HF 1596

1st Engrossment - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to elections; changing provisions governing certain conduct in or near
polling places; changing certain election day prohibitions; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2004, sections 204C.06, subdivision 1; 211B.11, subdivision 1.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 204C.06, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Lingering near polling place.

An individual shall be allowed to
go to and from the polling place for the purpose of voting without unlawful interference.
No one except an election official or an individual who is waiting to register or to vote
shall stand new text begin on any private or public parcel of property on which a building containing a
polling place is located, or inside that building, or new text end within 100 feet of the new text begin property line of
any private or public parcel of property on which a building containing a polling place is
located new text end deleted text begin entrance to a polling place deleted text end . The entrance to a polling place is the doorway or point
of entry leading into the room or area where voting is occurring.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 211B.11, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Soliciting near polling places.

A person may not display campaign
material, post signs, ask, solicit, or in any manner try to induce or persuade a voter new text begin :
new text end

new text begin (1) new text end within a polling place deleted text begin or within 100 feet of the building in which a polling
place is situated, or deleted text end new text begin ;
new text end

new text begin (2) within the building in which the polling place is located except within private
spaces not visible to the general public;
new text end

new text begin (3) new text end anywhere on the public new text begin or private parcel of new text end property on which a new text begin building
containing a new text end polling place is situated new text begin ; or
new text end

new text begin (4) within 100 feet in any direction horizontally or vertically of the property line of
a public or private parcel of property on which a building containing a polling place is
situated new text end ,

on deleted text begin primary or deleted text end new text begin any new text end election day to vote for or refrain from voting for a candidate or ballot
question new text begin or to otherwise conduct any activity related to the election new text end .

new text begin A person may not keep a record of individuals arriving at or departing from the
polling place or, within 100 feet of the polling place, ask whether an individual has voted in
the election. new text end A person may not provide political badges, political buttons, or other political
insignia to be worn at or about the polling place on the day of a primary or election. A
political badge, political button, or other political insignia may not be worn at or about the
polling place on primary or election day. This section applies to areas established by the
county auditor or municipal clerk for absentee voting as provided in chapter 203B.

The secretary of state, county auditor, municipal clerk, or school district clerk may
provide stickers which contain the words "I VOTED" and nothing more. Election judges
may offer a sticker of this type to each voter who has signed the polling place roster.