Election changes proposed

A bill incorporating several elections provisions was approved by the House Governmental Operations, Reform, Technology and Elections Committee on March 11 and sent to the House floor.

Provisions from various elections bills were inserted into HF3172, sponsored by Rep. Gene Pelowski Jr. (DFL-Winona). The strategy of bundling elections bills was implemented with hopes that a bundle has a better chance of being signed into law by the governor than the omnibus bills that have failed in the past.

Incorporated from the original text of Pelowski’s bill are provisions that would:

• require the governor to call for a special election within five days after a legislative vacancy occurs, with a special election to be held no more than 35 days thereafter;

• provide that a candidate must file no later than 14 days before a special primary; and

• provide that standard recount laws will apply to a special primary or election.

Provisions from HF965/SF753*, sponsored by Rep. Carol McFarlane (R-White Bear Lake) and Sen. Sandy Rummel (DFL-White Bear Lake), would:

• change election judge requirements to require that at least two election judges in each precinct must be affiliated with different major political parties, and allowing that other individuals not affiliated with a major political party can be appointed as judges at any time; and

• exempt townships from party balance requirements in elections that are not held along with a statewide election due to township elections being nonpartisan. Also included is a similar exemption for school district elections.

Integrated from HF768, sponsored by Rep. Jeremy Kalin (DFL-North Branch), are provisions that would:

• permit county auditors to deliver absentee ballots to designated agents;

• permit voters to designate agents if they would have difficulty getting to the polls because of health reasons, disability or residence at an assisted living facility; and

• change from four to seven the number of days preceding an election when an agent can be designated.

Provisions from HF646/SF380*, sponsored by Rep. Denise Dittrich (DFL-Champlin) and Sen. Chuck Wiger (DFL-Maplewood), include:

• permit counties, municipalities or school districts to conduct special elections via mail;

• permit school boards to decide whether to hold a primary election;

• modify the deadline for candidates to file for school board elections; and

• permit school district elections to be conducted via an approved electronic voting system.

A provision from HF2866, sponsored by Rep. Steve Simon (DFL-St. Louis Park), would permit existing “old” voter registration applications to be used, without alteration, until they are gone.

A companion bill SF2574, sponsored by Sen. Ann Rest (DFL-New Hope), awaits action by the full Senate.