HF 598

as introduced - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 02/17/2011 10:58am

A bill for an act
relating to elections; changing certain registration requirements and provisions;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, sections 201.061, subdivision 1; 201.071,
subdivision 1.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 201.061, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Prior to election day.

At any time except during the 20 days
immediately preceding any regularly scheduled election, an eligible voter or any
individual who will be an eligible voter at the time of the next election may register to vote
in the precinct in which the voter maintains residence by completing a voter registration
application as described in section 201.071, subdivision 1, and submitting it in person or
by mail to the county auditor of that county or to the Secretary of State's Office. new text begin If the Web
site maintained by the secretary of state provides a process for it, an individual who has
a Minnesota driver's license, identification card, or learner's permit may register online.
new text end A registration that is received no later than 5:00 p.m. on the 21st day preceding any
election shall be accepted. An improperly addressed or delivered registration application
shall be forwarded within two working days after receipt to the county auditor of the
county where the voter maintains residence. A state or local agency or an individual that
accepts completed voter registration applications from a voter must submit the completed
applications to the secretary of state or the appropriate county auditor within ten calendar
days after the applications are dated by the voter.

For purposes of this section, mail registration is defined as a voter registration
application delivered to the secretary of state, county auditor, or municipal clerk by the
United States Postal Service or a commercial carrier.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 201.071, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Form.

A voter registration application must deleted text begin be of suitable size and
weight for mailing and deleted text end 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 new text begin , new text end 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. new text begin In the case of a voter registering online, the typed name of the voter is the
signature. new text end The registration application may include the voter's e-mail address, if provided
by the voter, and 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) will be at least 18 years old on election day;

(2) am a citizen of the United States;

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

(4) maintain residence at the address 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) have the right to vote because, if I have been convicted of a felony, my felony
sentence has expired (been completed) or I have been discharged from my sentence; 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) Will you be 18 years old on or before election day?"

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 change information on an existing registration.

new text begin Paper voter registration applications, other than those used for election day
registration, must be of suitable size and weight for mailing.
new text end