Can I collect passport numbers from participants in Minnesota? What are the requirements?

Collecting Passport Numbers in Minnesota

According to MNAC 8200.5400, when a voter uses a United States passport to prove residence or identity when registering on election day, the election judge who is registering voters shall record the number, if any, on the voter registration application in the “election judge official use only” area of the application. This suggests that passport numbers can be collected in Minnesota for voter registration purposes.

However, it is important to note that this specific provision only applies to voter registration on election day. It is unclear whether passport numbers can be collected for other purposes or in other contexts. Additionally, it is important to comply with all relevant laws and regulations regarding the collection and use of personal information, including passport numbers.

Requirements for Collecting Passport Numbers in Minnesota

MNAC 8200.5400 requires that passport numbers collected for voter registration purposes be recorded in the “election judge official use only” area of the application. It is unclear whether there are any additional requirements for collecting passport numbers in Minnesota.

However, as mentioned earlier, it is important to comply with all relevant laws and regulations regarding the collection and use of personal information, including passport numbers. This may include complying with data privacy laws, obtaining consent from individuals before collecting their passport numbers, and implementing appropriate security measures to protect the information.

Treatment of Voter Registration Applications

MNAC 8200.9310 outlines the treatment of voter registration applications in Minnesota. Completed voter registration applications may be submitted to any state agency or county auditor. Voter registration applications submitted to the secretary of state must be forwarded to the appropriate county auditor for entry into the statewide registration system. The secretary of state may electronically transmit the information on the voter registration applications to the appropriate county auditor. The county auditor shall promptly enter the information into the statewide registration system. The original applications submitted to the secretary of state must be maintained either by the secretary of state or by the appropriate county auditor. Voter registration applications must be stored in either paper, microfilm, or electronic format.

Security for Statewide Registration System

MNAC 8200.9325 outlines the security requirements for the statewide registration system in Minnesota. All authorized users of the statewide registration system must be identified uniquely in the manner provided by the Secretary of State. No access to the statewide registration system will be allowed to any person not identified as an authorized user of the system. To ensure that information obtained from the statewide registration system is being used in the manner provided by law, the Secretary of State shall insert verification records into the statewide registration system. The verification records must not be included on any master list or polling place roster.

Therefore, if you are planning to collect passport numbers from participants in Minnesota, it is recommended that you consult with legal counsel to ensure that you are complying with all applicable laws and regulations, including those related to the treatment of voter registration applications and the security of the statewide registration system.

Jurisdiction

Minnesota

• Privacy