HF 4613

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 04/30/2020 09:42am

A bill for an act
relating to elections; specifying that counties and municipalities must not designate
school buildings as polling places unless no other building is available; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 204B.16, subdivision 1.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 204B.16, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Authority; location.

new text begin (a) new text end By December 31 of each year, the governing
body of each municipality and of each county with precincts in unorganized territory must
designate by ordinance or resolution a polling place for each election precinct. The polling
places designated in the ordinance or resolution are the polling places for the following
calendar year, unless a change is made:

(1) pursuant to section 204B.175;

(2) because a polling place has become unavailable; or

(3) because a township designates one location for all state and federal elections and
one location for all township only elections.

new text begin (b) new text end Polling places must be designated and ballots must be distributed so that no one is
required to go to more than one polling place to vote in a school district and municipal
election held on the same day. The polling place for a precinct in a city or in a school district
located in whole or in part in the metropolitan area defined by section 200.02, subdivision
24, shall be located within the boundaries of the precinct or within one mile of one of those
boundaries unless a single polling place is designated for a city pursuant to section 204B.14,
subdivision 2, or a school district pursuant to section 205A.11. The polling place for a
precinct in unorganized territory may be located outside the precinct at a place which is
convenient to the voters of the precinct. If no suitable place is available within a town or
within a school district located outside the metropolitan area defined by section 200.02,
subdivision 24, then the polling place for a town or school district may be located outside
the town or school district within five miles of one of the boundaries of the town or school
district.

new text begin (c) When designating polling places, a governing body of a municipality or county must
only designate a school building as a polling place when no other public or private location
is available for use as a polling place. If a municipality or county designates a school building
as a polling place, the municipality or county must work with school staff to ensure that
contact between students and voters is minimized.
new text end