HF 3589

HF3589 FIRST ENGROSSMENT  REVISOR  JFK  H3589-1
This Document can be made available  Printed
in alternative formats upon request  State of Minnesota  Page No.      274
  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
  NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
  H. F. No.  3589
02/23/2026    Authored by Gordon and Altendorf
  The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Elections Finance and Government Operations
03/26/2026    Adoption of Report: Placed on the General Register as Amended
  Read for the Second Time
04/27/2026    Calendar for the Day
  Read for the Third Time
  Passed by the House and transmitted to the Senate
1.1A bill for an act
1.2relating to elections; permitting a voter to briefly leave a polling place to address
1.3an unexpected need, at the discretion of the head election judge; amending
1.4Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 204C.13, subdivision 7.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 204C.13, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
1.7Subd. 7. Leaving the polling place. (a) An individual who has voted or whose ballot
1.8has been rejected shall leave the polling place and shall not return except as provided by
1.9section 204C.06 or 204C.07.
1.10(b) A voter with a demonstrated need, who has been issued a ballot but has not yet cast
1.11that ballot, may be permitted to leave the polling place to address that need and return to
1.12the polling place to cast their ballot.
1.13Before leaving the polling place, the original ballot issued to the voter must be spoiled and
1.14remain in the polling place. The voter must complete a form with their full name, address,
1.15and date of birth. The head judge shall note the time when the voter leaves the polling place.
1.16The form must be initialed by the voter and the head judge.
1.17Upon the voter's return, the voter must request assistance from the head election judge. The
1.18head judge must retrieve the form completed before the voter's departure and note the time
1.19of the voter's return. After the form is again initialed by the voter and the head judge, the
1.20head election judge must accompany the voter to the ballot table to be issued a new ballot.
1.21The voter must then cast their ballot and is not permitted to re-enter the polling location
1.22after doing so.
Section 1.  1
      HF3589 FIRST ENGROSSMENT  REVISOR  JFK  H3589-1
2.1 A voter who leaves and does not return must be noted in the incident log by the head election
2.2 judge, and used to explain why the number of voters who have checked in at the polling
2.3 location does not match the number of ballots cast.
2.4 The secretary of state shall prepare the form required by this subdivision.
      Section 1.  2