SF 4006 Minnesota Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Various election administration changes provisions, absentee voting provisions modifications, technical, and clarifying changes

This bill (SF 4006) modifies Minnesota's election administration rules, primarily affecting county auditors, municipal clerks, and voters. Key changes include requiring clerks to have technical capacity and training to access the statewide voter registration system, extending absentee ballot delivery timelines to 46 days before most elections, and adding procedures to prevent absentee ballots from being mailed to incarcerated voters. It also updates how voter information is recorded in the state system when absentee ballots are processed. These changes aim to standardize election operations while clarifying responsibilities for local election officials.

Bill status died 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Mar 2, 2026 Last action May 11, 2026

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What changed between versions

Introduction → 1st Engrossment · 5 edits · Apr 7, 2026

MODERATE

This bill updates Minnesota election laws to modernize the statewide voter registration system, clarify rules for municipalities administering absentee voting, and adjust canvassing timelines. It also removes the annual appropriation for special election reimbursements, shifting to a different funding mechanism, and extends the deadline for county boards to call special elections on ballot questions.

Scope change

The bill expands the applicability of the statewide voter registration system to more municipal clerks and clarifies the roles of clerks in multi-county cities. It also changes the effective date for certain sections to the day following final enactment rather than a fixed future date.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the rule for municipalities administering absentee voting from a mandatory designation to a requirement that the municipality must determine whether its office will administer voting on the 46th or 18th day before the election.

Added a new requirement that municipal clerks must have technical capacity to access the statewide voter registration system securely and receive approved training before using it.

TIMELINE

Extended the deadline for county boards to call special elections on ballot questions from 10 days to 14 days after a resolution is adopted.

Adjusted the effective date for several sections to the day following final enactment instead of a specific future date like September 1, 2027.

FISCAL

Removed the annual appropriation of funds for the secretary of state to reimburse local governments for special election expenses.

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Full legislative history

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Key actions

Committee

Apr 7, 2026

Upper · Passed

Comm report: To pass as amended

upper

Mar 2, 2026

Committee

Referred to Elections

upper

Mar 2, 2026

Introduced

Introduction and first reading

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors