• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Subscribe
Program Guide
Watch Live

CCX Media

Skip NavigationMenu
  • News
    • Close
        • CCX News
          • CCX News Home
          • News Stories
            • CCX Daily Newcast
          • CCX News Special Reports
          • CCX Media Schools
        • Feature Segments

          • Business Matters
          • School Spotlight
          • Standout Student
          • Weekend Showcase
          • Newsmakers
        • News Tip

          Send us a story idea or news tip!
          Facebook Instagram Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
        • Apple News
    • Close
  • Sports
    • Close
        • CCX Sports
          • CCX Sports Home
          • Sports Tips
          • Hall of Fame
          • Upcoming Event Coverage
          • Play of the Week
        • Sports Coverage

          Adapted SportsAdditional SportsBaseballBasketballFootball
          GymnasticsHockeyLacrosseSoccerSoftball
          Swimming & DivingTennisTrack & FieldVolleyballWrestling
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter Instagram
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
          Shop/Order
    • Close
  • Cities
    • Close
        • CCX Cities
          • CCX Cities Home
          • The Connection
          • In The Community
          • Our Town’s Story
          • Community Resources
          • CCX Media Schools
          • City Meetings
        • Your City

          Brooklyn Center Local News and Events
          Brooklyn Park MN Local News and Events
          Crystal
          Golden Valley
          Maple Grove
          New Hope
          Osseo
          Plymouth
          Robbinsdale
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Create
    • Close
        • CCX Create
          • CCX Create Home
          • Channels
          • Resources
          • Meet The Create Team
          • CCX Create Virtual Tour
        • Get Creative

          • Make Your Own Show
          • Free Classes
          • Contact Us
          • Polka Spotlight
          • Diversity Minute
        • RueShare

          • Member Login
          • Member Guide
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter Instagram
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Subscribe
  • Program guide
  • Watch Live

Sen. Rest Helps Introduce Bipartisan Presidential Primary Voter Privacy Bill

5:16 PM | Wednesday, February 5, 2020

A bipartisan group of Minnesota lawmakers, including several from the northwest metro, plan to introduce a bill to protect the privacy of voters for presidential primaries.

Under the current system, voters must request a ballot of one of the political parties. The parties can then access every voter’s party preference and can make that information public. It’s seen as a way to make sure there’s no organized mischief and crossover voting among parties (for example a known Republican crossing over and trying to nominate a weak Democratic candidate and vice versa).

However, some lawmakers say the privacy issue has limited early voter turnout. Local city clerks expressed a similar sentiment to CCX News. Legislation proposed would restrict information that gets released, including allowing voters to opt out of having their party preference shared.

“I believe that this bill that we have today does respect the practical rules of the national parties and indeed honors the right to privacy of Minnesota voters, Democrat or Republican,” said Senator Ann Rest, DFL-New Hope.

Rest says Republican colleagues, including Sen. Scott Jensen of Chaska and Karin Housley of St. Marys Point, came to her to support the legislation. Rep. Mike Nelson, DFL-Brooklyn Park; Rep. Mike Freiberg, DFL-Golden Valley; and Rep. Kristin Bahner, DFL-Maple Grove also attended Wednesday’s press conference.

Presidential Primary Privacy Legislation Allows Voters to Fill Out “Opt-Out Form”

Minnesota switched to a primary system after precinct caucus frustration in 2016. That year voters arrived to overcrowded meeting rooms, some giving up and going home instead of waiting hours to participate. 

The legislation adds additional privacy language to the current statute that prohibits all major parties from using voter information for anything other than election purposes. It would only allow each major party to use presidential primary political party rosters to make sure the information is in compliance with applicable national party rules. The legislation would also allow voters to fill out an opt-out form before filling out a ballot.

“It ensures that we can keep that data private and also ensure that we can trust our election systems,” said Rep. Bahner, who is vice chair of the Subcommittee on Elections.

Senator Rest says there’s time to put the law into effect for the March 3 presidential primary. She plans to help sponsor the legislation in the Minnesota Senate.

For more presidential primary information, visit the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website.

Corey Bork, reporting

Brooklyn Center | Brooklyn Park | Crystal | Golden Valley | Maple Grove | New Hope | Osseo | Plymouth | Robbinsdale

Related Stories

Leopold’s Mississippi Gardens Endures Two-Year ‘Giant Cloud’:  Leopold's Mississippi… Read More
Osseo Schools Impacted by Rising Diesel Prices:  The price at the pump for gas and diesel continues to… Read More
Minneapolis Man Charged with Spitting on Brooklyn Center Police:  A Minneapolis man is charged with… Read More
Robbinsdale Historical Society Shows Off Historic Clothing Collection:  The Robbinsdale Historical… Read More
Petition Submitted to Recall Robbinsdale Council Member Tyler Kline:  The Robbinsdale city clerk has… Read More
Dog-Friendly Brewery Pass Raises Money for Animal Humane Society:  Not only does a portion of every… Read More

Footer

NAVIGATE

  • CCX Media
  • NEWS
  • SPORTS
  • CITIES
  • CREATE
  • Job Opportunities
  • Meet the CCX Media Team
  • ABOUT CCX MEDIA
  • Annual Programming Reports
  • CABLE COMMISSION

SUBSCRIBE

Get email updates for daily story previews. “Week in Review” video links, and programming previews.

Subscribe Today

CONNECT

HAVE A NEWS TIP? CALL OUR TIPLINE AT:  763-533-1710
Send us story ideas and comments!
Get in touch with us
               
 NEWS   SPORTS
 SHOP/ORDER

LOCATION

CCX Media
6900 Winnetka Avenue North
Brooklyn Park, MN 55428

Main Phone:  763-533-8196

CCX Media serves the northwest suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota, including Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, Maple Grove, New Hope, Osseo, Plymouth and Robbinsdale.
Copyright © 2022 CCXMedia | All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement
Web Design and Development by CEL Marketing PR Design and BizzyWeb | Log in