MN HF708

Reduces the vote percentage threshold for major political party designation from 5% to 1% of total votes cast in statewide elections, while adding an alternative pathway requiring 20,000 registered voters to sign a petition for primary ballot access.

Lowers nominating petition signature requirements across multiple office levels, including from 1% to a flat 2,000 signatures for statewide offices and from 5% to 1,000 for congressional offices.

Allows political parties to submit a list of candidates authorized to affiliate with the party on the ballot, with unauthorized candidates removed from primary ballots and listed without party designation at general elections.

Extends filing periods for non-major party candidates for state and federal offices from 84 to 99 days before the general election and adjusts special election timelines from 35 to 44 days.

Reduces petition signature requirements for municipal offices in cities of the first class from 500 to 200 signatures and modifies the signature calculation standard.