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Committee adopts amendment to require prompt public notice of temporary polling locations
Summary
The State Elections Committee adopted an author's amendment to Senate File 600 requiring that cities and counties post updates about additional or temporary polling locations on their websites within five days; the bill as amended was laid over for possible inclusion.
The State Elections Committee voted to adopt an author's amendment to Senate File 600 that would require cities and counties to post timely public notice when they designate additional or temporary polling locations.
The change, adopted as the A2 amendment, directs municipal clerks and county auditors to update city and county websites “in a very timely manner,” and specifies that postings generally occur within one day but must not exceed five days after designation, according to the bill sponsor.
The amendment’s sponsor said the measure aims to increase transparency about where voters can cast ballots during absentee and Election Day periods. "What this does is really make sure that we get notice out as soon as possible when those decisions are made for that particular election," the sponsor said. The committee adopted the A2 amendment by voice vote and then laid Senate File 600 over for possible inclusion.
Representatives of the secretary of state’s office told the committee the office does not take an official position on the bill but supports voters having access to information about where and when they can vote. Nicole Freeman of the Office of the Secretary of State said the office has worked to make MNvotes.gov a centralized source for election information and that staff already collect and post notices from jurisdictions; she said the office had no concerns about meeting the bill’s proposed posting requirements. "Our office doesn't have an official position on the bill. But we joined in the committee with the committee and the desire for voters to have access to information about where and when they can vote," Freeman said.
Committee members asked about notice requirements for longer-term absentee locations. Freeman cited the statute that governs full-time 46-day absentee locations and their notice obligations, noting jurisdictions must post that information 14 days before the absentee voting period starts.
Several committee members voiced support for the bill’s transparency goals. Senator Carlson called the bill "very well needed" and thanked the sponsor for bringing it forward. With the amendment adopted, Senate File 600 was laid over for possible inclusion on future committee action.
Votes at a glance: A2 amendment to Senate File 600 — adopted by voice vote; Senate File 600 as amended — laid over for possible inclusion.
The committee moved on to the next agenda item after laying the bill over.
