This bill proposes amendments to Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 206.83, related to the testing of voting systems before elections. Key changes include:

• Increased Testing Timeline: The required testing of voting equipment before use is extended from at least three days to at least ten days before elections.
• Expanded Public Notification: Public notice of the testing must be published at least five days in advance (previously two days).
• Enhanced Testing Scope:
  • The voting system must be tested to ensure it can correctly mark and count ballots using all supported methods, including assistive technology.
  • Testing must include ballots marked via electronic ballot display, audio ballot readers, and any assistive voting technology.
  • The test must also include ballots with overvotes (votes exceeding the allowed number) to verify that the system properly rejects them.
• Transparency Measures: After testing is completed, a detailed precinct report must be made available for public inspection within 24 hours.
• Election Integrity: If any errors are found during testing, the cause must be determined and corrected before the voting system is used.

These changes aim to improve the accuracy, security, and transparency of election equipment testing in Minnesota.