reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MN Stat § 204C.12 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 200 - 212 — Elections|Chapter 204C — Election Day Activities|Section 204C.12 — Challenges To Voters; Penalty.

204C.12 CHALLENGES TO VOTERS; PENALTY. Subdivision 1. Manner of challenging. An election judge shall, and an authorized challenger or other voter may, challenge an individual based on personal knowledge that the individual is not an eligible voter. Subd. 2. Statement of grounds; oath. A challenger must be a resident of this state. The secretary of state shall prepare a form that challengers must complete and sign when making a challenge. The form must include space to state the ground for the challenge, a statement that the challenge is based on the challenger's personal knowledge, and a statement that the challenge is made under oath. The form must include a space for the challenger's printed name, signature, telephone number, and address. An election judge shall administer to the challenged individual the following oath: "Do you solemnly swear (or affirm) that you will fully and truly answer all questions put to you concerning your eligibility to vote at this election?" The election judge shall then ask the challenged individual sufficient questions to test that individual's residence and right to vote. Subd. 3. Determination of residence. In determining the legal residence of a challenged individual, the election judges shall be governed by the principles contained in section 200.031. If the challenged individual's answers to the questions show ineligibility to vote in that precinct, the individual shall not be allowed to vote. If the individual has marked ballots but not yet deposited them in the ballot boxes before the election judges determine ineligibility to vote in that precinct, the marked ballots shall be placed unopened with the spoiled ballots. If the answers to the questions fail to show that the individual is not eligible to vote in that precinct and the challenge is not withdrawn, the election judges shall verbally administer the oath on the voter certificate to the individual. After taking the oath and completing and signing the voter certificate, the challenged individual shall be allowed to vote. Subd. 4. Refusal to answer questions or sign a polling place roster. A challenged individual who refuses to answer questions or sign a polling place roster or voter signature certificate as required by this section must not be allowed to vote. A challenged individual who leaves the polling place and returns later willing to answer questions or sign a polling place roster or voter signature certificate must not be allowed to vote. Subd. 5. Election judges; penalty. An election judge who fails to carry out the duties prescribed by this section is guilty of a gross misdemeanor. History:  1981 c 29 art 5 s 12; 1983 c 253 s 13,14; 1986 c 444; 1990 c 585 s 28; 2005 c 156 art 6 s 46; 2010 c 201 s 38; 2014 c 288 art 2 s 6; 2017 c 92 art 1 s 19
MN Stat § 204C.14 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 200 - 212 — Elections|Chapter 204C — Election Day Activities|Section 204C.14 — Unlawful Voting; Penalty.

204C.14 UNLAWFUL VOTING; PENALTY. Subdivision 1. Violations; penalty. No individual shall intentionally: (a) misrepresent the individual's identity in applying for a ballot, depositing a ballot in a ballot box or attempting to vote by means of a voting machine or electronic voting system; (b) vote more than once at the same election; (c) put a ballot in a ballot box for any illegal purpose; (d) give more than one ballot of the same kind to an election judge to be placed in a ballot box; (e) aid, abet, counsel or procure another to go into any precinct for the purpose of voting in that precinct, knowing that the other individual is not eligible to vote in that precinct; or (f) aid, abet, counsel or procure another to do any act in violation of this section. A violation of this section is a felony. Subd. 2. Signature on roster as evidence of intent. For purposes of proving a violation of this section, the signature of an individual on a polling place roster or voter signature certificate is prima facie evidence of the intent of the individual to vote at that election. History:  1981 c 29 art 5 s 14; 1986 c 444; 2013 c 131 art 2 s 32; art 3 s 5; 2014 c 288 art 2 s 7
MN Stat § 204C.15 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 200 - 212 — Elections|Chapter 204C — Election Day Activities|Section 204C.15 — Assistance To Voters.

