piers109uk/MN-Statutes huggingface dataset:
201.014 ELIGIBILITY TO VOTE.
Except as provided in subdivision 2, an individual who meets the following requirements at the time of an election is eligible to vote. The individual must:
(1) be 18 years of age or older;
(2) be a citizen of the United States; and
(3) maintain residence in Minnesota for 20 days immediately preceding the election.
The following individuals are not eligible to vote. Any individual:
(1) convicted of treason or any felony whose civil rights have not been restored;
(2) under a guardianship in which the court order revokes the ward's right to vote; or
(3) found by a court of law to be legally incompetent.
An individual who is ineligible to vote because of a felony conviction has the civil right to vote restored during any period when the individual is not incarcerated for the offense. If the individual is later incarcerated for the offense, the individual's civil right to vote is lost only during that period of incarceration. For purposes of this subdivision only, an individual on work release under section 241.26 or 244.065 or an individual released under section 631.425 is not deemed to be incarcerated.
Any individual who votes who knowingly is not eligible to vote is guilty of a felony.
201.016 RESIDENCE REQUIREMENTS FOR VOTING; VIOLATIONS; PENALTY.
An eligible voter may vote only in the precinct in which the voter maintains residence. The residence of a voter shall be determined in accordance with section 200.031.
(a) The county auditor shall mail a notice to any voter who the county auditor can determine has: (1) provided the address at which the voter maintains residence, but was allowed to vote in a precinct other than the precinct in which the voter maintains residence; and (2) not voted in the wrong precinct previously. The notice must be in the form provided by the secretary of state.
(b) The county auditor shall mail a violation notice to any voter who otherwise voted in a precinct in which the voter did not maintain residence on election day. The county auditor shall also change the status of the voter in the statewide registration system to "challenged" and the voter shall be required to provide proof of residence to either the county auditor or to the election judges in the voter's precinct before voting in the next election. Any of the forms authorized by section 201.061 for registration at the polling place may be used for this purpose.
(c) A voter who votes in a precinct other than the precinct in which the voter maintains residence after receiving an initial violation notice as provided in this subdivision is guilty of a petty misdemeanor.
(d) A voter who votes in a precinct other than the precinct in which the voter maintains residence after having been found to have committed a petty misdemeanor under paragraph (b) is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(e) Reliance by the voter on inaccurate information regarding the location of the voter's polling place provided by the state, county, or municipality is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under this subdivision.
[Repealed, 2014 c 264 s 31]
201.018 REGISTRATION FOR VOTING.
[Repealed, 1984 c 560 s 26]
An eligible voter must register in a manner specified by section 201.054, in order to vote in any primary, special primary, general, school district, or special election held in the county.
201.021 PERMANENT REGISTRATION SYSTEM.
A permanent system of voter registration by county is established, with a single, official, centralized, interactive computerized statewide voter registration list defined, maintained, and administered at the state level that contains the name and registration information of every legally registered voter in the state, and assigns a unique identifier to each legally registered voter in the state. The interactive computerized statewide voter registration list constitutes the official list of every legally registered voter in the state. The county auditor shall be chief registrar of voters and the chief custodian of the official registration records in each county. The secretary of state is responsible for defining, maintaining, and administering the centralized system.
201.022 STATEWIDE REGISTRATION SYSTEM.
The secretary of state shall maintain a statewide voter registration system to facilitate voter registration and to provide a central database containing voter registration information from around the state. The system must be accessible to the county auditor of each county in the state. The system must also:
(1) provide for voters to submit their voter registration applications to any county auditor, the secretary of state, or the Department of Public Safety;
(2) provide for the definition, establishment, and maintenance of a central database for all voter registration information;
(3) provide for entering data into the statewide registration system;
(4) provide for electronic transfer of completed voter registration applications from the Department of Public Safety to the secretary of state or the county auditor;
(5) assign a unique identifier to each legally registered voter in the state;
(6) provide for the acceptance of the Minnesota driver's license number, Minnesota state identification number, and last four digits of the Social Security number for each voter record;
(7) coordinate with other agency databases within the state;
(8) allow county auditors and the secretary of state to add or modify information in the system to provide for accurate and up-to-date records;
(9) allow county auditors, municipal and school district clerks, and the secretary of state to have electronic access to the statewide registration system for review and search capabilities;
(10) provide security and protection of all information in the statewide registration system and ensure that unauthorized access is not allowed;
(11) provide access to municipal clerks to use the system;
(12) provide a system for each county to identify the precinct to which a voter should be assigned for voting purposes;
(13) provide daily reports accessible by county auditors on the driver's license numbers, state identification numbers, or last four digits of the Social Security numbers submitted on voter registration applications that have been verified as accurate by the secretary of state;
(14) provide reports on the number of absentee ballots transmitted to and returned and cast by voters under section 203B.16; and
(15) provide reports necessary for early voting.
The appropriate state or local official shall provide security measures to prevent unauthorized access to the computerized list established under section 201.021.
[See Note.]
The secretary of state shall make permanent rules necessary to administer the system required in subdivision 1.
The secretary of state must consult with representatives of local election officials in the development of the statewide voter registration system.
201.023 VOTER REGISTRATION.
Amounts received by the secretary of state to pay the cost of producing lists of registered voters under section 201.091, subdivision 5, by the statewide registration system must be deposited in the state treasury and credited to the general fund.
197.988 PURPLE HEART COUNTY; PURPLE HEART CITY.
A county or statutory or home rule charter city may by resolution designate the county or city as a Purple Heart County or Purple Heart City to honor United States military personnel who have received the Purple Heart. A Purple Heart city or county may designate a prominent parking space at city hall or the county government center as a "Reserved for a Purple Heart Recipient" parking space. A Purple Heart city or county may accept donations to pay for a sign that states that the city or county is a Purple Heart city or county, and to pay for a plaque to be displayed on public property. A Purple Heart city or county may honor Purple Heart recipients by resolution proclaiming August 7 as Purple Heart Day.
202A.11 PARTY NAME.
Any major political party may change its name by complying with the following conditions:
The state central committee of the party may call a convention, and shall state in its call that a convention is called for a certain time and place, for the purpose of changing the name of the party to some specific name given in the call. The convention shall be held not less than 70 days before the state primary, and the change shall be agreed upon by resolution of a majority of the convention. A copy of the resolution determining the change of the name, certified by the chair and secretary of the convention, shall be filed with the secretary of state within five days after the holding of the convention. Thereafter the political party shall be known by the new name called for by the resolution, and the party under its new name shall have all the rights that it had under its former name.
A major political party which has adopted a party name is entitled to the exclusive use of that name for the designation of its candidates on all ballots, and no candidate of any other political party is entitled to have printed on a ballot as a party designation any part of that name.
201.081 REGISTRATION FILES.
(a) The statewide registration system is the official record of registered voters. The voter registration applications and the terminal providing access to the statewide registration system must be under the control of the county auditor or the public official to whom the county auditor has delegated the responsibility for maintaining voter registration records. The voter registration applications and terminals providing access to the statewide registration system must not be removed from the control of the county auditor except as provided in this section. The county auditor may make photographic copies of voter registration applications in the manner provided by section 138.17.
(b) A properly completed voter registration application that has been submitted electronically or in paper form to the secretary of state or a county auditor must be maintained by the secretary of state or the county auditor for at least 22 months after the date that the information on the application is entered into the database of the statewide registration system. The secretary of state or the county auditor may dispose of the applications after retention for 22 months in the manner provided by section 138.17.
(c) Data contained on a voter registration application submitted electronically through the secure website established in section 201.061, subdivision 1, must be maintained in its original form, in a manner suitable for printing, for the period required by this section. The Internet Protocol address used to submit an application electronically must be maintained with the voter registration application data.
The secretary of state may maintain voter records of participants of the Safe at Home program for the purposes of chapter 5B.
202A.12 STATE CONVENTION, AUTHORITY OF.
The final authority over the affairs of each major political party is vested in the party's state convention to be held at least once every state general election year at the call of the state central committee.
Subject to the control of the state convention the general management of the affairs of the state party is vested in the party's state central committee.
The state executive committee of the party shall have charge of the administration of the party's affairs, subject to the direction and control of the state convention and the state central committee.
The chair of the state central committee of each party shall file with the secretary of state a copy of the party's constitution and all amendments to the constitution as they are enacted.
203B.01 ABSENTEE BALLOTING; DEFINITIONS.
The definitions in chapter 200 and this section apply to this chapter.
"Municipal clerk" means a full-time town or city clerk who is authorized or required to administer the provisions of sections 203B.04 to 203B.15, as provided in section 203B.05. "Municipal clerk" also means clerk of the school district who is authorized or required to administer the provisions of sections 203B.04 to 203B.15, as provided in section 203B.05 for a school district election not held on the same day as a statewide election.
"Military" means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard or Merchant Marine of the United States, all other uniformed services as defined in United States Code, title 52, section 20310, and military forces as defined by section 190.05, subdivision 3, or any eligible citizen of Minnesota enrolled as a student at the United States Naval Academy, the United States Coast Guard Academy, the United States Merchant Marine Academy, the United States Air Force Academy, or the United States Military Academy.
