Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

Election changes now law (new law)

Published (5/25/2012)
By Nick Busse
Share on: 



Absentee voters will no longer have their ballots rejected just because they forget to write the date on the envelope.

The change is included in a new law that makes a handful of mostly minor changes to the state’s election statutes.

Previously, absentee voters’ ballots were not counted if they forgot to write in the date next to their signature on the ballot envelope. Effective June 29, 2012, voters are still required to sign the required oath, but no longer have to write in the date.

Two other provisions are included in the law:

• effective April 28, 2012, banning political party units from punishing non-endorsed candidates from running for office by imposing financial penalties; and

• effective Aug. 1, 2012, making a technical change necessary to accommodate the date for this year’s Republican National Convention.

At one point, a provision was included that would have moved the state’s primary from August to June, but it was removed in conference committee.

Rep. Tim Sanders (R-Blaine) sponsors the law with Sen. Roger Chamberlain (R-Lino Lakes).

HF2545/ SF2296*/CH250

Session Weekly More...


Session Weekly Home



Related Stories


Voters to decide on photo ID
Fate of constitutional question now rests in the people’s hands
(view full story) Published 4/6/2012

Proving who you say you are
House votes to approve ballot question on photo ID for voters
(view full story) Published 3/23/2012

Where the people are
Population growth varies across state but has big redistricting impact
(view full story) Published 5/6/2011

Drawing the lines
Redistricting plan is far from bipartisan acceptance
(view full story) Published 5/6/2011

First Reading: Identification, please?
Lawmakers weigh photo ID requirement for voters
(view full story) Published 2/11/2011

At Issue: A push here, a bubble there
State redistricting is a balancing act that’s not often easy
(view full story) Published 1/21/2011