204C.15 ASSISTANCE TO VOTERS. Subdivision 1. Physical assistance in marking ballots. A voter who claims a need for assistance because of inability to read English or physical inability to mark a ballot may obtain the aid of two election judges who are members of different major political parties. The election judges shall mark the ballots as directed by the voter and in as secret a manner as circumstances permit. A voter in need of assistance may alternatively obtain the assistance of any individual the voter chooses. Only the following persons may not provide assistance to a voter: the voter's employer, an agent of the voter's employer, an officer or agent of the voter's union, or a candidate for election. The person who assists the voter shall, unaccompanied by an election judge, retire with that voter to a booth and mark the ballot as directed by the voter. No person who assists another voter as provided in the preceding sentence shall mark the ballots of more than three voters at one election. Before the ballots are deposited, the voter may show them privately to an election judge to ascertain that they are marked as the voter directed. An election judge or other individual assisting a voter shall not in any manner request, persuade, induce, or attempt to persuade or induce the voter to vote for any particular political party or candidate. The election judges or other individuals who assist the voter shall not reveal to anyone the name of any candidate for whom the voter has voted or anything that took place while assisting the voter. Subd. 2. Outside the polling place. An individual who is unable to enter a polling place where paper ballots or an electronic voting system are used may register and vote without leaving a motor vehicle. Two election judges who are members of different major political parties shall assist the voter to register and to complete a voter's certificate and shall provide the necessary ballots. The voter may request additional assistance in marking ballots as provided in subdivision 1. Subd. 2a.  [Repealed, 1Sp2001 c 10 art 18 s 44] Subd. 3. Voting lines. In all polling places two election judges shall assist a disabled voter to enter the polling place and go through the registration and voting lines. The voter may also request the assistance of election judges or any other individual in marking ballots, as provided in subdivision 1. History:  1981 c 29 art 5 s 15; 1984 c 471 s 11,12; 1986 c 444; 1997 c 147 s 38; 2006 c 242 s 23; 2013 c 131 art 2 s 33
MN Stat § 204C.16 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 200 - 212 — Elections|Chapter 204C — Election Day Activities|Section 204C.16 — Mismarking Ballots; Disclosure Of Markings By Others; Penalty.

204C.16 MISMARKING BALLOTS; DISCLOSURE OF MARKINGS BY OTHERS; PENALTY. An election judge or other individual who marks the ballot of any voter, except as authorized by law and as directed by the voter, or who informs anyone other than the voter how the ballot was marked, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor. History:   1981 c 29 art 5 s 16
MN Stat § 204C.17 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 200 - 212 — Elections|Chapter 204C — Election Day Activities|Section 204C.17 — Voting; Secrecy.

204C.17 VOTING; SECRECY. Except as authorized by section 204C.15, a voter shall not reveal to anyone in the polling place the name of any candidate for whom the voter intends to vote or has voted. A voter shall not ask for or receive assistance in the marking of a ballot from anyone within the polling place except as authorized by section 204C.15. If a voter, after marking a ballot, shows it to anyone except as authorized by law, the election judges shall refuse to deposit the ballot in any ballot box and shall place it among the spoiled ballots. Unless the showing of the ballot was clearly intentional, the voter shall receive another ballot as provided in section 204C.13, subdivision 3, clause (d). History:   1981 c 29 art 5 s 17
MN Stat § 204C.18 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 200 - 212 — Elections|Chapter 204C — Election Day Activities|Section 204C.18 — Ballots; Secrecy.

204C.18 BALLOTS; SECRECY. Subdivision 1. Party preferences; protection of secrecy. The election judges shall make no entry or notation in the election register or anywhere else showing the political party to which a voter belongs or for which political party the voter voted. No election judge shall knowingly permit anyone in the polling place to make such an entry or notation. Subd. 2. Ballots; identifying marks; penalty. No voter, election judge, or other individual shall place at any time a mark as a means of identification upon any ballot handed to or cast by a voter or upon spoiled or discarded ballots, except the initials authorized by section 204C.09. A violation of this subdivision is a gross misdemeanor. History:  1981 c 29 art 5 s 18; 1986 c 444
MN Stat § 204C.19 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 200 - 212 — Elections|Chapter 204C — Election Day Activities|Section 204C.19 — Counting Votes; Penalty.

