This bill proposes significant amendments to Minnesota's election scheduling and procedures, particularly by aligning the state primary date with the presidential primary nomination date. It establishes that the state primary will occur on the first Tuesday in March during even-numbered years, except in presidential election years when it coincides with the presidential nomination primary. The bill also introduces a requirement for separate ballots for the presidential nomination primary and the state primary in those years. Additionally, it modifies deadlines for establishing combined polling places and alters the timeline for municipalities and school districts to adopt resolutions regarding primaries, with notifications now required by October prior to the election year.

Moreover, the bill mandates that the presidential nomination primary ballot be included first on the state primary ballot and specifies that the rotation of candidate names on ballots will reference the number of registered voters as of December prior to the election. It also repeals certain sections related to the notice of the presidential nomination primary and the reimbursement of local expenses for conducting the primary. The effective date for these changes is set for December 1, 2025, applying to primary elections held on or after that date. Overall, these amendments aim to streamline the electoral process and enhance voter participation in Minnesota.

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