Trying to connect Vb.net application to mysql (phpmyadmin) and im getting this error when debugging any help please?

Question

System.NullReferenceException: 'Object reference not set to an instance of an object.' ( the error is marked here :If conn.State = ConnectionState.Closed Then)

this module name is dbconnection

Imports MySql.Data.MySqlClient
Imports System.IO

Module dbconnection
    Dim result As Boolean
    Public conn As MySqlConnection
    Public cmd As MySqlCommand
    Public da As MySqlDataAdapter
    Public dt As DataTable
    Public dr As MySqlDataReader
    Public i As Integer

    Public Function dbconn() As Boolean
        Try
            If conn.State = ConnectionState.Closed Then
                conn.ConnectionString = "server=localhost;user=root;password=;port=3306;database=election_db"
                result = True
            End If
        Catch ex As Exception
            result = False
            MsgBox("Server Not Connected!", vbExclamation)
        End Try
        Return result
    End Function

End Module

this is my other file : frm_manageUsers

Imports MySql.Data.MySqlClient
Imports System.IO
Public Class frm_ManageUsers
    Private Sub ManageUsers_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        dbconn()
    End Sub

    Private Sub Pic_Close_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Pic_Close.Click
        Me.Close()
    End Sub
End Class