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Deadline Approaching: Cities Administering Absentee Voting Must Use .Gov Domain
A key compliance deadline is fast approaching for Minnesota cities that administer absentee voting, but a new federal development is adding complexity.
Under a law passed during the 2024 legislative session (Chapter 112), cities and counties that administer absentee voting must use a .gov domain for their official website by June 1, 2026. However, due to limited federal funding, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has paused new .gov domain requests.
What the law requires
By June 1, 2026, cities that administer absentee voting must use a .gov domain for their official website.
If your city has already applied for a .gov domain but has not fully transitioned by that date, it will not be considered out of compliance as long as your application has been submitted and the full transition is completed by June 1, 2028.
Why this matters
Unlike other domains, .gov is restricted to verified U.S. government entities. This helps residents trust they are accessing official, secure information and reduces the risk of phishing and misinformation.
What the pause means for cities
The current pause means cities that have not yet applied for a .gov domain may be temporarily unable to submit new requests. While this situation is outside of local control, the June 1, 2026, application deadline remains in place.
Cities should be prepared to act quickly once the application process reopens.
Steps your city should take
Even with the pause, there are important steps cities can take right now.
- Check your status and eligibility.
- Apply (if you haven’t already). The .gov domain is available to eligible organizations for free and can be obtained at get.gov.
- Plan your transition. Review the get.gov checklist for completing your domain transition.
- Monitor updates from CISA. Stay informed about when applications reopen so your city can act quickly.
- Explore funding support. Costs associated with the transition may be eligible under voting operations, technology, and elections resources (VOTER) account
While the current pause may delay next steps for some cities, it is temporary. Cities that prepare now will be in the best position to move quickly once applications reopen.