Section 1 clarifies that the proof-of-residence oath used for vouching must include a statement that the individual is registered to vote in the precinct or is an employee of a residential facility in the precinct t. The other requirements remain the same.

Section 2 authorizes the Secretary of State to maintain voter records of participants in the Safe at Home program.

Section 3 requires the master list for precincts to be available for absentee voting at least 46 days before each election.  This change is consistent with other timelines throughout election laws.

Section 4 provides that the secretary of state will, upon request from a voter, inactivate the voter’s record in the statewide voter registration system.  Current law requires removal of the voter from the system.

Section 5 makes a conforming change.

Section 6 prohibits election officials from making public the names of voters who have had their absentee ballot rejected until the closing of voting on election day.

Section 7 requires the secretary of state to maintain a list of voters whose absentee ballots have been accepted in the elections where use of the statewide voter registration system is required. For all other elections the county auditor or municipal clerk must maintain the lists.  These lists are public in the same manner as other voter public information lists.

Section 8 requires a county auditor to transmit absentee ballots by express mail when an application was received before the 46^th day before the election; the ballot was not transmitted by the 46^th day before the election; and the voter did not request the ballot to be sent electronically.

Section 9 specifies that a candidate for county, state, or federal office must file a written request to have write-in votes counted in the time between the 84^th day before the primary and seven days before the general election.  Currently, the deadline only specifies the cut-off of seven days before the election.

Section 10 adds stepparents of a candidate to the list of individuals not qualified to be election judges.  Stepchildren and stepsiblings are already included in the list.

Sections 11 and 12 specify that ballots received in a mail election may be opened after the close of business on the seventh day before the election.  This is consistent with when absentee ballots may be opened.

Section 13 amends the voters bill of rights to clarify that the right to be absent from work applies only to state or federal elections.

Sections 14, 15, 16, and 17 eliminate references to colored ballots.

Section 18 specifies that all officers of charter cities hold their offices until their successors qualify.

Section 19 makes technical changes.

Section 20 prohibits a school district special election from being held on the date of a regularly scheduled town election in March and during the 30 days before and 30 days after the town election.

Section 21 specifies the ballot question to be used when a recall election occurs.

Section 22 specifies the ballot question to be used when dissolution of a town is considered.

Section 23 specifies the ballot question to be used when a change in county borders or the creation of a new county is considered.

Section 24 specifies the ballot question to be used when a county seeks to make certain offices appointed.

Section 25 specifies the ballot question to be used when dissolution of a city is being considered.

Section 26 authorizes Special School District No. 1, South St. Paul, to dissolve school district election districts.  After dissolution, school board members will be elected at-large.

ACS/syl