Minnesota Session Laws - 1984, Regular Session

  

                         Laws of Minnesota 1984 

                        CHAPTER 471-S.F.No. 1546
           An act relating to elections; improving the 
          accessibility of the election process to certain 
          elderly and handicapped persons; amending Minnesota 
          Statutes 1982, sections 201.071, subdivision 2; 
          201.091, subdivision 8; 203B.07; 204B.17; 204B.18, 
          subdivision 1; 204B.27, subdivisions 3 and 4; 204C.06, 
          subdivision 2; 204C.15, subdivision 1 and by adding a 
          subdivision; 206.19, subdivision 2; 206.20; and 
          Minnesota Statutes 1983 Supplement, sections 203B.02, 
          subdivision 1; 204B.16; and 206.09; proposing new law 
          coded in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 206. 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
    Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1982, section 201.071, 
subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
    Subd. 2.  [INSTRUCTIONS.] A registration card shall be 
accompanied by instructions specifying the manner and method of 
registration, the qualifications for voting, and the penalties 
for false registration, and the availability of registration and 
voting assistance for elderly and handicapped individuals and 
residents of health care facilities and hospitals.  If, prior to 
election day, a person requests the instructions in Braille, on 
cassette tape, or in a version printed in 16-point bold type 
with heavy leading, the county auditor shall provide them in the 
form requested.  The secretary of state shall prepare Braille 
and cassette copies and make them available.  
    Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1982, section 201.091, 
subdivision 8, is amended to read: 
    Subd. 8.  [REGISTRATION PLACES.] Each county auditor shall 
designate a number of public buildings in those political 
subdivisions of the county where preregistration of voters is 
allowed as provided in section 201.061, subdivision 1, where 
eligible voters may register to vote.  At least one public 
building shall be designated for each 30,000 residents of the 
political subdivision county.  Every city of the first, second, 
and third class and county seat shall have at least one 
telecommunications device for the deaf for voter registration 
information.  
     An adequate supply of registration cards shall and 
instructions must be maintained at each designated location, and 
a designated individual shall must be available there to accept 
registration cards and transmit them to the county auditor.  
    A person who, because of handicap, needs assistance in 
order to determine eligibility or to register shall be assisted 
by a designated individual.  Assistance includes but is not 
limited to reading the registration form and instructions and 
filling out the registration form as directed by the eligible 
voter.  
    Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1983 Supplement, section 
203B.02, subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
    Subdivision 1.  [UNABLE TO GO TO POLLING PLACE.] Any 
eligible voter who reasonably anticipates he will be unable to 
go to the polling place on election day in the precinct where 
the individual maintains residence because of absence from the 
precinct, illness, physical disability, religious discipline, 
observance of a religious holiday, or service as an election 
judge in another precinct may vote by absentee ballot as 
provided in sections 203B.04 to 203B.15. 
    Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 1982, section 203B.07, is 
amended to read: 
    203B.07 [RETURN AND BALLOT ENVELOPES; DIRECTIONS TO 
VOTERS.] 
    Subdivision 1.  [DELIVERY OF ENVELOPES, DIRECTIONS.] The 
county auditor or the municipal clerk shall prepare, print, and 
transmit a return envelope, a ballot envelope, and a copy of the 
directions for casting an absentee ballot to each applicant 
whose application for absentee ballots is accepted pursuant to 
section 203B.04.  The directions for casting an absentee ballot 
shall be printed in at least 14-point bold type with heavy 
leading.  When a person requests the directions in Braille or on 
cassette tape, the county auditor or municipal clerk shall 
provide them in the form requested.  The secretary of state 
shall prepare Braille and cassette copies and make them 
available.  
    When a voter registration card is sent to the applicant as 
provided in section 203B.06, subdivision 4, the directions or 
registration card shall include instructions for registering to 
vote.  
    Subd. 2.  [DESIGN OF ENVELOPES.] The return envelope shall 
be of sufficient size to conveniently enclose and contain the 
ballot envelope and a voter registration card folded along its 
perforations.  The return envelope shall be designed to open on 
the left hand end.  A certificate of eligibility to vote by 
absentee ballot shall be printed on the right hand three-fourths 
of the back of the envelope.  The certificate shall contain a 
statement to be signed and sworn by the voter indicating that 
the voter meets all of the requirements established by law for 
voting by absentee ballot.  The certificate shall also contain a 
statement signed by an eligible voter of the county in which the 
absent voter maintains residence or by a notary public, United 
States postmaster, assistant postmaster, postal supervisor, 
clerk of a postal service contract station or other individual 
authorized to administer oaths stating that:  
    (a) the ballots were displayed to that individual unmarked; 
    (b) the voter marked the ballots in that individual's 
presence without showing how they were marked, or, if the voter 
was physically unable to mark them, that the voter directed 
another individual to mark them; and 
    (c) if the voter was not previously registered, that the 
voter has provided proof of residence as required by section 
201.061, subdivision 3.  
