must
include markings to clearly distinguish it from official election mail sent by a unit of
government.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Absentee ballot application may not be preprinted with voter registration
information. new text end

new text begin An absentee ballot application sent by or on behalf of a committee or other
private organization to a potential voter must not be preprinted with the voter's name, address,
or any other registration information required to be provided by the voter at the time the
application is submitted.
new text end