Absentee ballot bill advances in Senate
Absentee ballot legislation carried by Sen. Katie Sieben, DFL-Newport, advanced in the Senate today.
Among things the bill does is create local ballot boards that will be responsible for absentee ballots — the boards would make the decision to accept or reject them.
The bill requires absentee ballot applications to include one of the following: applicant’s driver’s license number or state identification number; the last four digits of the applicant’s Social Security number; or a statement the applicant has none of these.
Sieben explained the legislation makes the rejection or acceptance of absentee ballots by elections officials less subjective.
“It’s a good bill,” said Sen. Chris Gerlach, R-Apple Valley, who has worked on election issues.
Gerlach attempted to amend the bill, but the amendment failed.
Gerlach wanted to post the reasons for absentee balloting on application materials, arguing that the number of people who vote absentee has been steadily increasing although the laws pertaining the absentee balloting haven’t changed.
Gerlach suggested that absentee balloting is being used by voters for reasons not covered by the law.