    The county auditor or municipal clerk shall affix first 
class postage to the return envelopes.  
    Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 1983 Supplement, section 
204B.16, is amended to read: 
     204B.16 [POLLING PLACES; DESIGNATION.] 
     Subdivision 1.  [AUTHORITY; LOCATION.] 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.  The polling place 
for a precinct in a municipality shall be located within the 
boundaries of the precinct or within 1500 feet of one of those 
boundaries unless a single polling place is designated for a 
city pursuant to subdivision 2.  The polling place for a 
precinct may be located up to 3,000 feet outside one of the 
boundaries of the precinct if necessary to locate a polling 
place that is accessible to and usable by elderly and 
handicapped individuals as required in subdivision 5.  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.  
     Subd. 2.  [SINGLE POLLING PLACE PERMITTED.] The governing 
body of any city of the third or fourth class having more than 
one precinct or of any city with territory in more than one 
county may by ordinance or resolution designate a single, 
accessible, centrally located polling place where all the voters 
of the city shall cast their ballots.  A single board of 
election judges may be appointed to serve at this polling 
place.  The number of election judges appointed shall be 
determined by considering the number of voters in the entire 
city as if they were voters in a single precinct.  Separate 
ballot boxes shall be provided and separate returns made for 
each precinct in the city.  
     Subd. 3.  [DESIGNATION EFFECTIVE UNTIL CHANGED.] The 
designation of a polling place pursuant to this section shall 
remain effective until a different polling place is designated 
for that precinct.  No designation of a new or different polling 
place shall become effective less than 30 days prior to an 
election.  
     Subd. 4.  [PROHIBITED LOCATIONS.] No polling place shall be 
designated in any place where intoxicating liquors or 
non-intoxicating malt beverages are served or in any adjoining 
room.  No polling place shall be designated in any place in 
which substantial compliance with the requirements of this 
chapter cannot be attained.  
    Subd. 5.  [ACCESS BY ELDERLY AND HANDICAPPED.] Each polling 
place shall be accessible to and usable by elderly and 
physically handicapped individuals.  A polling place is deemed 
to be accessible and usable if it complies with the following 
standards: in paragraphs (a) to (f).  
    (a) At least one set of doors shall must have a minimum 
width of 31 inches if the doors must be used to enter or leave 
the polling place.  
    (b) Any curb adjacent to the main entrance to a polling 
place shall must have curb cuts or temporary ramps.  Where the 
main entrance is not the accessible entrance, any curb adjacent 
to the accessible entrance must also have curb cuts or temporary 
ramps.  
    (c) Where the main entrance is not the accessible entrance, 
a sign shall be posted at the main entrance giving directions to 
the accessible entrance.  
    (c) (d) At least one set of stairs shall must have a 
temporary handrail and ramp if stairs must be used to enter or 
leave the polling place.  
    (d) (e) No barrier in the polling place shall may impede 
the path of the physically handicapped to the voting booth.  
    (f) At least one handicapped parking space, which may be 
temporarily so designated by the municipality for the day of the 
election, must be available near the accessible entrance.  
    The doorway, handrails, ramps, and handicapped parking 
provided pursuant to this subdivision must conform to the 
standards specified in the state building code for accessibility 
by handicapped persons.  
    A governing body shall designate as polling places only 
those places which meet the standards prescribed in this 
subdivision unless no available place within a precinct is 
accessible or can be made accessible.  
    Subd. 6.  [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, 
including parking, available for the holding of city, county, 
state, and federal elections.  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.  
     Sec. 6.  Minnesota Statutes 1982, section 204B.17, is 
amended to read: 
    204B.17 [CHANGE OF POLLING PLACE BY ELECTION JUDGES.] 
    When a designated polling place does not comply with the 
requirements of this chapter the election judges of that 
precinct, on or before the opening of the polls on election day 
and upon approval by the municipal clerk in municipalities or 
the county auditor in unorganized territory, shall procure a 
polling place which is as near the designated polling place as 
possible and which does comply with those requirements.  
