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S.F. No. 2251 - August Primary Author: Senator Terri Bonoff Prepared by: Thomas S. Bottern, Senate Counsel (651/296-3810) Date: February 4, 2010 OVERVIEW This bill makes three major changes to Minnesota election law: (1) it moves the date of the state primary from the first Tuesday after the second Monday in September to the second Tuesday in August in each even -numbered year; (2) it changes the beginning of the time period for voting in person by absentee ballot from 30 days before the date of the election to 46 days before the election; and (3) it changes the timing provided for special elections for federal office to enable a 45-day absentee balloting period. These changes will allow Minnesota to conform to recently enacted federal legislation known as The Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act. The MOVE Act is intended to aid the registration and participation of U.S. military and overseas voters. SECTION -BY -SECTION SUMMARY Sections 1 to 4 [Public Subsidy Conforming Amendments.] make conforming changes to the timing for payment of public election subsidies to conform with the new date provided in this bill for the state primary. Section 5 [Printing and Delivery of Applications for Absentee Ballots.] imposes a new deadline for delivery of applications for absentee ballots to permanently ill or disabled voters and those voters with ongoing absentee ballot status. The applications for absentee ballots must be delivered at least 60 days in advance of a regularly scheduled primary or election or special primary or election to fill a vacancy in federal office. Section 6 [Absentee Voting in Person.] extends the time available for absentee voting in person for most primaries and elections from 30 to 46 days. Section 7 [Delivery of Absentee Ballots.] moves the deadline for delivery of absentee ballots to voters who are hospitalized or residents of health care facilities from 20 to 30 days in advance of an election. Section 8 [Absentee Ballot Board.] makes a conforming change to allow absentee ballot boards to begin accepting and rejecting absentee ballots up to 45 days before the election. Section 9 [Military and Overseas Voter Applications for Absentee Ballots.] changes the time period for the validity of an absentee ballot application from a qualified voter in military service or outside the United States to the remainder of the calendar year when the application is received. Current law specifies that the application is valid through the next two general elections for federal office that are held after the application is received.