204C.19 COUNTING VOTES; PENALTY. Subdivision 1. Procedure. When the hours for voting have ended and all voting has concluded, the election judges shall immediately count the votes cast at the election. The count shall be held at the polling place and shall be public. It shall be continued without intermission until it is completed and the results are declared, except that the election judges may recess for meals or other necessary purposes. During the count no one except the election judges shall handle the ballots. Any other individual who touches or interferes with ballots during the counting or any election judge who permits such touching or interference is guilty of a misdemeanor. Subd. 2. Counting ballots. Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, the ballot boxes shall be opened, the votes counted, and the total declared. The election judges on each counting team shall be evenly divided between the major political parties. The numbers entered on the summary sheet shall not be considered final until the ballots in all the boxes have been counted and corrections have been made if ballots have been deposited in the wrong boxes. Subd. 3. Premature disclosure of count results. No count results from any precinct shall be disclosed by any election judge or other individual until all count results from that precinct are available, nor shall the public media disclose any count results from any precinct before the time when voting is scheduled to end in the state. History:  1981 c 29 art 5 s 19; 1987 c 266 art 1 s 38; 1991 c 227 s 17; 2013 c 131 art 2 s 34
MN Stat § 204C.21 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 200 - 212 — Elections|Chapter 204C — Election Day Activities|Section 204C.21 — Counting Ballots; Piling System.

204C.21 COUNTING BALLOTS; PILING SYSTEM. Subdivision 1. Method. The election judges shall take all the ballots of the same kind and count the votes cast for each office or question, beginning with the first office or question on the ballot. They shall make one pile of the ballots for each candidate who received votes for that office, or one pile for the "Yes" votes and one pile for the "No" votes on a question. They shall make a pile of totally defective ballots and a pile of totally blank ballots. They shall make a pile of ballots that are not totally defective but are defective with respect to the office or question being counted and a pile of ballots that are not totally blank but are blank with respect to the office or question being counted. After the separation into piles, the election judges shall examine each pile and remove and place in the proper pile any ballots that are found in the wrong pile. The election judges shall count the totally blank and totally defective ballots and set them aside until the counting is over for that ballot. In conducting the count of blank ballots, election judges may presume that the total count provided for sealed prepackaged ballots is correct. The election judges may pile ballots crosswise in groups of 25 in the same pile to facilitate counting. When their counts agree, the election judges shall announce the number of ballots in each pile, and shall write the number in the proper place on the summary statements. The election judges shall then return all the counted ballots, and all the partially defective or partially blank ballots, to the original pile to be separated and counted in the same manner for the next office or question. Subd. 2. More than one candidate to be elected; piling. Where more than one candidate is to be elected to an office, the votes for that office shall be counted and canvassed in the manner provided in subdivision 1 as far as practicable. Subd. 3. Primary. At a primary the election judges shall first separate the partisan ballots by major political party and then count the votes for each office as provided in subdivision 1. The nonpartisan primary ballots shall be counted separately after the partisan primary ballots have been counted. History:  1981 c 29 art 5 s 21; 2021 c 31 art 3 s 11
MN Stat § 204C.23 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 200 - 212 — Elections|Chapter 204C — Election Day Activities|Section 204C.23 — Defective Ballots.

204C.23 DEFECTIVE BALLOTS. A ballot that is defective to the extent that the election judges are unable to determine the voter's intent shall be marked on the back "Defective" if it is totally defective or "Defective as to ......," naming the office or question if it is defective only in part. History:   1981 c 29 art 5 s 23
MN Stat § 204C.24 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 200 - 212 — Elections|Chapter 204C — Election Day Activities|Section 204C.24 — Election Returns; Summary Statements.

