This bill proposes significant amendments to Minnesota's election administration laws, with a focus on enhancing voter registration, absentee voting, and the appointment of election judges. Key changes include allowing individuals to register at polling places on election day with proof of residence, clarifying the role of employees in residential facilities for vouching, and introducing provisions for students to verify their residence using housing lists from educational institutions. The bill also repeals the voting equipment grant account and modifies absentee ballot application procedures, emphasizing the need for clerks to have the technical capacity to access the statewide voter registration system securely. Additionally, it establishes a timeline for the effective date of these changes, contingent upon early voting certification.

Further amendments include the introduction of temporary polling places at the request of federally recognized Indian Tribes and postsecondary institutions, as well as the requirement for county auditors to develop and file elections chain of custody plans with the secretary of state, ensuring both physical and cyber security. The bill also revises the appointment process for election judges, requiring them to sign an oath to uphold election integrity, and enhances voter rights by affirming the right to vote for individuals not currently incarcerated for felony convictions. Other provisions streamline election processes, such as modifying the canvassing timeline and establishing a new grant application process for political subdivisions to purchase voting systems, thereby aiming to improve the integrity and accessibility of the electoral process in Minnesota.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 201.061, 201.071, 203B.04, 203B.05, 203B.08, 203B.081, 203B.121, 203B.30, 204B.06, 204B.09, 204B.14, 204B.21, 204B.24, 204B.25, 204B.44, 204B.45, 204C.08, 204C.09, 204C.10, 205.185, 205A.10, 205A.11, 368.47, 375.20, 414.09, 447.32