This bill proposes significant amendments to Minnesota's election procedures, particularly by aligning the state primary date with the presidential primary nomination date. It establishes that the state primary will now occur on the first Tuesday in March during even-numbered years and will coincide with the presidential nomination primary in presidential election years. The bill also introduces new requirements for ballots, ensuring that separate ballots for the presidential nomination primary are included alongside the state partisan primary ballot. Additionally, it modifies existing provisions regarding combined polling places, the appointment of election judges, and the notification processes for boundary changes and election procedures.

Moreover, the bill mandates that the presidential nomination primary ballot be placed first on the state primary ballot and alters the criteria for the alternation of candidate names on electronic voting systems, basing it on the number of registered voters as of December prior to the election. It also requires that plans for electronic voting systems be submitted to the secretary of state more than 60 days before the election. The bill repeals certain sections related to the notice of the presidential nomination primary and local expense reimbursements, establishing a new effective date of December 1, 2025, for these changes, which will apply to primary elections held on or after that date. Overall, the amendments aim to streamline the electoral process and enhance voter participation.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 204B.14, 204B.21, 204C.10, 204D.03, 204D.05, 204D.08, 204D.09, 204D.28, 205.065, 205A.03, 205A.11, 206.61, 206.82, 207A.12, 207A.13