Elections administration changes

A new law makes several miscellaneous changes to election law including eliminating redundant and obsolete language and clarifying processes.

It amends the notice required when a full-time city clerk administers absentee ballots and provides the use of the Statewide Voter Registration System for administering all absentee voting at primary and general elections except for town elections. This is effective May 19, 2026.

Effective upon the revisor of statutes' receipt of the early voting certification, the law requires the early voting official to maintain a printed copy of an early voter’s certificate of eligibility. Early voting officials must also ensure the number of ballots removed from the ballot box is equal to the number of voter certificates that were signed by voters while processing ballots.

Effective Aug. 1, 2026, canvassing boards will be able to declare the candidates who received the highest number of votes in each school office duly elected; one polling place must be designated in each county for special elections conducted by a school district with boundaries that include more than one county; and the law establishes a petty misdemeanor penalty for a candidate who places a wager with a prediction market on an outcome of an election in which they are running.

Rep. Mike Freiberg (DFL-Golden Valley) and Sen. Bonnie Westlin (DFL-Plymouth) sponsor the law.

HF4240/SF4006*/CH102

HF4240* / SF4006 / CH102