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HF1494 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Voters who register on election day required to cast provisional ballots, and conforming changes made.

Related bill: SF2698

AI Generated Summary

This Minnesota House bill (H.F. No. 1494) proposes changes to election procedures, especially regarding same-day voter registration and provisional ballots. The key provisions include:

  1. Provisional Ballots for Election Day Registrants: Voters who register on election day must cast a provisional ballot, which will be counted only after their registration is verified post-election.

  2. Verification Process: County auditors must process provisional ballots and determine their validity within seven days after the election. If accepted, the ballot is counted. If rejected, the voter is notified of the reason.

  3. Election Technology Updates: The bill imposes new requirements for electronic rosters used in polling places to handle voter registration and election-day verification more efficiently.

  4. Changes to Election Timelines: Extends the deadlines for canvassing election results, including moving the county canvass of primary elections to the tenth day after the election and state canvass to the 14th day.

  5. Stricter Voter Identification Rules: Updates requirements for proving residence when registering on election day, including specific guidelines for the use of tribal identification cards.

  6. Public Awareness Campaign: Requires the Secretary of State to run a campaign encouraging voters to register before election day.

  7. Repealing Certain Existing Statutes: The bill repeals provisions related to student voter registration lists, among other election-related statutes.

Overall, this bill seeks to add verification steps for same-day registrants, modify ballot processing timelines, and advance election security and technology updates.

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
February 25, 2025HouseFloorActionIntroduction and first reading, referred toElections Finance and Government Operations
February 25, 2025HouseFloorActionIntroduction and first reading, referred toElections Finance and Government Operations

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "New requirements for proving residence on election day through various means such as a driver’s license or student ID."
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "The bill amends election day registration procedures under section 201.061 subdivision 3.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarification on vouching process by registered voters or facility employees for election day registration."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "201.061",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 3"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        ""
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "Amendment to section 204C.32 on canvassing state primaries.",
      "modified": [
        "Changes timing for county canvass from second or third day to tenth day following the primary."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "204C.32",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        ""
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "Amendment to section 204C.33 regarding the county canvass following state general elections.",
      "modified": [
        "Modifies the timeline for the county canvassing board to meet, changing it from between the third to eighth day to between the tenth to seventeenth day after the election."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "204C.33",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 1"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        ""
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "Amended section 203B.04 subdivision 4 regarding voter registration at the time of absentee ballot application.",
      "modified": [
        "Improved procedures for handling registration applications submitted with absentee ballots."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "203B.04",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 4"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        ""
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "Changes to section 203B.081 subdivision 3 on alternative procedures for absentee voting.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarified process for voters to choose between ballot casting methods during absentee voting."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "203B.081",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 3"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        ""
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "Amended section 203B.121 subdivision 2 regarding the handling of absentee ballots.",
      "modified": [
        "Revised duties of ballot board members in examining absentee ballots, including timelines and acceptance criteria."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "203B.121",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 2"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        ""
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "Amends section 204C.37 with updates on report returns for canvassing.",
      "modified": [
        "Extends the timeline for election report submissions to the secretary of state after elections."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "204C.37",
    "subdivision": ""
  }
]

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