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State Representative Ryan Winkler
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-7026
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
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HOUSE PASSES SIGNIFICANT ELECTION REFORMS FOLLOWING 2008 ELECTION
ST. PAUL, MN - The Minnesota House passed a comprehensive election reform bill (SF1331) today making the state’s voting system more reliable and efficient. Lessons learned from the 2008 election cycle have spurred several key areas of reform in the way elections are carried out from start to finish in Minnesota. The bill was assembled through months of public testimony, and based on the expert recommendations of Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie after careful evaluation of what went right and what went wrong in last year’s election.
“If Minnesotans have learned anything since November it’s that our state’s voting system is sound, but not perfect," said Rep. Ryan Winkler (DFL - Golden Valley) who chief-authored the bill in the House. “It is our responsibility as policymakers to find thoughtful, effective solutions to ensure every vote is counted in Minnesota.”
Specifically, the bill includes the following reforms:
• Centralizes Absentee Vote Count - Takes the authority to count absentee votes away from individual precincts - putting that discretion into the hands of county election officials. This would ensure a more accurate, uniform system for counting, accepting, or rejecting absentee ballots in Minnesota elections.
• Absentee Voter Identification - Requires that absentee ballot applications and return envelopes request the voters’ date of birth, last four SSN digits, and driver’s license/ID card number (only date of birth is currently required). This process would replace the current more subjective practice of comparing signatures and automatically, without notice, rejecting ballots that do not match the application.
• Voter Registration System - Requires that local elections officials input returned absentee ballot application data and returned absentee ballots into the statewide voter registration system. The bill requires these officials be trained and granted access to the system.
• Counts Absentee Votes Within Three Days - Requires that absentee ballots accepted by the absentee ballot board be centrally processed and counted by the board. The board would be required to count absentee ballots within three days. Currently, absentee ballots are not counted until Election Day.
• Notifies Rejected Absentee Voters - The absentee ballot board must send notice and a replacement ballot to any absentee voter whose ballot is rejected at least five days before the election. The board must attempt to contact absentee voters by phone or email if their absentee ballot is rejected five days or less before the election. Currently, absentee voters whose ballots are rejected are not contacted.
• Enhances Oversight of Rejected Absentee Ballots - All absentee ballot board decisions to reject an absentee ballot are subject to canvassing board review. If the canvassing board agrees to count a previously rejected ballot, the ballot is counted.
• Prevents Voting Twice - Requires that local elections officials mark rosters and update reports for all precincts regarding which voters have cast an absentee ballot. Absentee voters cannot cast subsequent, overriding, absentee or regular ballots. The bill requires voting place rosters clearly indicate that voters cannot vote twice.
• Ongoing Absentee Status - The bill allows voters who, because of their jobs or travel schedule, currently request “ongoing absentee status” to request ballots not be sent to them for certain elections. Currently, voters who request ongoing absentee status are automatically sent absentee ballots for all elections.
• Includes Absentee Votes in Precinct Totals - For state elections, absentee ballots must be included in precinct totals. For other elections, absentee ballot totals can be counted separately.
• Eliminates Signature Requirement - The bill eliminates the requirement that absentee ballot statements be signed by a registered Minnesota voter or notary public.
“Our Secretary of State is well-respected nationwide. Minnesota’s local election officials have performed their jobs incredibly well under very difficult circumstances. The integrity of our voting system has been proven time and again,” Rep. Winkler said. “Still, there are some simple, responsible things we can do to make Minnesota’s election system even better. This bill does exactly that.”
SF1331 is expected to receive similar support in the Minnesota Senate before the bill is sent to Governor Tim Pawlenty for signature. The legislature is scheduled to adjourn Monday, May 18, 2009.
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