    When a new polling place is procured by the election 
judges, they shall meet on election day at the original polling 
place where they shall fill any vacancies in their number, 
publicly announce the change in polling place to the voters who 
are present and post a notice in large print of the change in a 
conspicuous place.  They shall also post a notice in a location 
visible by voters who vote from their motor vehicles as provided 
in 204C.15, subdivision 2.  Upon completing these duties the 
election judges shall adjourn to the new polling place, where 
they shall post a similar notice of the change in polling 
place.  The election judges shall certify to the appropriate 
governing body the expenses incurred because of the change.  
These expenses shall be paid as part of the expenses of the 
election.  
     Sec. 7.  Minnesota Statutes 1982, section 204B.18, 
subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
    Subdivision 1.  [BOOTHS.] Each polling place shall must 
contain a number of voting booths in proportion to the number of 
individuals eligible to vote in the precinct.  Each booth shall 
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 curtain and shall curtains.  Each 
accessible polling place must have at least one accessible 
voting booth or other accessible voting station.  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 shall be provided with 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 in the voting booth.  All ballot 
boxes, voting booths, and election judges shall must be in open 
public view in the polling place.  
     Sec. 8.  Minnesota Statutes 1982, section 204B.27, 
subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
    Subd. 3.  [INSTRUCTION POSTERS.] At least 15 days before 
every state election the secretary of state shall prepare and 
furnish to the county auditor of each county in which paper 
ballots are used, voter instruction posters printed in large 
type upon cards or heavy paper.  The instruction posters shall 
must contain the information needed to enable the voters to cast 
their paper ballots quickly and correctly and indicate the types 
of assistance available for elderly and handicapped voters.  Two 
instruction posters shall be furnished for each precinct in 
which paper ballots are used.  
     Sec. 9.  Minnesota Statutes 1982, section 204B.27, 
subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
    Subd. 4.  [PAMPHLETS.] The secretary of state may shall 
prepare and distribute to election officials pamphlets for 
voters containing impartial instructions relating to voter 
registration and election procedures.  The pamphlets must 
indicate the types of registration and voting assistance 
available for elderly and handicapped individuals and residents 
of health care facilities and hospitals.  
     Sec. 10.  Minnesota Statutes 1982, section 204C.06, 
subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
    Subd. 2.  [INDIVIDUALS ALLOWED IN POLLING PLACE.] 
Representatives of the secretary of state's office, the county 
auditor's office, and the municipal clerk's office may be 
present at the polling place to observe election procedures.  
Except for these representatives, election judges, 
sergeants-at-arms, and challengers, an individual may remain 
inside the polling place during voting hours only while voting 
or registering to vote, providing proof of residence for an 
individual who is registering to vote, or assisting a physically 
handicapped voter or a voter who is unable to read English.  
During voting hours no one except individuals receiving, 
marking, or depositing ballots shall approach within six feet of 
a voting booth, unless lawfully authorized to do so by an 
election judge.  
     Sec. 11.  Minnesota Statutes 1982, section 204C.15, 
subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
    Subdivision 1.  [INTERPRETERS; PHYSICAL ASSISTANCE IN 
MARKING BALLOTS.] A voter who states under oath that he is in 
need of assistance because he cannot read English or is 
physically unable 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.  
If the voter is deaf or cannot speak English or understand it 
when it is spoken, the election judges may select two 
individuals who are members of different major political parties 
to act as interpreters.  The interpreters shall take an oath 
similar to that taken by election judges, and shall assist the 
individual in marking the ballots.  A voter in need of 
assistance may alternatively obtain the assistance of a voter of 
the same precinct who any individual the voter chooses.  The 
individual who assists the voter shall take an oath that he or 
she is eligible to do so.  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, shall retire 
with that voter to a booth and mark the ballot as directed by 
the voter.  No voter 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.  
    Sec. 12.  Minnesota Statutes 1982, section 204C.15, is 
amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
    Subd. 2a.  [LEVER MACHINE PRECINCTS.] An individual who is 
unable to enter a polling place where a lever voting system is 
used may register and vote without leaving his motor vehicle. 
Two election judges who are members of different political 
parties shall assist the voter to register.  They shall provide 
the voter with the necessary ballots, a ballot envelope and an 
absentee ballot return envelope, which shall be completed by the 
voter, returned to the election judge, and processed pursuant to 
section 203B.12. 
     An individual who is unable to enter a voting machine booth 
in a precinct where a lever voting system is used shall be 
provided with the necessary ballots, a ballot envelope, and an 
absentee ballot return envelope, which shall be completed by the 
voter and returned to the election judge and processed pursuant 
to section 203B.12.  
