Elections panel approves bill to locate additional polling place on college campuses

Helping get youth more involved in the electoral process by making it easier to cast a ballot received the first affirmative and negative votes of a House committee.

State statute permits a county auditor to designate temporary additional polling places to administer absentee and early voting. It also states that if requested by a federally recognized American Indian tribe with a reservation in the county, a polling place must be established for at least one day on the reservation at a site accessible to the county auditor by a public road.

Rep. Kristi Pursell (DFL-Northfield) seeks to add a second requirement.

She sponsors HF3447 that, as amended, would require designation of an additional polling place for at least one day on a postsecondary institution campus, if requested by the institution or the student government organization.

Siya Shelar, a freshman at the University of Minnesota, testifies before the House Elections Finance and Policy Committee Feb. 14 in support of HF3447 Rep. Kristi Pursell, right, is the sponsor. (Photo by Andrew VonBank)

The change would apply to schools with an undergraduate in-person enrollment of at least 1,500, including full- and part-time students; however, Pursell is open to lowering the attendance minimum.

Approved Wednesday by the House Elections Finance and Policy Committee on a split-voice vote, the bill is headed to the House Floor.

“This will ensure more college students can cast a ballot, and maybe for the first time,” Pursell said.

Supporters, in part, note that finding time to vote on Election Day could be hard for college students when balancing classes and homework, they could be confused about where to vote in a new city, and transportation could be an issue getting to an off-campus polling place.

Republicans note students can already vote early or request an absentee ballot, and counties can already do what the bill seeks. And the change would be an unfunded mandate to local election officials. “This is very fiscally irresponsible,” said Rep. Ben Davis (R-Merrifield).

Representatives of the Minnesota Association of County Officers agree.

“When determining if, where, or when a temporary polling location will be established, election administrators must determine how to best utilize limited resources such as election judges, equipment, supplies, etc. in the most efficient way possible,” says a letter to the committee. “… Allowing election administrators a wider use of discretion and flexibility will produce the best decision possible as to whether a temporary polling location is or is not established.”

No fiscal note was provided; however, Rep. Kristin Bahner (DFL-Maple Grove) said last year’s elections law established a voting operations, technology, and election resources account — funded at $1.25 million annually from the General Fund — to help local units of government with election expenditures.