SF2232

SF2232 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Various election administration provisions modifications

Related bill: HF2428

AI Generated Summary

This bill modifies various Minnesota election laws related to election administration, absentee voting, filing periods, and accessibility. Below is a summary of key changes:

Electronic Rosters: Updates technology requirements for electronic voter rosters, ensuring they can load and export voter registration data, scan identification cards, update registration data, issue alerts for ineligible voters, and provide immediate instructions for challenged voter records.
Absentee Voting:
- Adjusts application deadlines: In-person applications must be submitted no later than the day before the election; mailed or electronic applications must be received at least seven days before the election (previously one day).
- Requires secure online absentee ballot applications and verification of the applicant’s identification through a government database.
- Mandates that election officials attempt to contact voters if absentee ballot applications are received too late.
- Clarifies absentee ballot transmission methods for emergency response providers and voters with disabilities.
Election Administration:
- Updates deadlines for election officials to prepare and distribute election materials.
- Requires additional training for ballot board members handling absentee ballots.
- Requires election boards to examine and accept/reject absentee ballot envelopes within specific timeframes before an election.
- Adjusts timelines for when absentee ballots are mailed for mail-ballot precincts.
Filing Periods:
- Extends the filing periods for municipal and school board elections:
  - City primaries: 84 to 70 days before the election.
  - Non-primary city elections: 98 to 84 days before the election.
- Clarifies that write-in candidates must file a written request 19 days (previously 7 days) before the general election for votes to be counted.
Polling Places:
- Allows emergency combinations of polling places if an election official deems it necessary.
- Provides specific notification procedures for combined polling places.
- Modifies rules for cities, towns, and other districts to establish combined polling locations.
Election Security & Accessibility:
- Ensures secure networking of electronic rosters.
- Requires ballots provided electronically to voters with print disabilities to meet federal accessibility requirements.
- Establishes procedures for alternative election judges to deliver ballots to hospitalized or physically disabled voters when necessary.

Overall, the bill aims to streamline election administration, improve absentee ballot procedures, enhance election security, and ensure greater accessibility for voters.

Bill text versions

Introduction PDF file

Actions

Date	Chamber	Where	Type	Name	Committee Name
March 05, 2025	House	Floor	Action	Introduction and first reading
March 05, 2025	Senate	Floor	Action	Introduction and first reading
March 05, 2025	House	Floor	Action	Referred to	Elections
March 05, 2025	Senate	Floor	Action	Referred to	Elections

Citations

[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "New capabilities for electronic rosters to provide instructions for resolving voter challenges and networking specifications within polling locations."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill modifies technology requirements for electronic rosters in election administration under section 201.225, subdivision 2.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarifies requirements for updating absentee ballot records and defines security standards."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "201.225",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 2"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Electronic submission options are expanded and detailed verification procedures added."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill modifies the application procedures for absentee ballots under section 203B.04, subdivision 1.",
      "modified": [
        "Application timelines adjusted."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "203B.04",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 1"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Allows employees of a facility to deliver ballots to voters in certain health care settings."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Modifies delivery of absentee ballots procedures in health care facilities under section 203B.11, subdivision 1.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "203B.11",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 1"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Detailed training requirements for board members."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill modifies the establishment and operational requirements of absentee ballot boards under section 203B.121, subdivision 1.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "203B.121",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 1"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Modifications to duties of the absentee ballot board are made under section 203B.23, subdivision 2.",
      "modified": [
        "Changes to how rejected ballots are handled prior to election day."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "203B.23",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 2"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Changes application procedures for electronic ballot transmission for emergency response providers under section 203B.29, subdivision 1.",
      "modified": [
        "Deadline adjustments for absentee ballot applications."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "203B.29",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 1"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill updates accommodation procedures for electronic ballot transmission to voters with disabilities under section 203B.29, subdivision 2.",
      "modified": [
        "Specifies standards for accessible format compliance."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "203B.29",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 2"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Clarification on phonetic spelling or pronunciation certification."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Affidavit of candidacy requirements are refined under section 204B.06, subdivision 1.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "204B.06",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 1"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Adjusts filing procedures for candidacies under section 204B.09, subdivision 2.",
      "modified": [
        "Streamlines notification procedure for officials."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "204B.09",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 2"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Amended requirements for cities and other districts to record write-in votes."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Updates write-in candidate procedures under section 204B.09, subdivision 3.",
      "modified": [
        "Deadlines for request submission updated."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "204B.09",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 3"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Allows for emergency combination of polling places with adjusted requirements."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Modifies provisions for combined polling places under section 204B.14, subdivision 2.",
      "modified": [
        "Reporting criteria for combination results refined."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "204B.14",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 2"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Specifies timing adjustments for securing election materials."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Updates duties regarding election supplies under section 204B.28, subdivision 2.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "204B.28",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 2"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Refines absentee voting procedures for election supplies under section 204B.45, subdivision 2.",
      "modified": [
        "Changes in requirements for board appointments and ballot processing."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "204B.45",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 2"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Affidavit of candidacy changes for municipal elections are made under section 205.13, subdivision 1.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarified notification procedures to election officials."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "205.13",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 1"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Adjusts filing periods for municipal elections under section 205.13, subdivision 1a.",
      "modified": [
        "Extended filing periods for candidacies in primary and general elections."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "205.13",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 1a"
  }
]