Bill Text: MN SF345 | 2011-2012 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Online voter registration authorization
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-02-17 - Referred to Local Government and Elections [SF345 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2011-SF345-Introduced.html
1.2relating to elections; changing certain registration requirements and provisions;
1.3amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, sections 201.061, subdivision 1; 201.071,
1.4subdivision 1.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 201.061, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.7 Subdivision 1. Prior to election day. At any time except during the 20 days
1.8immediately preceding any regularly scheduled election, an eligible voter or any
1.9individual who will be an eligible voter at the time of the next election may register to vote
1.10in the precinct in which the voter maintains residence by completing a voter registration
1.11application as described in section201.071, subdivision 1 , and submitting it in person or
1.12by mail to the county auditor of that county or to the Secretary of State's Office. If the Web
1.13site maintained by the secretary of state provides a process for it, an individual who has
1.14a Minnesota driver's license, identification card, or learner's permit may register online.
1.15A registration that is received no later than 5:00 p.m. on the 21st day preceding any
1.16election shall be accepted. An improperly addressed or delivered registration application
1.17shall be forwarded within two working days after receipt to the county auditor of the
1.18county where the voter maintains residence. A state or local agency or an individual that
1.19accepts completed voter registration applications from a voter must submit the completed
1.20applications to the secretary of state or the appropriate county auditor within ten calendar
1.21days after the applications are dated by the voter.
1.22For purposes of this section, mail registration is defined as a voter registration
1.23application delivered to the secretary of state, county auditor, or municipal clerk by the
1.24United States Postal Service or a commercial carrier.
2.1 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 201.071, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
2.2 Subdivision 1. Form. A voter registration application mustbe of suitable size and
2.3weight for mailing and contain spaces for the following required information: voter's first
2.4name, middle name, and last name; voter's previous name, if any; voter's current address;
2.5voter's previous address, if any; voter's date of birth; voter's municipality and county
2.6of residence; voter's telephone number, if provided by the voter; date of registration;
2.7current and valid Minnesota driver's license number or Minnesota state identification
2.8number, or, if the voter has no current and valid Minnesota driver's license or Minnesota
2.9state identification, the last four digits of the voter's Social Security number; and voter's
2.10signature. In the case of a voter registering online, the typed name of the voter is the
2.11signature. The registration application may include the voter's e-mail address, if provided
2.12by the voter, and the voter's interest in serving as an election judge, if indicated by the
2.13voter. The application must also contain the following certification of voter eligibility:
2.14"I certify that I:
2.15(1) will be at least 18 years old on election day;
2.16(2) am a citizen of the United States;
2.17(3) will have resided in Minnesota for 20 days immediately preceding election day;
2.18(4) maintain residence at the address given on the registration form;
2.19(5) am not under court-ordered guardianship in which the court order revokes my
2.20right to vote;
2.21(6) have not been found by a court to be legally incompetent to vote;
2.22(7) have the right to vote because, if I have been convicted of a felony, my felony
2.23sentence has expired (been completed) or I have been discharged from my sentence; and
2.24(8) have read and understand the following statement: that giving false information
2.25is a felony punishable by not more than five years imprisonment or a fine of not more
2.26than $10,000, or both."
2.27The certification must include boxes for the voter to respond to the following
2.28questions:
2.29"(1) Are you a citizen of the United States?" and
2.30"(2) Will you be 18 years old on or before election day?"
2.31And the instruction:
2.32"If you checked 'no' to either of these questions, do not complete this form."
2.33The form of the voter registration application and the certification of voter eligibility
2.34must be as provided in this subdivision and approved by the secretary of state. Voter
2.35registration forms authorized by the National Voter Registration Act must also be accepted
3.1as valid. The federal postcard application form must also be accepted as valid if it is not
3.2deficient and the voter is eligible to register in Minnesota.
3.3An individual may use a voter registration application to apply to register to vote in
3.4Minnesota or to change information on an existing registration.
3.5Paper voter registration applications, other than those used for election day
3.6registration, must be of suitable size and weight for mailing.
1.3amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, sections 201.061, subdivision 1; 201.071,
1.4subdivision 1.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 201.061, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.7 Subdivision 1. Prior to election day. At any time except during the 20 days
1.8immediately preceding any regularly scheduled election, an eligible voter or any
1.9individual who will be an eligible voter at the time of the next election may register to vote
1.10in the precinct in which the voter maintains residence by completing a voter registration
1.11application as described in section
1.12by mail to the county auditor of that county or to the Secretary of State's Office. If the Web
1.13site maintained by the secretary of state provides a process for it, an individual who has
1.14a Minnesota driver's license, identification card, or learner's permit may register online.
1.15A registration that is received no later than 5:00 p.m. on the 21st day preceding any
1.16election shall be accepted. An improperly addressed or delivered registration application
1.17shall be forwarded within two working days after receipt to the county auditor of the
1.18county where the voter maintains residence. A state or local agency or an individual that
1.19accepts completed voter registration applications from a voter must submit the completed
1.20applications to the secretary of state or the appropriate county auditor within ten calendar
1.21days after the applications are dated by the voter.
1.22For purposes of this section, mail registration is defined as a voter registration
1.23application delivered to the secretary of state, county auditor, or municipal clerk by the
1.24United States Postal Service or a commercial carrier.
2.1 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 201.071, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
2.2 Subdivision 1. Form. A voter registration application must
2.3
2.4name, middle name, and last name; voter's previous name, if any; voter's current address;
2.5voter's previous address, if any; voter's date of birth; voter's municipality and county
2.6of residence; voter's telephone number, if provided by the voter; date of registration;
2.7current and valid Minnesota driver's license number or Minnesota state identification
2.8number, or, if the voter has no current and valid Minnesota driver's license or Minnesota
2.9state identification, the last four digits of the voter's Social Security number; and voter's
2.10signature. In the case of a voter registering online, the typed name of the voter is the
2.11signature. The registration application may include the voter's e-mail address, if provided
2.12by the voter, and the voter's interest in serving as an election judge, if indicated by the
2.13voter. The application must also contain the following certification of voter eligibility:
2.14"I certify that I:
2.15(1) will be at least 18 years old on election day;
2.16(2) am a citizen of the United States;
2.17(3) will have resided in Minnesota for 20 days immediately preceding election day;
2.18(4) maintain residence at the address given on the registration form;
2.19(5) am not under court-ordered guardianship in which the court order revokes my
2.20right to vote;
2.21(6) have not been found by a court to be legally incompetent to vote;
2.22(7) have the right to vote because, if I have been convicted of a felony, my felony
2.23sentence has expired (been completed) or I have been discharged from my sentence; and
2.24(8) have read and understand the following statement: that giving false information
2.25is a felony punishable by not more than five years imprisonment or a fine of not more
2.26than $10,000, or both."
2.27The certification must include boxes for the voter to respond to the following
2.28questions:
2.29"(1) Are you a citizen of the United States?" and
2.30"(2) Will you be 18 years old on or before election day?"
2.31And the instruction:
2.32"If you checked 'no' to either of these questions, do not complete this form."
2.33The form of the voter registration application and the certification of voter eligibility
2.34must be as provided in this subdivision and approved by the secretary of state. Voter
2.35registration forms authorized by the National Voter Registration Act must also be accepted
3.1as valid. The federal postcard application form must also be accepted as valid if it is not
3.2deficient and the voter is eligible to register in Minnesota.
3.3An individual may use a voter registration application to apply to register to vote in
3.4Minnesota or to change information on an existing registration.
3.5Paper voter registration applications, other than those used for election day
3.6registration, must be of suitable size and weight for mailing.
