Minnesota Public Radio: Democrats see ‘mandate’ to rewrite election laws

After Minnesota voters handed DFLers control of the House, Senate and governor’s office, lawmakers who are set to lead election and voting committees at the Capitol said they’ll try to advance policies that had long hit a dead-end in the divided Capitol.

That means plans to restore the right to vote to people convicted of felonies who’ve served their jail sentences, expand mail-in voting options and automatically register more young people to vote could have new life in the Legislature in 2023.

Efforts to cast light on dark money coming into political campaigns and set up a statewide ranked-choice voting system could also come up for consideration. …

Even with the DFL in control at the Capitol, some observers said they’re not holding their breath for big election law changes in 2023.

Common Cause Minnesota Executive Director Annastacia Belladonna-Carrera said narrow DFL margins could also doom election law changes.

“Now that the Democrats have the House and the Senate, wow, easy peasy, we’re just going to roll with all of these reforms, that’s not going to be the case,” Belladonna-Carrera said. “There are still intra-caucus dynamics, there is over-promising. And only five months in the legislative session.”