"Health care facility" means a licensed hospital, sanitarium, or other institution as defined in section 144.50, subdivision 2, or a nursing home licensed to serve adults under section 144A.02.
"Early voting" means voting in person before election day as provided in section 203B.30.
[See Note.]
"Utility worker" means an employee of a public utility as defined by section 216B.02, subdivision 4.
203B.001 ELECTION LAW APPLICABILITY.
The Minnesota Election Law is applicable to voting by absentee ballot and early voting unless otherwise provided in this chapter.
197.995 VIETNAM VETERANS DAY.
1,072 of the people whose names are listed on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., were from the state of Minnesota. Many other Minnesotans are surviving Vietnam veterans. This section is enacted as a way for Minnesotans to show their pride and gratitude, recall the veterans' accomplishments, and thank Minnesota's Vietnam veterans for their unselfish devotion to duty.
March 29 is Vietnam Veterans Day in Minnesota.
202A.01 DEFINITIONS.
The words used in this chapter have the meanings prescribed to them in chapter 200.
201.054 METHODS OF REGISTERING; PROHIBITIONS; PENALTY.
(a) An individual may register to vote:
(1) at any time before the 20th day preceding any election as provided in section 201.061, subdivision 1;
(2) on the day of an election as provided in section 201.061, subdivision 3; or
(3) when submitting an absentee ballot, by enclosing a completed registration application as provided in section 203B.04, subdivision 4.
(b) An individual who is under the age of 18, but who is at least 16 years of age and otherwise eligible, may submit a voter registration application as provided in section 201.061, subdivisions 1 and 1b.
No individual shall intentionally:
(1) cause or attempt to cause the individual's name to be registered in any precinct if the individual is not eligible to vote, except as permitted by section 201.061, subdivision 1b;
(2) cause or attempt to cause the individual's name to be registered for the purpose of voting in more than one precinct;
(3) misrepresent the individual's identity when attempting to register to vote; or
(4) aid, abet, counsel, or procure any other individual to violate this subdivision.
A violation of this subdivision is a felony.
(a) No individual may be compensated for the solicitation, collection, or acceptance of voter registration applications from voters for submission to the secretary of state, a county auditor, or other local election official in a manner in which payment is calculated by multiplying (1) either a set or variable payment rate, by (2) the number of voter registration applications solicited, collected, or accepted.
(b) No individual may be deprived of compensation or have compensation automatically reduced exclusively for failure to solicit, collect, or accept a minimum number of voter registration applications, and no individual may receive additional compensation for reaching or exceeding a minimum number of voter registration applications.
(c) A person who violates this subdivision is guilty of a petty misdemeanor.
197.991 KOREAN WAR ARMISTICE DAY.
When communist North Korean troops invaded South Korea on June 25, 1950, the United States took immediate action to defend the freedom of a people unjustly attacked. Leading a coalition of 20 other nations, American and South Korean troops fought to advance liberty and opportunity, and to overcome cruelty and repression. More than 1.7 million members of the United States armed forces faced forbidding terrain, harsh weather, and brutal combat while demonstrating extraordinary honor, skill, and courage to beat back the invading enemy forces. More than 34,000 American men and women, including over 700 Minnesotans, sacrificed their lives in battle during that war. Another 92,000 American troops were wounded, and more than 8,000 have been listed as missing in action or taken prisoner.
The Military Armistice Agreement of July 27, 1953, ended the three years of bitter warfare stopping the spread of communism on the Korean Peninsula and signaling to the world America's resolve to stand against tyrannical and totalitarian regimes. Today, South Korea stands as a shining example of the economic and social benefits of democracy.
The purpose of this section is to perpetually honor the brave men and women, living and dead, who comprise America's Korean War veterans.
July 27 of each year is designated as Korean War Armistice Day in Minnesota.
197.996 AMERICAN LEGION DAY.
The American Legion was chartered by Congress on September 16, 1919. This section is enacted to recognize the millions of American Legion veterans who have dedicated and continue to dedicate themselves to service of community, state, and nation. This section expresses the appreciation of Minnesotans for that service, on the occasion of the Legion's 90th year of existence and each year thereafter on the anniversary of its charter date.
September 16 is American Legion Day in Minnesota.