204C.24 ELECTION RETURNS; SUMMARY STATEMENTS. Subdivision 1. Information requirements. Precinct summary statements shall be submitted by the election judges in every precinct. For all elections, the election judges shall complete three or more copies of the summary statements, and each copy shall contain the following information for each kind of ballot: (1) the number of ballots delivered to the precinct as adjusted by the actual count made by the election judges, the number of unofficial ballots made, and the number of absentee ballots delivered to the precinct; (2) the number of votes each candidate received or the number of yes and no votes on each question, the number of undervotes, the number of overvotes, and the number of defective ballots with respect to each office or question; (3) the number of spoiled ballots, the number of duplicate ballots made, the number of absentee ballots rejected, and the number of unused ballots, presuming that the total count provided on each package of unopened prepackaged ballots is correct; (4) the number of individuals who voted at the election in the precinct which must equal the total number of ballots cast in the precinct, as required by sections 204C.20 and 206.86, subdivision 1; (5) the number of voters registering on election day in that precinct; and (6) the signatures of the election judges who counted the ballots certifying that all of the ballots cast were properly piled, checked, and counted; and that the numbers entered by the election judges on the summary statements correctly show the number of votes cast for each candidate and for and against each question. At least two copies of the summary statement must be prepared for elections not held on the same day as the state elections. Subd. 2. Sealing in envelopes. The election judges shall place a full set of completed summary statements in each of three separate envelopes and seal them so that the envelopes cannot be opened without leaving evidence that they have been opened. The election judges shall then sign each envelope over the sealed part so that no envelope can be opened without disturbing the continuity of the signatures. Each of the envelopes shall show substantially the following information on its face: "Summary statements of the returns of the .... election precinct, (Town) or (City) of ....., or (School District Number) ...., in the County of ....., State of Minnesota." History:  1981 c 29 art 5 s 24; 1981 c 217 s 7; 1983 c 253 s 15; 1984 c 447 s 31; 1987 c 175 s 8; 1987 c 266 art 1 s 40; 1988 c 646 s 6; 1999 c 132 s 22; 2005 c 156 art 6 s 47; 2010 c 201 s 40
MN Stat § 204C.25 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 200 - 212 — Elections|Chapter 204C — Election Day Activities|Section 204C.25 — Disposition Of Ballots.

204C.25 DISPOSITION OF BALLOTS. After the count and the summary statements have been completed, in the presence of all the election judges, the counted, defective, and blank ballots shall be placed in envelopes, and the envelopes shall be sealed. The election judges shall sign each envelope over the sealed part so that the envelope cannot be opened without disturbing the continuity of the signatures. The number of ballots in each envelope, the name of the town or city, and the name of the precinct shall be plainly written upon the envelopes. The number and name of the district must be plainly written on envelopes containing school district ballots. The spoiled ballots shall be placed in separate envelopes and returned with the unused ballots to the county auditor or municipal or school district clerk from whom they were received. History:  1981 c 29 art 5 s 25; 1983 c 253 s 16; 1987 c 266 art 1 s 41; 2013 c 131 art 2 s 35
MN Stat § 204C.26 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 200 - 212 — Elections|Chapter 204C — Election Day Activities|Section 204C.26 — Summary Statements And Envelopes For Ballot Returns; Election Officials To Furnish.

