Absentee ballot drop boxes authorization repealed.

HF 598 repeals Minnesota's law allowing counties to provide secure absentee ballot drop boxes for voters to return completed ballots. It removes the specific authorization for drop boxes from election statutes (repealing Minn. Stat. § 203B.082) and amends the main absentee voting section to eliminate drop boxes as a return option. This means county auditors and municipal clerks can no longer establish or maintain drop boxes for absentee ballots, requiring voters to instead mail ballots or hand-deliver them in person to election offices by 8:00 p.m. on election day. The change directly affects local election officials and voters who previously used drop boxes for absentee ballot returns.