SF 1316

as introduced - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to elections; specifying a minimum polling
place size and number of voting booths; requiring
certain signs at polling places; requiring certain
additional election judges; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2004, sections 204B.16, subdivision 1;
204B.18, subdivision 1; 204B.22, subdivision 3;
204C.08, subdivision 1; repealing Minnesota Statutes
2004, section 204B.22, subdivision 2.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 204B.16,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Authority; location.

new text begin (a) new text end The governing
body of each municipality and of each county with precincts in
unorganized territory shall designate by ordinance or resolution
a polling place for each election precinct. 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 473.121 shall be located within the
boundaries of the precinct or within 3,000 feet 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 473.121, 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 (b) Each polling place serving precincts in which, in
aggregate, there were more than 100 voters in the most recent
similar election, must be at least 750 square feet, with an
additional 60 square feet for each 150 voters in excess of 400
that voted in the most recent similar election.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 204B.18,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Booths.

Each polling place must contain deleted text begin a
number of voting booths in proportion to the number of
individuals eligible to vote in the precinct deleted text end new text begin at least two voting
booths plus one additional voting booth for each 150 voters
registered in the precinct in excess of 200 new text end . Each booth must be
at least six feet high, three feet deep and two feet wide with a
shelf at least two feet long and one foot wide placed at a
convenient height for writing. The booth shall be provided with
a door or curtains. Each deleted text begin accessible deleted text end polling place must have at
least one accessible voting booth or other accessible voting
station new text begin and one voting system that conforms to the requirements
of section 301(a)(3)(B) of the Help America Vote Act, Public Law
107-252 new text end . All booths or stations must be constructed so that a
voter is free from observation while marking ballots. In all
other polling places every effort must be made to provide at
least one accessible voting booth or other accessible voting
station. During the hours of voting, the booths or stations
must have instructions, a pencil, and other supplies needed to
mark the ballots. If needed, a chair must be provided for
elderly and handicapped voters to use while voting. All ballot
boxes, voting booths, voting stations, and election judges must
be in open public view in the polling place.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 204B.22,
subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Minimum number deleted text begin required in certain precincts deleted text end new text begin of
election judges new text end .

At each deleted text begin state primary or state general
deleted text end election in precincts deleted text begin using an electronic voting system with
marking devices and deleted text end in which more than 400 votes were cast at
the last similar election, the minimum number of election judges
is three plus one judge to demonstrate the use of the voting
machine or device new text begin , and the number of additional election judges
to be appointed is one for every 200 votes cast in that precinct
in the most recent similar general election new text end .

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 204C.08,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Display of flag new text begin ; "vote here" sign new text end .

new text begin (a)
new text end Upon their arrival at the polling place on the day of election,
the election judges shall cause the national flag to be
displayed on a suitable staff at the entrance to the polling
place. The flag shall be displayed continuously during the
hours of voting and the election judges shall attest to that
fact by signing the flag certification statement on the precinct
summary statement. The election judges shall receive no
compensation for any time during which they intentionally fail
to display the flag as required by this subdivision.

new text begin (b) The election judges shall, immediately after displaying
the flag pursuant to paragraph (a), post the following:
new text end

new text begin (1) a "Vote Here" sign conspicuously near the flag, which
must be of a size not less than two feet high by four feet wide,
with letters printed in red in a font size of no less than
576-point type, against a white background;
new text end

new text begin (2) a sign of the same size and design at one corner of
each intersection for a distance of three intersections in all
directions from the polling place, with each sign including an
arrow pointing in the direction of the polling place; and
new text end

new text begin (3) within the building, if the polling place has more than
one room, signs indicating by arrows the direction in which to
proceed in order to reach the room containing the polling place.
new text end

Sec. 5. new text begin REPEALER.
new text end

new text begin Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 204B.22, subdivision 2, is
repealed.
new text end