HF3587 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))
Election judges who assist a voter outside of a polling place required to handle only one voted ballot at a time.
Related bill: SF4080
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
To formalize and expand voting options for voters who cannot enter a polling place. The bill allows eligible voters to register or update their registration and cast a ballot from their motor vehicle, with assistance from two election judges from different major political parties. It also ensures the voter’s certificate is completed and ballots are provided, and it allows the voter to request additional help marking ballots as allowed by existing law. The key limit is that the election judges may handle only one voted ballot at a time.
Main Provisions
- Amends Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement section 204C.15 subdivision 2 to address voting outside the polling place.
- An individual who cannot enter the polling place but uses paper ballots or an electronic voting system may register or update registration and vote without leaving a motor vehicle.
- Two election judges, from different major political parties, must assist the voter in registering or updating registration, and in completing the voter’s certificate, and must provide the necessary ballots.
- The voter may request additional assistance in marking ballots as described in existing subdivision provisions.
- Election judges assisting outside the polling place may only handle one voted ballot at a time.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Creates a formal framework for curbside/drive-up voting by allowing registration and voting from a vehicle.
- Establishes a bipartisan two-judge assistance requirement to supervise curbside voting.
- Institutes a one-ballot-at-a-time limit for judges assisting outside the polling place, aiming to protect accuracy and privacy.
- Integrates curbside voting procedures with existing provisions on voter registration, voter certificates, and ballot marking assistance.
How this affects voters
- Voters who cannot enter a polling place due to mobility or other reasons can still participate in the election without leaving their car.
- They will receive help from two judges from different major parties, and their registration/updates and certificate will be completed as part of the process.
- They can receive the appropriate ballots and request extra help marking their selections, subject to existing rules.
- Each ballot will be handled individually by the assisting judges.
Relevant Terms - outside the polling place - motor vehicle - register or update registration - voter’s certificate - ballots - paper ballots - electronic voting system - two election judges - different major political parties - assistance in marking ballots - one voted ballot at a time - curbside voting - Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement § 204C.15 subdivision 2
Bill text versions
- Introduction PDF PDF file
Upcoming committee meetings
- Elections Finance and Government Operations on: March 23, 2026 13:00
Past committee meetings
- Elections Finance and Government Operations on: March 02, 2026 13:00
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 23, 2026 | House | Action | Introduction and first reading, referred to | Elections Finance and Government Operations | |
| March 05, 2026 | House | Action | Author added | ||
| March 12, 2026 | House | Action | Author added |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Requires two election judges who are members of different major political parties to assist the voter outside the polling place and to complete a voter's certificate and register/update registration as applicable.",
"Requires election judges to provide the necessary ballots when assisting outside the polling place.",
"Allows the voter to request additional assistance in marking ballots as provided in subdivision 1.",
"Requires that election judges providing assistance under this subdivision may only handle one voted ballot at a time."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement section 204C.15, subdivision 2, to provide outside-the-polling-place assistance for voters. It requires two election judges who are members of different major political parties to assist the voter to register or update a registration and to complete a voter's certificate, and to provide the necessary ballots when the voter is unable to enter a polling place. The voter may request additional assistance in marking ballots as provided in subdivision 1. Election judges providing assistance under this subdivision may only handle one voted ballot at a time.",
"modified": [
"Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement section 204C.15, subdivision 2 is amended to read with outside-the-polling-place assistance."
]
},
"citation": "204C.15",
"subdivision": "subd. 2"
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee