Elections bill gains House approval

A bill incorporating several elections provisions was approved by the House 131-0 on April 7.

Provisions from various elections bills were inserted into HF3172, sponsored by Rep. Gene Pelowski Jr. (DFL-Winona). His hope is that a bundled bill will have a better chance of being signed into law than the omnibus bills that have failed in the past.

The bill now goes to the Senate where Sen. Ann Rest (DFL-New Hope) is the sponsor.

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 file no later than 14 days before a special primary; and

• provide that standard recount laws 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:

• require that at least two election judges in each precinct be affiliated with different major political parties, and provide that other individuals not affiliated with a major political party be appointed as judges at any time; and

• exempt townships and school districts from party balance requirements in elections that are not held along with a statewide election.

Integrated from HF768/SF208, sponsored by Rep. Jeremy Kalin (DFL-North Branch) and Sen. Kathy Sheran (DFL-Mankato), are provisions that would permit county auditors to deliver absentee ballots to designated agents, 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:

• permission for counties, municipalities or school districts to conduct special elections via e-mail;

• giving school boards permission to decide whether to hold a primary election;

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

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

Also included is HF2866/SF2552, sponsored by Rep. Steve Simon (DFL-St. Louis Park) and Sen. Chris Gerlach (R-Apple Valley), which would permit existing voter registration applications to be used, without alteration, until they are gone.