Absentee voting overhaul

Lessons learned from the U.S. Senate race recount form the basis for a bill that would update Minnesota’s absentee voting laws.

HF1351, sponsored by Rep. Ryan Winkler (DFL-Golden Valley), would overhaul the state’s absentee voting process, with the goal of avoiding many of the pitfalls that complicated the recount.

“We’ve learned a lot, and this bill incorporates things that we’ve learned,” said Secretary of State Mark Ritchie.

Among other changes, absentee ballots would be processed by local ballot boards, similar to the process used for overseas and military ballots. Currently election judges count domestic absentee ballots at polling places on Election Day — something Ritchie said creates a “work nightmare” for election officials.

“One of the real opportunities of this year’s recount was to be able to compare and contrast different parts of our voting system,” Ritchie said, adding that the ballot boards showed themselves to be a much more accurate and efficient means of counting absentee votes.

The bill would also allow absentee voters to voluntarily provide more personal identifying information, such as driver’s license or partial Social Security numbers, on their ballot applications. Beth Fraser, director of governmental affairs for the Office of the Secretary of State, said the change would help determine ballot eligibility in certain circumstances.

In its original form, the bill would have eliminated the current practice of allowing people to vote absentee in person at their local elections office the Saturday prior to an election. Winkler said the change would allow extra time for the ballot boards to process absentee votes; however, Rep. Jeremy Kalin (DFL-North Branch) successfully amended the bill to include provisions to allow absentee voting until noon on that day.

Approved March 17 by the House State and Local Government Operations Reform, Technology and Elections Committee, the bill goes to the House Finance Committee.

Sen. Katie Sieben (DFL-Newport) sponsors the companion, SF1331, which awaits action by the Senate State and Local Government Operations and Oversight Committee.