    Sec. 13.  [206.065] [VOTING MACHINES, ACCESSIBILITY OF 
BALLOT.] 
    Items appearing on the ballot on a voting machine must be 
positioned as low as possible on the machine so that individuals 
not able to reach the voting levers at the top of the machine 
may vote to the greatest extent possible without assistance.  
    Sec. 14.  Minnesota Statutes 1983 Supplement, section 
206.09, is amended to read: 
    206.09 [BALLOT LABELS; DIAGRAMS FOR VOTING MACHINES.] 
    The same authorities as are charged with providing paper 
ballots when such are used shall be required to provide all 
ballots, ballot labels and ballot cards, diagrams, sample 
ballots, return sheets and all other necessary supplies needed 
for the voting machines or electronic voting systems.  
    In state and county general elections the county auditor of 
each county in which voting machines or electronic voting 
systems are used shall provide all ballots, ballot labels, 
ballot cards, and other necessary printed forms and supplies 
needed for the voting machines, including all such forms needed 
for placing on such voting machines, all officers, candidates 
and constitutional amendments and other questions and 
propositions which are required by the election laws to be 
placed on the white, pink, and canary ballots.  
    Except as herein provided all ballots (or ballot labels) 
shall be printed in black ink on clear white material of such 
size as will fit the ballot frame of the voting machine or as 
will conform to the requirements of electronic voting systems 
where used, and in as plain clear type as the space will 
reasonably permit.  In primaries where electronic voting systems 
are used, the ballot pages for the partisan primary ballots may 
be different colors or may be otherwise distinctively 
differentiated as between parties and all pages of the partisan 
primary ballot of a single party shall be consecutive without 
the intervention of any pages of any other party.  In a 
prominent place on such ballots there shall be conspicuously 
printed a notice stating in substance the effect of attempting 
to vote in more than one partisan primary.  Preparation of 
separate ballots for use on separate marking devices, each 
ballot containing the partisan primary ballot of only one party, 
shall also be permitted.  Candidates' names may be set in as 
large type as the length of the majority of such names of all 
candidates on the ballot permits and the remaining candidates' 
names may be set in such smaller sizes or styles of type as the 
length of each such name requires based upon the available space 
in the frame of the voting machine or upon the space available 
on any card, paper, booklet, or pages.  Ballots (or ballot 
labels) for constitutional amendments or that portion of the 
ballot containing constitutional amendments shall be printed on 
material tinted pink.  In a prominent place on such ballots, 
there shall be conspicuously printed a notice stating in 
substance that if a voter fails to vote on a constitutional 
amendment he votes, in effect, in the negative.  Ballots (or 
ballot labels) for other questions shall be printed on material 
so tinted as to conform with the laws relating to paper ballots. 
     The authorities charged with the duty of providing ballots 
for any polling place where voting machines are used shall 
provide therefor at least two sample ballots which shall be 
arranged in the form of a diagram showing such part of the face 
of the voting machine as shall be in use at that election for 
voting for all candidates whose names are entitled to be placed 
on the ballot at such election and shall also show such part of 
the face of the voting machine as shall be in use for voting for 
all referendum questions, constitutional amendments, or other 
propositions; the proper authorities shall provide at least two 
sample ballots, ballot cards, or ballot labels which shall be 
arranged in the form of a diagram showing the ballot label 
containing the names of all candidates and propositions to be 
voted upon at that election in each polling place.  Candidates' 
names shall not be rotated on such sample ballots but shall be 
arranged in alphabetical order for all offices where rotation of 
names on the official ballots on the voting machines is required 
by law.  Such sample ballots shall be either in full or reduced 
enlarged size and shall contain suitable illustrated directions 
for voting on the voting machine, or for operating a marking 
device, or such illustrated instructions shall be provided on a 
separate poster, to be posted adjacent to each sample ballot.  
Not less than two such sample ballots shall be posted in a 
prominent place in the polling place and shall remain open to 
inspection by the voters throughout the election day.  The 
instructions shall be printed in at least 14-point bold type 
with heavy leading.  
     The county auditor may use a one inch or more space between 
partisan and nonpartisan ballots, but in all cases a canary 
yellow color shall be used as background color on the 
nonpartisan ballots. 
