Voting News # 10

MINNESOTA ENACTS BILL MAKING IT EASIER FOR MILITARY AND OVERSEAS CITIZENS TO VOTE

Minnesota has enacted a new law that will:

*       allow uniformed services and overseas voters to receive their blank absentee ballots by fax or e-mail

*       allow voters to send their FPCA for ballot request only by fax or e-mail

*       allow voters to use a State Write-In Absentee Ballot for state and local elections, and

*       remove the requirement that Federal Post Card Applications or ballot envelopes be notarized or witnessed.

UOCAVA voters who receive their absentee ballot by fax or e-mail must return the voted ballot to the county auditor in a sealed envelope.  The State Write-In Absentee Ballot is for citizens who will be outside the U.S. during the 180-day period preceding the general election (and requested an official absentee ballot) and may be used as a ballot for all elections within that timeframe.  Minnesota previously required that applications or ballots be notarized or witnessed by an individual authorized to administer oaths when a citizen did not provide a military identification card number or a passport number.  Instead, the citizen now attests to the truthfulness of the contents under penalty of perjury.

Voting Assistance Officers should inform Minnesota voters and provide help as required.

Additional information regarding the provisions of this law is available online by visiting the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Web site at http://www.sos.state.mn.us/home/index.asp?page=10&recordid=250.

Questions regarding the above may also be referred to the Director, Federal Voting Assistance Program, Department of Defense, 1155 Defense Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 20301-1155 or through email: vote@fvap.ncr.gov. Visit the FVAP website at www.fvap.gov for more information.