1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to elections; allowing a minor party or independent candidate to pay a fee 
1.3 	in place of filing a nominating petition or a minor political party recognition 
1.4 	nominating petition; authorizing electronic signatures on petitions.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. FEE IN PLACE OF NOMINATING PETITION.
 1.7 	Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, sections 204B.03 to 204B.11, a minor party 
1.8 	candidate or independent candidate for any partisan office may pay a fee of $100 in place 
1.9 	of filing a nominating petition. The fee may be paid by the minor political party or the 
1.10 	candidate. The fee must be paid at the time the affidavit of candidacy is filed. This section 
1.11 	applies to a candidate filing for office for any election held on or before December 31, 2020.

1.12 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

1.13 	Sec. 2. ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES ON PETITIONS.
 1.14 	Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, sections 204B.03 to 204B.11, nominating petitions 
1.15 	and petitions in place of a filing fee may be signed electronically, consistent with Minnesota 
1.16 	Statutes, chapter 325L. This section applies to petitions filed by a candidate for any election 
1.17 	held on or before December 31, 2020.

1.18 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

2.1 	Sec. 3. MINOR POLITICAL PARTY RECOGNITION NOMINATING PETITION 
2.2 	MODIFICATIONS.
 2.3 	(a) Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 200.02, subdivision 23, paragraph (b), 
2.4 	clause (3), or sections 204B.07 to 204B.09, a political party may pay a fee of $100 in place 
2.5 	of filing a minor political party recognition nominating petition. The fee must be paid at 
2.6 	any time before the close of filing for the state partisan primary ballot.
2.7 	(b) Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 200.02, subdivision 23, paragraph (b), 
2.8 	clause (3), or sections 204B.07 to 204B.09, a minor political party recognition nominating 
2.9 	petition may be signed electronically, consistent with Minnesota Statutes, chapter 325L.

2.10 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment and 
2.11 	expires on June 3, 2020.