204C.26 SUMMARY STATEMENTS AND ENVELOPES FOR BALLOT RETURNS; ELECTION OFFICIALS TO FURNISH. Subdivision 1. Summary statements. For state elections, each official responsible for printing ballots shall furnish three or more blank summary statement forms for the returns of those ballots for each precinct. At least two copies of the summary statement must be prepared for elections not held on the same day as the state elections. The blank summary statement forms shall be furnished at the same time and in the same manner as the ballots. The county auditor shall furnish blank summary statement forms containing separate space for the summary statement of the returns of the state general election ballot. Subd. 2. Summary statements; contents. The blank summary statement forms furnished to each precinct shall identify the precinct, ward number if any, city, school district if applicable, or town, date, and kind of election and, under appropriate headings identifying each color ballot, shall contain spaces for the election judges to enter the information required by section 204C.24, subdivision 1. Each blank summary statement form shall also contain a certificate to be signed by the election judges stating that the national flag was displayed on a suitable staff during voting hours; that all of the ballots cast were properly piled, checked, and counted; and that the numbers entered by the election judges on the summary statements correctly show the number of votes cast for each candidate and for and against each question. Subd. 3. Secretary of state. No later than ten weeks before the state primary in each even-numbered year, the secretary of state shall prescribe the form for summary statements of election returns and the methods by which returns for the state primary and state general election shall be recorded by precinct, county, and state election officials. Each county auditor and municipal or school district clerk required to furnish summary statements shall prepare them in the manner prescribed by the secretary of state. The summary statement of the primary returns shall be in the same form as the summary statement of the general election returns except that a separate part of the summary statement shall be provided for the partisan primary ballot and a separate part for the nonpartisan primary ballot. Subd. 4. Envelopes for counted ballots. Each official responsible for printing ballots shall also furnish envelopes to contain those ballots after they have been counted. The envelopes shall be made of heavy paper, printed or marked to distinguish the color of the ballots to be contained in them. They shall be of convenient size to hold the ballots and shall be furnished at the same time and in the same manner as the ballots. History:  1981 c 29 art 5 s 26; 1981 c 217 s 8; 1987 c 266 art 1 s 42,43; 1999 c 132 s 23; 2010 c 184 s 19; 2014 c 264 s 18
MN Stat § 204C.27 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 200 - 212 — Elections|Chapter 204C — Election Day Activities|Section 204C.27 — Delivery Of Returns To County Auditors.

204C.27 DELIVERY OF RETURNS TO COUNTY AUDITORS. One or more of the election judges in each precinct shall deliver one set of summary statements; all spoiled ballots; and the envelopes containing the ballots either directly to the municipal clerk for transmittal to the county auditor's office or directly to the county auditor's office as soon as possible after the vote counting is completed but no later than 24 hours after the end of the hours for voting. One or more election judges shall deliver the remaining set of summary statements and returns, all unused and spoiled municipal and school district ballots, the envelopes containing municipal and school district ballots, and all other things furnished by the municipal or school district clerk, to the municipal or school district clerk's office within 24 hours after the end of the hours for voting. The municipal or school district clerk shall return all polling place rosters and completed voter registration cards to the county auditor within 48 hours after the end of the hours for voting. History:  1981 c 29 art 5 s 27; 1984 c 560 s 16; 1987 c 175 s 9; 1987 c 266 art 1 s 44; 1990 c 585 s 29; 2013 c 131 art 2 s 36; 2021 c 31 art 3 s 12
MN Stat § 204C.29 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 200 - 212 — Elections|Chapter 204C — Election Day Activities|Section 204C.29 — Improper Delivery Of Returns.

204C.29 IMPROPER DELIVERY OF RETURNS. Subdivision 1. Failure of election judges to make delivery; penalty. If the election judges fail to deliver returns as required by section 204C.27, the county auditor or municipal or school district clerk to whom the returns should have been delivered shall dispatch a special messenger to obtain them. The messenger shall receive the same compensation as an election judge would receive for performing the same service and shall be subject to the same penalties as an election judge for violation of any provision of the Minnesota Election Law. Subd. 2. Irregularities in delivery. An officer to whom election returns are required to be made shall not refuse to receive them because they are delivered in any manner other than that prescribed by law, except that the returns must be sealed. No canvassing board shall refuse to include any returns in its canvass of votes because of any informality in holding the election or making returns. All returns shall be received and the votes canvassed by the canvassing board and included in its statements when there is substantial compliance with the provisions of the Minnesota Election Law. Subd. 3. Damaging returns or preventing delivery; penalty. No individual who is appointed to carry a report, certificate, or certified copy of election returns shall intentionally mutilate, tear, deface or obliterate any portion of it or do any act to prevent its delivery. No individual shall take or accept from a messenger any report, certificate or certified copy of election returns with intent to prevent its delivery, or having taken or accepted it, shall mutilate, tear, deface, obliterate, or destroy any portion of it. A violation of this subdivision is a felony. History:  1981 c 29 art 5 s 29; 1987 c 266 art 1 s 46