201.056 SIGNATURE OF REGISTERED VOTER; MARKS ALLOWED.
An individual who is unable to write the individual's name shall be required to sign a registration application in the manner provided by section 645.44, subdivision 14. If the individual registers in person and signs by making a mark, the clerk or election judge accepting the registration shall certify the mark by signing the individual's name. If the individual registers by mail and signs by making a mark, the mark shall be certified by having a voter registered in the individual's precinct sign the individual's name and the voter's own name and give the voter's own address.
197.9961 VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars was founded in 1899 and was federally chartered by the Congress of the United States of America on May 28, 1936. This section is a way for Minnesotans to recognize and express their appreciation for the millions of veterans of foreign wars who have dedicated themselves, and continue to dedicate themselves, to serving their community, state, and nation, on the occasion of the 111th year of existence of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and every year hereafter on its anniversary date.
May 28 is Veterans of Foreign Wars Day in Minnesota.
202A.13 COMMITTEES, CONVENTIONS.
The rules of each major political party shall provide that for each congressional district and at least 45 counties or legislative districts a convention shall be held at least once every state general election year. Each major political party shall also provide for each congressional district and at least 45 counties or legislative districts an executive committee consisting of a chair and such other officers as may be necessary. The party rules may provide for only one executive committee and one convention where any county and congressional district have the same territorial limits.
A delegate or alternate who is deaf, deafblind, or hard-of-hearing who needs interpreter services at a county, legislative district, congressional district, or state convention shall so notify the executive committee of the major political party unit whose convention the delegate or alternate plans to attend. Written notice must be given by certified mail or electronic mail to the executive committee at least 30 days before the convention date. The major political party, not later than 14 days before the convention date, shall secure the services of one or more interpreters if available and shall assume responsibility for the cost of the services. The state central committee of the major political party shall determine the process for reimbursing interpreters.
A visually impaired delegate or alternate to a county, legislative district, congressional district, or state convention may notify the executive committee of the major political party unit that the delegate or alternate requires convention materials in audio tape, Braille, or large print format. Upon receiving the request, the executive committee shall provide all official written convention materials as soon as they are available, so that the visually impaired individual may have them converted to audio tape, Braille, or large print format, prior to the convention.
202A.135 LEAVE TIME FROM EMPLOYMENT; PARTY OFFICERS; DELEGATES TO PARTY CONVENTIONS.
If an employee gives at least ten days' written notice to the employer, the employee may be absent from work to attend any meeting of the state central committee or executive committee of a major political party if the employee is a member of the committee, or may attend any convention of major political party delegates including meetings of official convention committees if the employee is a delegate or alternate delegate to that convention. An employee who gives proper notice as provided in this section shall suffer no penalty or deduction from salary or wages on account of absence other than a deduction in salary or wages for the actual time of absence from employment. A violation of this section by an employer is a misdemeanor.
203B.03 PROHIBITIONS; PENALTIES.
(a) No individual shall intentionally:
(1) make or sign any false certificate required by this chapter;
(2) make any false or untrue statement in any application for absentee ballots;
(3) apply for absentee ballots more than once in any election with the intent to cast an illegal ballot;
(4) exhibit a ballot marked by that individual to any other individual;
(5) do any act in violation of the provisions of this chapter for the purpose of casting an illegal vote in any precinct or for the purpose of aiding another to cast an illegal vote;
(6) use information from absentee ballot or early voting materials or records for purposes unrelated to elections, political activities, or law enforcement;
(7) provide assistance to an absentee or early voter except in the manner provided by section 204C.15, subdivision 1;
(8) solicit the vote of an absentee voter while in the immediate presence of the voter during the time the individual knows the absentee voter is voting; or
(9) alter an absentee ballot application after it has been signed by the voter, except by an election official for administrative purposes.
(b) Before inspecting information from absentee ballot or early voting materials or records, an individual shall provide identification to the public official having custody of the material or information.
[See Note.]
(a) No individual may be compensated for the solicitation, collection, or acceptance of absentee ballot applications from voters for submission to the county auditor or other local election official in a manner in which payment is calculated by multiplying (1) either a set or variable payment rate, by (2) the number of applications solicited, collected, or accepted.
(b) No individual may be deprived of compensation or have compensation automatically reduced exclusively for failure to solicit, collect, or accept a minimum number of absentee ballot applications.
(c) No individual may receive additional compensation for collecting a certain number of absentee ballot applications.
(d) Violation of this subdivision is a petty misdemeanor.
A violation of this section is a felony.
202A.15 TIME AND PLACE OF CAUCUS.
Precinct caucuses within a county shall be held on the day established pursuant to section 202A.14, subdivision 1, and the caucuses shall remain open for at least one hour.
The precinct caucuses shall be held at the regular polling places for each precinct or other suitable places designated in the call, and no caucus may be adjourned to any other place or time.
