Minnesota Administrative Rules

8210.2400 SAFEGUARDING PROCEDURES.

The county auditor or municipal clerk shall establish measures for safeguarding absentee ballot return envelopes received prior to election day.

A.

The auditor or clerk shall establish a record of absentee ballot return envelopes which are retained in the office. The record shall state the absent voter's name, address, and precinct number; the agent's name, if any; and the date the ballot was received by the auditor or clerk.

B.

All retained envelopes shall be placed in a locked, secure location after being dated, stamped or initialed, and recorded. The envelopes shall not be removed from this location or handled, except as necessary in an emergency or to process ballots as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 203B.121.

C.

A part-time municipal clerk who receives return envelopes shall notify the auditor prior to each election of the safeguarding procedures which the clerk plans to follow, and the procedures shall be subject to the auditor's approval.

D.

When the ballot board opens accepted return envelopes pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, section 203B.121, subdivision 4, all absentee ballot return envelopes retained by the county auditor or municipal clerk shall be removed from the place of safekeeping and compared with the record required by this rule to ensure that all envelopes are accounted for. Any discrepancy shall be reported to the secretary of state promptly.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 203B.04; 203B.08; 203B.09; 203B.125; 204B.45

History:

17 SR 1279; 23 SR 459; 34 SR 1561; 36 SR 1407; 38 SR 1368

Published Electronically:

May 1, 2014