Minnesota HF 1952: Procedure established for chair of either of the state's two largest major political parties to request forensic audit of state primary or state general election.

Bill Text

1.1 A bill for an act​
1.2 relating to elections; establishing a procedure for the chair of either of the state's​
1.3 two largest major political parties to request a forensic audit of a state primary or​
1.4 state general election; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter​
1.5 204C.​
1.6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:​
1.7 Section 1. [204C.365] FORENSIC AUDITS.​
1.8 Subdivision 1.Request for a forensic audit; scope.No later than 5:00 p.m. on the​
1.9 second day after the canvass of a state primary or state general election, the chair of either​
1.10 of the state's two largest major political parties may file a request for a forensic audit of the​
1.11 conduct of the election. The chair may express a specific area of focus for the audit, or may​
1.12 request a general forensic audit. A general forensic audit must include, at a minimum, a​
1.13 review of voting machine accuracy, election cybersecurity measures, voter eligibility, and​
1.14 the maintenance of election records required by law. The audit must be conducted by an​
1.15 independent organization with experience conducting elections audits. The independent​
1.16 organization must be chosen by the secretary of state, in consultation with the requesting​
1.17 political party chair.​
1.18 Subd. 2.Expenses.The cost of a forensic audit must be paid by the political party on​
1.19 whose behalf the audit is requested. The requesting party must file with the secretary of​
1.20 state a bond, cash, or surety in an amount set by the secretary for the payment of forensic​
1.21 audit expenses. The requesting party is responsible for the following expenses: the​
1.22 compensation of the secretary of state, or designees, and any election judge, municipal clerk,​
1.23 county auditor, administrator, or other personnel of a state or local government required to​
1.24 participate in the audit; necessary supplies and travel related to the audit; the compensation​
1​Section 1.​
REVISOR JFK/JW 23-02524​01/20/23 ​
State of Minnesota​
This Document can be made available​
in alternative formats upon request​
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES​
H. F. No. 1952​
NINETY-THIRD SESSION​
Authored by Franson, Knudsen, Fogelman and Murphy​02/16/2023​
The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Elections Finance and Policy​

2.1 and fees of the independent organization conducting the audit; and any reasonable attorney​
2.2 fees related to the audit incurred by the governing body of a unit of government whose​
2.3 practices are a subject of the audit.​
2​Section 1.​
REVISOR JFK/JW 23-02524​01/20/23 ​