In the event that there is only one suitable meeting place in the precinct polling place and the major political parties cannot agree as to its use, the county auditor shall decide by lot prior to January 15, 1970, the party which is to receive the use of the meeting place in years evenly divisible by four and which party shall receive the use of the meeting place in other years in which a state general election is held. The report of such selections by lot in the county shall be filed by the auditor with the county board which shall publish the same as a part of the minutes of the board meeting at which the report is filed.
A precinct caucus must be held at a place that meets the accessibility standards for precinct polling places specified in section 204B.16, subdivision 5. In addition, the place where a precinct caucus is held must contain restrooms that conform to the standards in the State Building Code for accessibility by disabled persons. If a precinct caucus is held on a floor of a building that is either above or below the entrance level for the building, an elevator must be available. Any elevators used for access to the room where the precinct caucus is held must conform to the standards in the State Building Code for accessibility by disabled persons.
If there are not enough places within a precinct that are or can be made accessible as provided by this subdivision and section 204B.16, subdivision 5, for each major party to hold its precinct caucus, a major party may hold its caucus at a place outside one of the boundaries of the precinct in order to comply with accessibility requirements.
If only one place satisfies the accessibility and location requirements of this subdivision, the major parties shall alternate use of the place. Prior to January 1, 1990, the county auditor shall decide by lot which party is to use the accessible place in years evenly divisible by four and which party is to use the place in other years when a state general election is held.
203B.05 DESIGNATION OF MUNICIPAL CLERKS TO ADMINISTER ABSENTEE VOTING LAWS.
The full-time clerk of any city or town shall administer the provisions of sections 203B.04 to 203B.15 and 203B.30 if:
(1) the county auditor of that county has designated the clerk to administer them; or
(2) the clerk has given the county auditor of that county notice of intention to administer them.
The designation or notice must specify whether the clerk will be responsible for the administration of a ballot board as provided in section 203B.121.
A clerk of a city that is located in more than one county may only administer the provisions of sections 203B.04 to 203B.15 and 203B.30 if the clerk has been designated by each of the county auditors or has provided notice to each of the county auditors that the city will administer absentee voting. A clerk may only administer the provisions of sections 203B.04 to 203B.15 and 203B.30 if the clerk has technical capacity to access the statewide voter registration system in the secure manner prescribed by the secretary of state. The secretary of state must identify hardware, software, security, or other technical prerequisites necessary to ensure the security, access controls, and performance of the statewide voter registration system. A clerk must receive training approved by the secretary of state on the use of the statewide voter registration system before administering this section. A clerk may not use the statewide voter registration system until the clerk has received the required training. The county auditor must notify the secretary of state of any municipal clerk who will be administering the provisions of this section and the duties that the clerk will administer.
[See Note.]
For city, town, and school district elections not held on the same day as a statewide election, applications for absentee ballots shall be filed with the city, school district, or town clerk and the duties prescribed by this chapter for the county auditor shall be performed by the city, school district, or town clerk unless the county auditor agrees to perform those duties on behalf of the city, school district, or town clerk. The costs incurred to provide absentee ballots and perform the duties prescribed by this subdivision shall be paid by the city, town, or school district holding the election.
Notwithstanding any other law, this chapter applies to school district elections held on the same day as a statewide election or an election for a county or municipality wholly or partially within the school district.
201.096 SCHOOL ELECTIONS; USE OF VOTER REGISTRATION SYSTEM.
The county auditor shall allow independent or special school districts to use the necessary portions of the statewide registration system for school district elections. The county auditor may impose reasonable requirements to preserve the security and integrity of the system. The county auditor and the school district shall provide by agreement for the details of the use of the system by the school district. The school board may designate a member of the board or an employee as registration officer. The provisions of this chapter and chapter 203B relating to registration of voters apply to school district elections in which the statewide registration system is used.
202A.155 INTERPRETER SERVICES; CAUCUS MATERIALS.
An individual who is deaf, deafblind, or hard-of-hearing who needs interpreter services at a precinct caucus shall so notify the major political party whose caucus the individual plans to attend. Notice must be given by letter or electronic mail to the state office of the major political party before the precinct caucus date. The major political party shall promptly attempt to secure the services of one or more interpreters if available and shall assume responsibility for the cost of the services if provided. The state central committee of the major political party shall determine the process for reimbursing interpreters.
