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S.F. No. 1811 - Electronic Roster Study and Authorization (Second Engrossment)
 
Author: Senator Terri E. Bonoff
 
Prepared By: Alexis C. Stangl, Senate Counsel (651/296-4397)
 
Date: March 19, 2014



 

S.F. No. 1811 authorizes the use of electronic rosters statewide in 2015.  Article 1 provides general statutory language to authorize the use statewide of electronic rosters for elections starting in 2014.  Article 2 includes definitions and conforming changes.

Article 1 – Electronic Roster Authorization

Article 2 provides for statewide use of electronic rosters starting this year.  Section 1, subdivision 1, authorizes counties, municipalities, and school districts to use electronic rosters for any election in any or all of its precincts.  The electronic rosters must comply with the requirements in this section.  The electronic rosters must have the same information as paper rosters.

Subdivision 2 requires electronic rosters to meet the specified technology requirements.  These are the same as the technology requirements in Article 1, Section 1, Subdivision 3.

Subdivision 3 states that Minnesota Election Law applies to the use of electronic rosters unless otherwise provided.  Voters participating in the safe at home program must be allowed to vote pursuant to that program.  Nothing in this bill shall be construed to amend absentee voting provisions.

Subdivision 4 requires voter signature certificates and voter registration applications to be retained in the same manner as other election materials, generally for 22 months.  Printed voter signature certificates and voter registration applications must be printed on material that will remain legible for the retention period.  Data on election day registrants and voter history must be uploaded to the statewide voter registration system.

Subdivision 5 allows precincts to use electronic rosters for election day registration, to process preregistered voters, or both.  Printed election day registration applications must be reviewed when the records are processed in the statewide voter registration system.  Election judges must determine the number of ballots to be counted by counting the number of original voter certificates or the number of voter receipts.  Each precinct using an electronic roster must have a paper backup system at the polling place.

Subdivision 6 requires a county, municipality, or school district that intends to use electronic rosters to notify the Secretary of State at least 90 days before the first election in which it intends to use the electronic rosters.  The notification is valid for all subsequent elections.  The county, municipality, or school district must certify to the Secretary of State at least 30 days before the election that the electronic rosters meet all of the requirements of this section.  The county, municipality, or school district must conduct preelection testing.  The Secretary of State shall adopt rules for pre-election testing, and may use the expedited rulemaking process.

Section 2 states that this article is effective the day following final enactment.

Article 2 – Definitions and Conforming Changes

Sections 1 and 2 provide definitions for the terms “polling place roster” and “voter signature certificate.”

Section 3 specifies that an electronic roster, together with the voter signature certificate, must include the same information as a paper polling place roster.

Section 4 states that in combined polling places, the Secretary of State shall provide separate data files for each precinct instead of separate paper rosters.

Sections 5 to 8 add references to voter signature certificates in places where the current law references signing the paper roster.

Section 9 provides that the article is effective the day following final enactment.

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