This bill mandates that all ballot board activities during elections be livestreamed to enhance transparency in the electoral process. Specifically, it requires county auditors, municipal clerks, or school district clerks to ensure that activities such as examining and counting absentee ballots are recorded and made accessible to the public via livestream. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 203B.121, by adding a new subdivision that outlines the specific activities to be livestreamed and the positioning of cameras to capture these activities while protecting private data. The livestreaming requirement will take effect on September 1, 2025, for elections conducted thereafter.

Additionally, the bill establishes the role of the commissioner of information technology services in providing livestreaming services and retaining the recorded data for at least 22 months. It specifies that the livestream must be available on the department's website without any fees charged to the public or local governments. The bill also includes provisions for handling disruptions in livestreaming and ensures that any recordings made during such disruptions are transmitted to the commissioner for public access. An appropriation is included to fund the implementation of these requirements, with specified amounts for fiscal years 2026 and beyond.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 203B.121