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could happen in 2020 and would therefore <br />be an inefficient use of resources, <br />particularly staffing thousands of precincts <br />throughout the state. Conducting the election <br />by mail could conserve resources and <br />potentially increase voter participation. <br />Response: The League of Minnesota <br />Cities supports: <br />a) Ensuring that local units of <br />government are fully reimbursed for <br />all anticipated and unanticipated costs <br />of conducting the presidential <br />nomination primary; and <br />b) Allowing the presidential nomination <br />primary to be conducted via mail <br />balloting. <br />S D -80. Health Care Facility Voting <br />Issue: Minn. Stat. § 203B.11 outlines the <br />process for individuals living in health care <br />facilities to vote. Local election <br />officials send teams of election judges to <br />facilities such as nursing homes and <br />hospitals during the 20 days before the <br />election. They distribute ballots to eligible <br />residents of the facility and provide <br />assistance as needed. Allowing more time <br />for this process would increase resident <br />ability to register to vote or apply for an <br />absentee ballot and ensure their ballot is <br />submitted. <br />There have been instances when facility <br />staff have refused entry to city elections <br />officials to provide health care facility <br />outreach voting. It is essential that city staff <br />are able to provide this service to ensure that <br />every eligible resident is able to vote should <br />they choose to. <br />It is not uncommon for residents of health <br />care facilities to move to different rooms or <br />units within a building. If their voter <br />registration is tied to a specific unit within <br />66 <br />the building, they must re -register to vote <br />after moving or their ballot may be rejected. <br />This is unnecessary given the resident still <br />lives in the same facility. <br />The process for health care facility voting is <br />required in precincts that conduct elections <br />by mail. This is confusing for residents and <br />facility staff. This requirement should be <br />eliminated in mail -only precincts though <br />elections administrators should work to <br />ensure that any new resident of a facility is <br />able to register and receive a ballot. <br />Response: It is critical that those living in <br />health care facilities are able to vote <br />securely and with minimal complication. <br />To do so, the League of Minnesota Cities <br />supports amending state law to increase <br />flexibility for cities and health care <br />facilities partnering in administering <br />elections. This includes: <br />a) Extending the time period that <br />residents of health care facilities are <br />able to vote to 46 days before an <br />election which is current state law for <br />voting absentee; <br />b) Requiring entry into facility for city <br />elections officials to ensure residents <br />are able to vote; <br />c) Eliminating the need to include a <br />specific room or unit number on voter <br />registration or absentee ballot <br />applications of those living in health <br />care facilities; and <br />d) Exempting mail -only precincts from <br />also conducting health care facility <br />voting while ensuring that new <br />residents are able to register and <br />receive a ballot. <br />SD-81. Voters Experiencing <br />Homelessness <br />Issue: Minnesotans experiencing <br />homelessness are able to register to vote <br />