Nongovernment entities mailing prefilled absentee ballot applications prohibition provision

A bill for an act

relating to elections; prohibiting nongovernment entities from mailing prefilled

absentee ballot applications; amending Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement,

section 211B.066, subdivision 2.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 211B.066, subdivision 2, is

amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Requirements.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, any person

or entity that mails an absentee ballot application or sample ballot to anyone in the state

must comply with this section. This section does not apply to a unit of government or

employee of that unit of government when discharging official election duties.

(b) The person or entity mailing the absentee ballot application or sample ballot must

include the following statement: "This mailing is not an official election communication

from a unit of government. This [absentee ballot application or sample ballot] has not been

included at the request of a government official." If a sample ballot is enclosed, the statement

must also include the following: "This is a sample ballot, not an official ballot. You cannot

cast the enclosed sample ballot."

(c) The statement required in paragraph (b) must be printed in a typeface and format

designed to be clearly visible at the time the mailing is opened. The person or entity sending

the sample ballot or absentee ballot application must include the person or entity's name

and street address in the return address position on the mailing envelope.

(d) If an absentee ballot application is included,
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the fields on the application, including
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the space on the application to indicate the applicant's preference to join the permanent

absentee voter list
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,
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must be left blank and may only be
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filled in or
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marked by the applicant.
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Nothing in this section prohibits the person or entity mailing the absentee ballot application

from highlighting the required fields.

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