This bill modifies Minnesota election laws to formally recognize mobile voting technology and allow voters to use it in jurisdictions that have authorized it. Under the new rules, eligible voters could request their ballots, instructions, and eligibility certificates be sent to them via a secure app on a mobile device, which they would then use to submit their votes. The legislation defines mobile voting technology as an encrypted application on a mobile device and sets minimum security requirements, including multifactor authentication and encryption for data transmission. Additionally, the bill updates the legal definition of an electronic voting system to include mobile voting technology and clarifies how voting rules and instructions must be made available to voters using this method.
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This bill allocates $1,000,000 from the state's general fund to the Secretary of State for election administration in 2026 and to replace federal funding that will no longer be available. It also requires a one-time transfer of $1,000,000 to a dedicated account for voting operations, technology, and election resources. The funds are designated for fiscal year 2027 and are intended to support election services and resources without changing existing statutory requirements.
This bill modifies Minnesota election laws to formally define and regulate the use of mobile voting technology, allowing voters in jurisdictions that authorize it to receive and submit ballots via mobile devices. It updates state statutes to include mobile voting technology within the definition of electronic voting systems and establishes specific security requirements such as multifactor authentication, encryption during transmission, and the ability to print ballots in standard formats. The legislation also requires that voting rules and instructions be made conspicuously available to voters using mobile technology before they cast their ballots, while permitting municipalities to test experimental electronic voting systems without permanent adoption.
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This bill modifies Minnesota's public information list requirements for registered voters, directly affecting county auditors, election officials, and individuals who access voter data. It updates the list to include voters' dates of birth while explicitly prohibiting the inclusion of Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and other sensitive identifiers. The legislation also strengthens restrictions on how individuals can use the information, banning online publication of voter data and requiring written identification and usage statements before accessing the list. Additionally, it allows voters to request removal of their names from the public list for safety reasons.
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This bill (SF 4053) requires Minnesota's Secretary of State to share voter and election data with federal agencies upon request, overriding other state laws. It mandates that all data from the statewide voter registration system be provided within 180 days of a request or 90 days before the next election, whichever comes first. The bill defines "voters" broadly to include individuals who attempted to register but weren't approved, had expired registrations, or registered but never voted. This would directly affect Minnesota's election administration and federal agencies seeking voter data for purposes like research or compliance.
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SF 2918 requires committees or private organizations sending mailings with absentee ballot applications or sample ballots to include a clear, visible statement explaining the mailing is not an official government communication, wasn't requested by officials, and sample ballots aren't valid for voting. It also prohibits pre-printing voter registration details like names or addresses on these applications. The bill mandates that such mailings use distinct envelope markings to differentiate them from official election mail. This directly affects private groups distributing ballot materials, aiming to prevent voter confusion about the source and validity of election-related mailings.
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SF 2232 modifies Minnesota's election administration laws to improve accuracy and efficiency. It establishes detailed technology requirements for electronic rosters at polling places, requiring systems to verify voter eligibility, prevent duplicate voting, and provide clear instructions for election judges. The bill also changes absentee ballot application deadlines (allowing in-person submissions up to the day before an election but requiring mail applications to be received at least seven days prior) and mandates that nongovernment entities sending absentee materials include a specific notice. These changes apply directly to voters, election officials, and local election administrators across Minnesota.
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HF 1213 requires Minnesota electric cooperatives with over 50,000 members to improve member access to governance. It mandates that cooperatives make key documents (bylaws, meeting minutes, financial statements, and IRS Form 990) available online, allow remote participation in board meetings, and provide members with a list of all members (with restrictions on commercial use). The bill also requires secure electronic and mail-in voting for board elections, replacing in-person voting for these large cooperatives. These changes aim to increase transparency and participation for members in cooperative decision-making. The voting requirements take effect for elections held on or after September 1, 2025.
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Elections
Government Transparency
HF 977 transfers $2.5 million from the general fund to Minnesota's Voting Operations, Technology, and Election Resources Account for each of the 2026 and 2027 budget years. This funding directly supports election administration by providing resources for voting systems, technology upgrades, and election-related operations. The bill establishes a specific annual allocation to this account, which is governed under Minnesota Statutes section 5.305. It does not create new programs but allocates existing state funds to enhance election infrastructure. The bill was introduced by Representatives Freiberg and Lee, K., and referred to the Elections Finance and Government Operations Committee.
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HF 986 classifies specific voter registration data as private, directly affecting Minnesota voters and anyone requesting voter information. The bill amends Minnesota law to reclassify a voter’s date of birth, driver’s license number, Social Security number (or parts of it), military ID, or passport number as private data under Section 201.022, subdivision 4. It also requires voters to submit a signed statement for name withholding due to safety concerns and mandates written assurances from data requesters that information won’t be used for non-election purposes. These changes update existing voter data rules to limit public access to sensitive identifiers while maintaining public access to basic registration details like name, address, and voting history.
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