House committee approves automatic delivery of absentee ballots

Minnesotans who choose absentee voting could have their ballots delivered automatically.

Sponsored by Rep. Jamie Long (DFL-Mpls), HF1372 would remove the need for voters to apply for an absentee ballot each election cycle.

Currently, Minnesotans may choose permanent absentee voting status, but many do not realize this only guarantees an absentee ballot application will be mailed to them. The application must still be filled out and returned to receive a ballot.

Rep. Jamie Long

Approved by the House Government Operations Committee Tuesday, HF1372 would remove the need for recurring applications. Instead, absentee ballots would be automatically delivered at least 45 days prior to federal, state, county, city and school board elections.

Long said 24,397 Minnesota voters currently have chosen permanent absentee status, which is especially helpful for students, seniors, people with disabilities, in rural areas and working parents.

“This bill would make the simple change to meet the voters’ expectations,” Long said, adding it would be “much easier on voters” and would streamline the voting process for counties and cities, while also reducing their financial burden.

“The application step is unnecessary when the voter has already designated this is their preferred method of voting,” Long said.

Many other states also successfully use this system, Long said, including Arizona, Montana and Utah.

The bill, which was amended to change the effective date from January to July of this year, was referred to the House State Government Finance Division. The companion, SF1410, is sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Susan Kent (DFL-Woodbury) and awaits action by the Senate State Government Finance and Policy and Elections Committee.