HF4037

Purpose

This bill would require the secretary of state to provide to a federal government agency or department any data related to voters and elections in Minnesota upon request, and to do so within specific timeframes. It aims to codify a process for sharing voter-elections data with the federal government.

Main Provisions

• Data sharing obligation: The secretary of state must, upon request, provide to a federal agency or department any data that relates to voters and elections in Minnesota.
• Scope of data: The secretary must provide all data in the statewide voter registration system when requested.
• Timeline: The data must be provided no later than 180 calendar days after the request, or no later than the 90th day before the next regularly scheduled election, whichever comes sooner.
• Definition of “voters”: For purposes of this section, “voters” includes individuals who attempted to register but were not ultimately registered, individuals whose voter registration is not current, and individuals who registered to vote but never voted.

Key Changes to Existing Law

• Data access override: The bill uses a not-withstanding provision to override existing privacy or data practices laws (such as Minnesota’s data practices framework) to allow the sharing of voter and election data with a federal agency.
• Broad data scope: It expands the data that can be shared to include all information in the statewide voter registration system when requested by a federal entity.
• Codification intent: The bill indicates an intent to code the new requirements into Minnesota Statutes chapter 200, signaling a formal, statutory change to how voter data is handled.

Potential Implications and Considerations

• Privacy and security: Broad access to voter and election data raises concerns about privacy, data protection, and the potential for misuse or exposure of sensitive information.
• Federal access: Establishes a formal pathway for government-to-government data sharing that could affect how Minnesota handles data requests from federal agencies.
• Timing and operational impact: The 180-day/90-day-before-election deadlines could affect how quickly data can be compiled and delivered, as well as how data requests are prioritized.

Summary of What It Seeks to Accomplish

• Create a clear requirement for the secretary of state to provide voter and election data to federal entities upon request.
• Establish specific delivery timelines and broaden the range of data covered.
• Reframe applicable law to allow this sharing, potentially superseding certain state data privacy protections.

Relevant Terms secretary of state; data; voters; elections; statewide voter registration system; data requests; agency or department of the federal government; not withstanding; Minnesota Statutes chapter 200; data practices; 180 calendar days; 90th day prior to the next regularly scheduled election; registered; not current; attempted to register; never voted.