1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to elections; requiring certain voting materials to be printed in languages 
1.3 	other than English;amending Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 204B.27, 
1.4 	subdivisions 3, 11.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 204B.27, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
1.7 		Subd. 3.Instruction posters. (a) At least 25 days before every state election the 
1.8 	secretary of state shall prepare and furnish to the county auditor of each county in which 
1.9 	paper ballots are used, voter instruction posters printed in large type upon cards or heavy 
1.10 	paper. The instruction posters must contain the information needed to enable the voters to 
1.11 	cast their paper ballots quickly and correctly and indicate the types of assistance available 
1.12 	for elderly and disabled voters. Two instruction posters shall be furnished for each 
1.13 	precinct in which paper ballots are used.
1.14 	(b) Counties in which the county auditor has determined a need for non-English 
1.15 	voting materials, as described in subdivision 11, paragraph (c), must also be provided 
1.16 	posters stating: "Voter registration applications and ballot instructions are available in 
1.17 	..... language." This statement must be printed in large type on cards or heavy paper in 
1.18 	each of the non-English languages for which the county auditor has requested translated 
1.19 	materials. Two posters must be provided for each precinct supplied with non-English 
1.20 	voting materials.

1.21 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 204B.27, subdivision 11, is amended to read:
1.22 		Subd. 11.Translation of voting ~~instructions~~ materials. (a) The secretary of state 
1.23 	~~may~~ shall develop and publish voting instructions, voter registration applications, absentee 
2.1 	ballot applications, and absentee ballot instructions written in languages other than 
2.2 	English~~, to be posted and made available in polling places during elections~~. Non-English 
2.3 	voting instructions must also include illustrations depicting the steps necessary for a voter 
2.4 	to complete and cast a ballot. Paper copies of any non-English voting materials published 
2.5 	by the secretary of state must be provided by the secretary, upon request, at no charge.
2.6 	(b) The secretary of state shall publish the voting materials in any non-English 
2.7 	language recommended by the state demographer. The state demographer shall determine 
2.8 	and report to the secretary of state the languages that are so common in this state that there 
2.9 	is a need for translated voting ~~instructions~~ materials.
2.10 	(c) Each county auditor shall determine the number of precincts, if any, that may 
2.11 	reasonably need non-English materials, the languages that might be requested, and the 
2.12 	number of materials necessary to meet the potential need for each language. The need for 
2.13 	materials must be determined based upon an assessment of the likely voting population in 
2.14 	each precinct. The secretary of state shall supply each county with non-English materials 
2.15 	as requested by the county auditor.