Minnesota Senate Bill SF4734

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/23/26
• Refer: 3/23/26

Caption

"I VOTED" stickers design update periodic competitions authorization provision

Summary

SF4734 amends Minnesota’s election law governing “I VOTED” stickers. Current law allows election officials to provide a sticker containing only the words “I VOTED” to voters who cast a ballot in person, by absentee ballot, or by mail. The bill keeps that core rule in place, but adds express authority for the secretary of state, county auditors, municipal clerks, and school district clerks to periodically run competitions to update the sticker’s design. Any updated design may include graphic elements, but it must still contain only the words “I VOTED” and may not include any other words or numbers. The design also cannot advocate for or against any political party, candidate, ballot question, or public policy issue. The bill further clarifies that a competition may result in multiple winning designs.

Impact

The bill would amend Minnesota Statutes section 204B.49, expanding election officials’ authority to solicit and adopt refreshed “I VOTED” sticker designs while preserving strict neutrality requirements. It does not change who may receive a sticker or the circumstances under which one may be issued, but it gives local and state election administrators a formal mechanism to update the sticker’s appearance over time. The practical effect is limited to election administration, voter engagement materials, and the design standards for official voting stickers.

Sentiment

The available record shows the bill was introduced and referred to the Senate Elections Committee, with no recorded votes or committee testimony provided. Based on the text alone, the measure appears noncontroversial and administrative in nature, focused on modernizing a familiar election-day item rather than changing voting rights or procedures. The neutrality restrictions suggest an effort to avoid partisan or issue-based messaging, which likely supports broad acceptability.

Contention

No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. The main policy constraint in the bill is that any redesigned sticker must remain strictly nonpartisan and limited to the words “I VOTED,” which may matter to those concerned about election-related messaging or branding. Any debate would likely center on whether election officials should be authorized to run design competitions at all, and how to ensure the resulting designs remain neutral and compliant with the statute.