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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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LESSONS LEARNED FROM COLEMAN-FRANKEN RECOUNT PASSED BY HOUSE
ST. PAUL, MN – As the 2010 election approaches, the Minnesota House passed comprehensive absentee ballot reform legislation today at the state Capitol by a vote of 131-2. The measure would make the state’s voting system one of the most reliable and efficient in the nation, while helping Minnesotans cast their ballots more easily.
“This bill is the result of months of cooperation from members of both parties, the Secretary of the State, local election officials, and the state’s most trusted elections experts," said state Rep. Ryan Winkler (DFL – Golden Valley), author of the bill in the House.
“Minnesota’s best progressive tradition is to solve problems by building consensus and common ground, and then take action. That’s exactly what we did here.”
University of Minnesota Humphrey Institute professor Larry Jacobs moderated the bipartisan discussions that produced constructive compromise on this major election reform initiative. These reforms seek to correct many of the problems in Minnesota’s election system identified during the 2008 U.S. Senate recount.
“People expect every vote to be counted, even absentee ballots,” Winkler said. “These reforms will give Minnesotans confidence that every valid absentee ballot will be counted.”
Specifically, the bill includes the following reforms:
• Centralizes Absentee Vote Count – Moves counting absentee votes away from individual precincts and creates county-wide absentee ballot boards. 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’ last four SSN digits or driver’s license/ID card number. This process enhances 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.
• Accepts or Rejects Absentee Votes Within Three Days – Requires that absentee ballots accepted by the absentee ballot board be centrally processed by the board. The board would be required to accept or reject absentee ballots within three days.
• 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.
“We went through each of these proposals piece by piece, and only included those reforms that everyone agreed were in the best interest of Minnesota voters,” Winkler said. “It was an inclusive, thorough process that sought the input of all sides – a process that will produce needed results for our state.”
News Items
- Statement on Budget Forecast - (Posted: 2012-12-05 00:00:00)
- Statement on Final I-35 W Bridge Settlement - (Posted: 2012-11-13 00:00:00)
- Rep. Winkler: Tea Party Activists Can’t Be Trusted to Reform Our Elections - (Posted: 2012-11-01 00:00:00)
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