Purpose

• The bill aims to require formal certification from presidential candidates and political party chairs that the candidate satisfies all eligibility requirements of the United States Constitution to hold the office. It also clarifies and expands how presidential electors and alternates are nominated in Minnesota.

Main Provisions

• Amends Minnesota statute 204B.07, subdivision 2, to govern petitions nominating presidential electors and alternates.
• Major party candidates for presidential electors or alternates are still certified under section 208.03; this petition-and-affidavit process does not apply to those major-party candidates.
• For non-major-party electors or alternates, petitions may nominate a slate of presidential electors equal to Minnesota’s total electoral votes, with an alternate for each elector.
• Each nominated candidate must submit a signed notarized affidavit of candidacy for president or vice president, including: 1) the candidate’s name as it should appear on the ballot 2) campaign address, website, phone number, and email address 3) the name of the political party or political principle stated on the petition 4) the office sought 5) a declaration that the candidate satisfies all U.S. Constitution eligibility requirements to be elected and that the candidate is aware of and will follow all applicable election laws and campaign finance laws
• The petition must include the names of the candidates for president and vice president, added to the political party or principle stated on the petition.
• One petition can nominate a slate of presidential electors equal to the state’s total electors, with an alternate for each elector.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Creates a new, formal notarized affidavit requirement for non-major-party presidential candidates seeking to nominate electors or alternates.
• Introduces explicit verification that candidates satisfy the U.S. Constitution’s eligibility requirements and intent to comply with election and campaign finance laws.
• Expands the nomination framework to cover non-major-party electors/alternates via petition, while maintaining the current certification path for major-party candidates.

Compliance and Process Implications

• Candidates and party officials must gather and submit detailed candidate information and affidavits.
• Requires alignment with U.S. Constitution eligibility standards and ongoing compliance with election and campaign finance laws.
• Adds procedural steps to petition-based nominations for presidential electors/alternates beyond major parties.

Potential Impacts

• Increases documentation and formal verification for non-major-party electors/alternates.
• May affect the ease or timeline of petition-based nominations.
• Signals greater emphasis on constitutional eligibility and legal compliance in the electoral process.

Relevant Terms

• presidential electors
• alternates
• petitions
• major political parties
• certification
• United States Constitution eligibility requirements
• affidavit of candidacy
• notarized affidavit
• name as it appears on the ballot
• campaign address
• campaign website
• campaign phone
• campaign email
• political party
• political principle
• office sought
• election laws
• campaign finance laws