Bill > HF2343

This bill moves Minnesota's state primary election date from the second Tuesday in August to the first Tuesday in May, affecting various sections of state election law. The changes impact not only state primaries, but also municipal and school district primaries, with modifications to related procedures such as candidate filing periods, ballot preparation, and election judge appointments. Key adjustments include shifting dates for preparing election judge lists, submitting ballot examples, and filing candidacy affidavits to align with the new May primary date. The bill also updates references to the primary date in multiple statutes related to election administration, such as precinct boundary changes and electronic voting systems. Notably, the effective date is set for January 1, 2026, which means these changes will first apply to primary elections in that year, giving election officials and political entities time to prepare for the new timeline. The modifications aim to potentially provide more time for general election preparation and potentially increase voter engagement by moving the primary election earlier in the election cycle.

Government Affairs

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF2343&ssn=0&y=2025