Sundin authors bill to increase special election timeframe

State Representative Mike Sundin (DFL-Esko) has authored legislation to extend the time period for special elections during the legislative session following the state senate special election earlier this year, which resulted in hundreds of mail-in ballots going uncounted.

“The limited window for special elections has proven to be a challenge for too many of our citizens,” Sundin said. “We need to address these statutory limitations so that in the future we can be confident that everyone will have a chance to make their voices heard without undue burden. Voting is a right, and I intend to do everything in my power to ensure we are making it easier, not harder, for folks to exercise that right.”

Sundin said he has been working with Secretary of State Steve Simon to craft legislation to remedy these issues “that rural areas like ours face with special elections.”

The bill recently had a hearing in the House Subcommittee on Elections, where Simon joined Sundin in testifying in favor of the changes the legislation proposes. If passed, the bill would extend the allowable length of the special elections cycle by two weeks, specifically when the election is to take place during the legislative session. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in the Elections Omnibus bill.

The author of the senate companion bill is Sen. Jason Rarick (R-Pine City), the winner of the recent state senate special election.