A visually impaired individual may notify the county or legislative district committee of the major political party whose precinct caucus the individual plans to attend, that the individual requires caucus materials in audio tape, Braille, or large type format. Upon receiving the request, the county or legislative district committee shall provide all official written caucus materials as soon as they are available, so that the visually impaired individual may have them converted to audio tape, Braille, or large print format prior to the precinct caucus.
202A.156 INTERPRETER SERVICES AND ACCESSIBLE PRECINCT CAUCUS EXEMPTIONS.
A major political party is not required to:
(1) provide an interpreter for a convention or precinct caucus if it has made documented good faith efforts to locate and assign an interpreter, including contacting an interpreter referral center or regional service center for people who are deaf, deafblind, and hard-of-hearing, and no interpreters are available; or
(2) hold a precinct caucus at a place that meets the accessibility standards for precinct polling places specified in section 204B.16, subdivision 5, if it has made documented good faith efforts to locate and secure an available accessible site within a reasonable distance of the precinct, and no accessible site is available.
202A.16 CAUCUS, WHO MAY PARTICIPATE AND VOTE.
MS 2022 [Repealed, 2023 c 62 art 4 s 138]
MS 2022 [Repealed, 2023 c 62 art 4 s 138]
MS 2022 [Repealed, 2023 c 62 art 4 s 138]
No person may vote or participate at more than one party's caucuses in any one year.
201.11 PRECINCT BOUNDARIES; HOUSE NUMBER; STREET ADDRESS CHANGED, CHANGE OF FILES.
When the boundaries of a precinct are changed, the county auditor shall immediately update the voter records for that precinct in the statewide voter registration system to accurately reflect those changes.
If a municipality administratively changes the number or name of a street address of an existing residence, the municipal clerk shall promptly notify the county auditor and the county auditor shall immediately update the voter records of registered voters in the statewide voter registration system to accurately reflect that change. A municipality must not make a change to the number or name of a street address of an existing residence effective during the 45 days prior to any election in a jurisdiction which includes the affected residence.
203B.065 USING THE REGISTRATION SYSTEM.
Upon accepting an application for a state primary or state general election, the county auditor or municipal clerk shall record in the statewide voter registration system the voter's name, date of birth, address of residence in Minnesota, mailing address, Minnesota driver's license or state identification number, or the last four digits of the voter's Social Security number, if provided by the voter. Upon acceptance of an absentee ballot application of a voter who is registered to vote at an address different from the residential address certified on the absentee ballot application, the voter registration record with the previous address shall be challenged. Once the absentee ballot has been transmitted to the voter, the method of transmission and the date of transmission must be recorded.
Upon receipt of a returned absentee ballot for a state primary or state general election, the county auditor or municipal clerk shall record in the statewide voter registration system that the voter has returned the ballot.
Upon receipt of notice that the ballot board has accepted or rejected the absentee ballot for a state primary or state general election, the county auditor or municipal clerk shall record in the statewide voter registration system whether the ballot was accepted or rejected, and if rejected, the reason for rejection. If a replacement ballot is transmitted to the voter, the county auditor or municipal clerk shall record this in the statewide voter registration system.
The labels provided for envelopes used for transmitting an absentee ballot to and from an applicant for an absentee ballot for a state primary or state general election must contain bar codes generated by the statewide voter registration system to facilitate the recording required under this section. A county auditor or municipal clerk entering information into the statewide voter registration system under this section must include the information provided on the bar code label whenever information is entered into the system.
202A.18 CAUCUS, PROCEDURE.
The convener shall be the temporary chair of the caucus.
Nominations for the election of permanent officers and delegates shall remain open for at least the first quarter hour of the caucus. Election of delegates and alternates must begin within one hour of convening a caucus. Election of delegates and alternates may begin one-half hour after the convening of the caucus.
In a year when the office of governor appears on the state general election ballot, prior to the opening of nominations for the election of permanent offices and delegates, a ballot must be distributed to permit caucus participants to indicate their preference for the office of the governor. The results of preference voting must be reported to the secretary of state immediately upon conclusion of the voting, in the manner provided by the secretary of state. The secretary of state shall provide the appropriate forms to the party for reporting the results.
All voting shall be by secret ballot.
Upon completion of the counting of votes the chair shall announce the names of persons who are elected, and shall certify the names to the chair of the county or legislative district executive committee and to the chair of the state central committee.
All questions concerning the manner in which a caucus is conducted or called that are not covered by statute shall be determined by Robert's Rules of Order (revised) unless otherwise specified by party rules.
203B.08 MARKING AND RETURN OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS.
