Third Party Voter Registration in Minnesota

Currently there are no restrictions on third party registration in Minnesota.  However, House Bill No. 812, if passed, would impose restrictions on third party registration. This bill requires all individuals providing and collecting voter registration applications in voter registration drives to complete a required training course. [1] H.B. 812, 84th Leg., 2005-2006 Sess.(Mn. 2005).

This bill also requires individuals requesting more than five registration applications to sign a receipt, where they must disclose their names, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses of themselves and of their organization; the starting and ending numbers of applications received; the amount of applications received; the date; a certificate that they and any other persons participating in the registration drives completed the required training; and, finally, a certificate that the individuals and any organization “. . . will not inspect, capture, or retain, in any way, the information provided on the voter registration applications.”

Id. It is unlikely that the Minnesota legislature will pass this bill before the 2006 election.

The bill also mandates that the secretary of state must offer such training courses and also states the required substance that must be covered in such trainings.