ST. PAUL, Minn. — On Monday, the Senate Elections Committee passed its omnibus budget bill (SF 1636), securing $10 million in funding to support elections in Minnesota, expanding voter access, and supporting the Secretary of State Office. Elections Committee Chair Senator Jim Carlson (DFL-Eagan) is the chief author of the omnibus budget bill.
“Over the past few years, we have seen a heightened need to invest in our elections,” said Senator Carlson.” As the chair of the Election Committee, I have had conversations with committee members, the Office of the Secretary of State, and stakeholders to shape the omnibus bill, and made necessary adjustments to strengthen the bill. We have adopted provisions across party lines and put together this package, which is the first step toward a more inclusive democracy.”
Some highlights of the bill include:
- Protecting election workers from intimidation and harassment (SF 1507)
- Establishing an 18-day early voting period, expanding access and convenience by ensuring voters will have the option to cast their ballots at the time and place which works best for them (SF 1434)
- Providing grants for local jurisdictions to make polling places accessible to voters with disabilities (SF 2144)
- Decreasing the influence of wealthy donors in our elections by providing larger public grants to candidates who agree to abide by spending limits (SF 2845)
- Establishing a task force to lay the groundwork for understanding how ranked choice voting could operate in Minnesota’s elections (SF 2270)
“I am proud to be the author of the Elections Budget Omnibus bill, which is a compilation of much of the work we have done as a committee this session,” said Senator Carlson. This bill protects and expands the freedom to vote in Minnesota, makes candidates more accountable to voters, and increases transparency of lobbying and wealthy interests at all levels of government.”
The committee passed the omnibus bill and referred it to the Finance Committee.
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