The bill seeks to improve election administration and campaign finance regulations in Minnesota through a series of amendments to existing statutes. Key provisions include the establishment of the Minnesota Voting Rights Act, which prohibits voter suppression and vote dilution, and mandates local governments to transition to using a .gov domain for their websites by June 1, 2026. The bill also modifies the treatment of incarcerated individuals for redistricting purposes, ensuring that those with a last known address in Minnesota are counted in their respective census blocks, while those without a known address are excluded. Additionally, it updates reporting requirements for campaign finance, including lowering the lobbying expenditure reporting threshold from $9,000 to $5,000 and introducing new obligations for political committees.

Further amendments focus on enhancing voting accessibility and election processes, such as requiring polling places to be located within precinct boundaries and providing translated voting materials in the most commonly spoken non-English languages. The bill also streamlines procedures for election recounts, allowing candidates to request recounts at no cost immediately after canvassing, and updates the criteria for discretionary recounts. It introduces penalties for late filings and violations of campaign finance regulations, while also addressing the use of deep fakes in elections. Overall, the legislation aims to create a more equitable, transparent, and efficient electoral process in Minnesota, with various provisions set to take effect between June 1, 2024, and January 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 10A.27
1st Engrossment: 10A.01, 10A.27, 123B.09, 201.071, 204C.06, 204C.19, 204C.20, 204C.33, 204C.35, 204C.36, 205.16, 205A.05, 205A.07, 205A.11, 206.89, 208.06, 208.44, 208.47, 209.01, 211A.01, 211A.02, 211A.05, 211A.06, 211A.07, 211A.12, 211A.14, 211B.17, 211B.18, 375.08, 447.32, 609.5151
2nd Engrossment: 10A.01, 10A.27, 123B.09, 201.071, 204C.06, 204C.19, 204C.20, 204C.33, 204C.35, 204C.36, 205.16, 205A.05, 205A.07, 205A.11, 206.89, 208.06, 208.44, 208.47, 209.01, 211A.01, 211A.02, 211A.05, 211A.06, 211A.07, 211A.12, 211A.14, 211B.17, 211B.18, 375.08, 447.32, 609.5151, 204B.175