(a) An eligible voter who receives absentee ballots as provided in this chapter shall mark them in the manner specified in the directions for casting the absentee ballots. The return envelope containing marked ballots may be mailed as provided in the directions for casting the absentee ballots, may be left with the county auditor or municipal clerk who transmitted the absentee ballots to the voter, or may be left in a drop box as provided in section 203B.082. If delivered in person, the return envelope must be submitted to the county auditor or municipal clerk by 8:00 p.m. on election day.
(b) The voter may designate an agent to deliver in person the sealed absentee ballot return envelope to the county auditor or municipal clerk or to deposit the return envelope in the mail. An agent may deliver or mail the return envelopes of not more than three voters in any election. Any person designated as an agent who tampers with either the return envelope or the voted ballots or does not immediately mail or deliver the return envelope to the county auditor or municipal clerk is guilty of a misdemeanor.
[Repealed, 1999 c 132 s 46]
The county auditor or municipal clerk shall address return envelopes to allow direct mailing of the absentee ballots to the county auditor or municipal clerk who has the responsibility to accept and reject the absentee ballots.
When absentee ballots are returned to a county auditor or municipal clerk, that official shall stamp or initial and date the return envelope and place it in a locked ballot container or other secured and locked space with other return envelopes received by that office. Within five days after receipt, the county auditor or municipal clerk shall deliver to the ballot board all ballots received, except that during the 14 days immediately preceding an election, the county auditor or municipal clerk shall deliver all ballots received to the ballot board within three days. Ballots received on election day after 8:00 p.m. shall be marked as received late by the county auditor or municipal clerk, and must not be delivered to the ballot board.
[Repealed, 1999 c 132 s 46]
The secretary of state shall adopt rules establishing procedures to be followed by county auditors and municipal clerks to assure accurate and timely return of absentee ballots. The rules of the secretary of state may authorize procedures and methods of return in addition to those specified in this section.
202A.19 CAUCUS, SCHOOL SCHEDULE PREEMPTION, EXCUSAL FROM EMPLOYMENT TO ATTEND.
No special taxing district governing body, school board, county board of commissioners, township board, or city council may conduct a meeting after 6:00 p.m. on the day of a major political party precinct caucus. As used in this subdivision, "special taxing district" has the meaning given in section 275.066.
Every employee who is entitled to attend a major political party precinct caucus is entitled, after giving the employer at least ten days' written notice, to be absent from work for the purpose of attending the caucus during the time for which the caucus is scheduled without penalty or deduction from salary or wages on account of the absence other than a deduction in salary for the time of absence from employment.
The University of Minnesota may not schedule an event which will take place after 6:00 p.m. on the day of a major political party precinct caucus unless permission to do so has been received from the Board of Regents. No Minnesota state college or university may schedule an event which will take place after 6:00 p.m. on the day of a major political party precinct caucus unless permission to do so has been received from the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.
No school official may deny the use of a public school building for the holding of a major political party precinct caucus if the school office has received a written request for the use of the school building 30 days or more prior to the date of the caucus.
No public elementary or secondary school may hold a school sponsored event after 6:00 p.m. on the day of a major political party precinct caucus.
No state agency, board, commission, department, or committee shall conduct a public meeting after 6:00 p.m. on the day of a major political party precinct caucus.
202A.192 USE OF PUBLIC FACILITIES.
Every statutory city, home rule charter city, county, town, school district, and other public agency, including the University of Minnesota and other public colleges and universities, shall make their facilities available for the holding of precinct caucuses and legislative district or county conventions required by this chapter. A charge for the use of the facilities may be imposed in an amount that does not exceed the lowest amount charged to any public or private group.
201.14 COURT ADMINISTRATOR OF DISTRICT COURT; REPORT CHANGES OF NAMES.
The state court administrator shall regularly report by electronic means to the secretary of state the name, address, and, if available, driver's license or state identification card number of each individual, 18 years of age or over, whose name was changed since the last report, by marriage, divorce, or any order or decree of the court. The secretary of state shall determine if any of the persons in the report are registered to vote under their previous name and shall prepare a list of those registrants for each county auditor. Upon receipt of the list, the county auditor shall make the change in the voter's record and mail to the voter the notice of registration required by section 201.121, subdivision 2. A notice must not be mailed if the voter's record is challenged due to a felony conviction, lack of United States citizenship, legal incompetence, or court-ordered revocation of voting rights of persons under guardianship.
204C.02 CHAPTER APPLICATION; INDIVIDUALS UNABLE TO WRITE.
This chapter applies to all elections held in this state except as otherwise provided by law.
An individual who is unable to write the individual's name must sign election-related documents in the manner provided by section 645.44, subdivision 14. An individual who has power of attorney for another person may not sign election-related documents for that person, except as provided by this section.
