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HF 1449

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 05/13/2016 02:48pm

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.
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A bill for an act
relating to elections; providing for automatic voter registration of applicants for a
driver's license, instruction permit, or identification card; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2014, sections 13.607, by adding a subdivision; 201.161.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 13.607, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:


new text begin Subd. 9. new text end

new text begin Data derived from driver's license applications. new text end

new text begin Data on an application
for a driver's license, a Minnesota identification card, or a learner's permit transferred to
the secretary of state that are provided by a person whom the secretary of state determines
is not eligible to vote are governed by section 201.161.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 201.161, is amended to read:


201.161new text begin AUTOMATIC REGISTRATION OFnew text end DRIVER'S LICENSEnew text begin ,
INSTRUCTION PERMIT,
new text end AND IDENTIFICATION CARD deleted text begin APPLICATIONSdeleted text end new text begin
APPLICANTS
new text end .

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Automatic registration. new text end

new text begin An individual who properly completes
an application for a new or renewed Minnesota driver's license, instruction permit, or
identification card, and who is eligible to vote under section 201.014, must be registered to
vote as provided in this section, unless the applicant declines to be registered.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Applications. new text end

The deleted text begin Departmentdeleted text end new text begin commissionernew text end of public safetynew text begin , in
consultation with the secretary of state,
new text end shall change deleted text begin itsdeleted text end new text begin thenew text end applications for an original,
duplicate, or change of address driver's licensenew text begin , instruction permit,new text end or identification card so
that the forms may also serve as voter registration applications. The forms must contain
spaces for all information collected by voter registration applications prescribed by the
secretary of statenew text begin and a box for the applicant to decline to be registered to votenew text end . deleted text begin Applicants
for driver's licenses or identification cards must be asked if they want to register to vote at
the same time and that
deleted text end new text begin Unless the applicant has declined to be registered to vote or has
provided an address other than the applicant's address of residence under section 171.12,
subdivision 7, paragraph (d), the commissioner shall transmit the
new text end information deleted text begin must be
transmitted at least weekly
deleted text end new text begin dailynew text end by electronic means to the secretary of state. Pursuant
to the Help America Vote Act of 2002, Public Law 107-252, the computerized driver's
license record containing the voter's name, address, date of birth,new text begin citizenship,new text end driver's
license number or state identification number, county, deleted text begin town,deleted text end and citynew text begin or townnew text end must be
made available for access by the secretary of state and interaction with the statewide
voter registration system.

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Registration. new text end

new text begin (a) The secretary of state shall determine whether the
applicant is currently registered in the statewide voter registration system. For each
currently registered voter whose registration is not changed, the secretary of state shall
update the voter's registration date in the statewide voter registration system. For each
currently registered voter whose registration is changed, the secretary of state shall
transmit the registration daily by electronic means to the county auditor of the county
where the voter resides.
new text end

new text begin (b) If the applicant is not currently registered in the statewide voter registration
system, the secretary of state shall determine whether the applicant is 18 years of age or
older and a citizen of the United States and compare the voter registration information
received from the commissioner of public safety with the information on wards,
incompetents, and felons received from the state court administrator under sections 201.15
and 201.155, and with data received from the commissioner of corrections under section
201.157, to determine whether the applicant is eligible to vote. If an applicant is less than
18 years of age, the secretary of state shall wait until the applicant has turned 18 years of
age to determine whether the applicant is eligible to vote. For each applicant the secretary
of state determines is an eligible voter, the secretary of state shall transmit the registration
daily by electronic means to the county auditor of the county where the voter resides.
new text end

new text begin (c) Any data on applicants who the secretary determines are not eligible to vote are
private data on individuals, as defined in section 13.02, subdivision 12.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Notice. new text end

new text begin Upon receipt of the registration, the county auditor shall mail to
the voter the notice of registration required by section 201.121, subdivision 2.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Effective date. new text end

new text begin An application for registration that is dated during the 20
days before an election in any jurisdiction within which the voter resides is not effective
until the day after the election.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE.
new text end

new text begin An applicant for a Minnesota driver's license, instruction permit, or identification
card must not be registered to vote under section 2 until the commissioner of the
Department of Public Safety has certified that the department's systems have been tested
and can accurately provide the necessary data, and the secretary of state has certified that
the system for automatic registration of those applicants has been tested and is capable of
properly determining whether an applicant is eligible to vote.
new text end