SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The Senate Elections Committee advanced Senator Liz Boldon’s Democracy for the People Act (SF3) Tuesday, bringing this legislative package to protect voting rights and strengthen Minnesota’s democracy one step closer to being signed into law.
“Democracy and the freedom to vote are essential to every other freedom and right Minnesotans enjoy, which is why moving the Democracy for the People Act is a top priority in 2023,” said chief author of the bill Assistant DFL Leader Liz Boldon (DFL-Rochester). “Minnesotans value our democracy, but extremists and dark money groups are continuing to attempt to undermine and attack our elections, restrict voting rights, and spread misinformation. That’s why we must move urgently to strengthen and expand our democracy, which is exactly what SF 3 does.”
The Democracy for the People Act contains several proposals to protect and expand the rights of Minnesotans to participate in free, fair, and open elections and strengthen Minnesota’s democracy.
Provisions included in the bill:
- automatic voter registration,
- preregistration for 16 and 17-year-olds,
- restoration of voting rights for those with felonies,
- permanent absentee voting,
- multilingual election resources, sample ballots, and voting instructions,
- increased penalties for voter intimidation,
- Increased disclosure of dark money spending.
Following passage in the Elections Committee, SF 3 now moves to the Senate Transportation and Public Safety Committee, where it is scheduled to be heard on Wednesday, February 8 at 3:00 p.m.
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