204B.03 MANNER OF NOMINATION.
Candidates of a major political party for any partisan office except presidential elector and all candidates for nonpartisan office shall apply for a place on the primary ballot by filing an affidavit of candidacy as provided in section 204B.06, and except as otherwise provided in section 204D.07, subdivision 3, shall be nominated by primary. Candidates for any partisan office who do not seek the nomination of a major political party shall be nominated by nominating petition as provided in sections 204B.07 and 204B.08, and, except for presidential elector candidates, shall file an affidavit of candidacy as provided in section 204B.06.
203B.09 FORM AND CONTENT OF REQUIRED MATERIALS; RULES OF SECRETARY OF STATE.
The secretary of state shall adopt rules establishing the form, content, and type size and style for the printing of blank applications for absentee ballots, absentee voter lists, return envelopes, certificates of eligibility to vote by absentee ballot, ballot envelopes, and directions for casting an absentee ballot. Any official charged with the duty of printing any of these materials shall do so in accordance with these rules.
204B.01 DEFINITIONS.
The definitions in chapter 200 apply to this chapter.
202A.20 CAUCUS INFORMATION; RESULTS.
The secretary of state may sponsor or participate in activities designed to provide public information related to the precinct caucuses and to promote participation in the caucus process.
The secretary of state shall promptly report to the public the results of preference balloting at the precinct caucuses.
203B.085 COUNTY AUDITOR'S AND MUNICIPAL CLERK'S OFFICES TO REMAIN OPEN DURING CERTAIN HOURS PRECEDING ELECTION.
Prior to a state general election, the county auditor's office in each county and the clerk's office in each city or town authorized under section 203B.05 to administer voting before election day must be open:
(1) until 7:00 p.m. on the Tuesday before the election;
(2) from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on the two Saturdays before the election;
(3) from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on the Sunday immediately before the election; and
(4) until 5:00 p.m. on the day before the election.
A polling place designated under section 203B.081, subdivision 4, may be open alternate days and hours.
In elections other than the state general election, the county auditor's office in each county and the clerk's office in each city or town authorized under section 203B.05 to administer voting before election day must be open for voting as authorized under section 203B.081 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday and until 5:00 p.m. on the day immediately preceding a primary, special, or general election unless that day falls on a Saturday or Sunday. Town clerks' offices, and county auditors' offices if the county auditor has agreed to perform those duties on behalf of the town, must be open for absentee voting from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on the Saturday before a town general election held in March. The school district clerk, when performing the county auditor's election duties, need not comply with this section.
All voters in line at a time when a polling place is scheduled to close must be allowed to vote in the same manner as provided in section 204C.05, subdivision 2.
204B.02 APPLICATION.
This chapter applies to all elections held in this state except as otherwise provided by law.
204C.01 DEFINITIONS.
The definitions in chapter 200 apply to this chapter.
204C.03 PUBLIC MEETINGS PROHIBITED ON ELECTION DAY.
No special taxing district governing body, school board, county board of commissioners, city council, or town board of supervisors shall conduct a meeting between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on the day that an election is held within the boundaries of the special taxing district, school district, county, city, or town. As used in this subdivision, "special taxing district" has the meaning given in section 275.066.
Except for regularly scheduled classes, no Minnesota state college or university shall schedule an event between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on the day that an election is held in any political subdivision in which the university or college is located.
Except for regularly scheduled classes, a public elementary or secondary school may not schedule a school sponsored event between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on the day that a regularly scheduled election is held in any political subdivision in which the school is located.
No state agency, board, commission, department, or committee shall conduct a public meeting on the day of the state primary or general election.
204B.04 CANDIDACY; PROHIBITIONS.
No individual shall be named on any ballot as the candidate of more than one major political party. No individual who has been certified by a canvassing board as the nominee of any major political party shall be named on any ballot as the candidate of any other major political party at the next ensuing general election.
No individual who seeks nomination for any partisan or nonpartisan office at a primary shall be nominated for the same office by nominating petition.
[Expired]
No individual shall be nominated by nominating petition for any nonpartisan office.
A candidate who files an affidavit of candidacy for an office to be elected at the general election may not subsequently file another affidavit of candidacy for any other office to be elected on the date of that general election, unless the candidate withdraws the initial affidavit pursuant to section 204B.12. The provisions in section 645.21 do not apply to this subdivision.
Candidates who were filed as a team by nominating petition under section 204B.07, subdivision 2, shall not appear on the ballot as minor party or independent candidates if either candidate is certified as a major party candidate for president or vice president pursuant to section 208.03.