    Sec. 15.  Minnesota Statutes 1982, section 206.19, 
subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
    Subd. 2.  The authorities in charge of elections shall 
provide adequate facilities for the instruction of voters prior 
to an election and cause to be placed in one or more convenient 
locations a voting machine with sample ballot labels affixed for 
the purpose of instructing voters in the operation of the 
machine.  The facilities for the instruction of voters and the 
location of the voting machine so far as practicable shall be 
accessible to elderly and handicapped individuals.  If the 
ballot labels that are used for this purpose are the same that 
will be used for the succeeding election the counting mechanism 
of the machine shall be concealed from view until the machine is 
prepared for the election and if the machine or machines are not 
used at the election the counting mechanism shall remain 
concealed from view until after the election. 
    Sec. 16.  Minnesota Statutes 1982, section 206.20, is 
amended to read: 
    206.20 [ACCESSIBILITY; INSTRUCTIONS; ASSISTANCE TO VOTERS.] 
    Subdivision 1.  The voting machine or machines shall be so 
placed and protected that each machine shall be accessible to 
only one voter at a time and in full view of all of the election 
officers and watchers at the polling place.  An election judge 
shall inspect the face of each voting machine after each voter 
has voted to see that the ballot labels are in their proper 
places and that the machine has not been injured or tampered 
with.  During elections the door or other compartment of the 
machine shall not be unlocked or opened or the counters exposed 
except by a custodian or other authorized person, a statement of 
which shall be made and signed by the custodian or authorized 
person and attached to the returns.  
    Subd. 2.  For the instruction of the voters there shall be, 
so far as practicable in each polling place, at least one 
mechanical model being a mechanical reproduction of a portion of 
the face of the voting machine.  The model shall be located 
during the election in some accessible place which the voter 
must pass to reach the machine.  Every voter before entering the 
booth shall be instructed regarding its operation.  The 
instruction shall be illustrated on the model and the voter 
given the opportunity to personally operate the model.  The 
voter's attention shall also be called to the diagram of the 
face of the machine so that the voter becomes familiar with the 
location of the questions and the names of the offices and 
candidates.  At least one election judge shall remain in 
constant attendance at the instruction model and diagram and 
occupy himself at all times with the duties of instructing the 
voters.  If any voter after entering the voting machine booth 
asks for additional instruction in operating the machine the 
instruction shall be given him by two election judges who are 
members of different major political parties, if such there be.  
After giving instruction the election judges shall retire from 
the voting machine booth and the voter shall thereafter proceed 
to vote alone and in secrecy.  If any voter at a primary after 
entering the voting machine booth and setting the primary lever 
of a major political party so as to release the candidates of 
that party for voting, and turning down levers over the names of 
candidates, but before recording the votes for any candidates, 
states to the election judges that he wishes to enter the 
primary of a different major political party, the entire 
election board shall go to the machine and shall see that all 
voting levers have been returned to the unvoted position so that 
no votes may be cast for any candidates or for or against any 
questions or other propositions, and the voter shall then be 
permitted to return the operating lever to its original position 
and start from the beginning once more.  In each such case the 
entire election board shall sign a certificate stating what was 
done and the certificate shall be returned with the official 
returns of the primary. 
    Subd. 3.  When any voter states under oath that he cannot 
read English, or that he is physically unable to operate the 
voting machine in order to record his vote thereon, he may call 
to his aid two of the election judges of different major 
political party affiliation, who shall prepare his ballot on the 
machine as he may desire, and in as secret a manner as 
circumstances permit.  When he also states that he If the voter 
is deaf or cannot speak the English language or understand it 
when spoken, the election judges may select two persons from 
different major political parties to act as interpreters, who 
shall take an oath similar to that taken by the election judges, 
and assist such person in voting.  When the voter shall prefer 
Alternatively, he the voter may call to his aid any voter of the 
same precinct, who obtain the assistance of any individual the 
voter chooses.  The individual who assists the voter shall take 
an oath that he or she is eligible to do so.  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, 
may retire with him the voter to the voting machine booth and 
prepare such the voter's ballot on such the voting machine for 
him the voter; but no such person shall prepare the ballot of 
more than three such voters at one election.  Before registering 
his vote such voter may show his ballot, as prepared for 
recording, privately to an election judge to ascertain that it 
is prepared as directed.  No election judge or other person so 
assisting a voter shall in any manner request, persuade, or 
induce, or attempt to persuade such voter to vote for or against 
any particular major political party, candidate or question, but 
shall prepare the ballot as rquested, and shall not reveal to 
any other person the name of any candidate for whom the voter 
has voted, or anything that took place while so assisting him.  
    Subd. 4.  The election judges shall admit but one voter to 
the voting machine at one time and only after it has been 
ascertained that he is entitled to vote.  The voting on the 
voting machine shall be secret except as herein provided for 
voters needing assistance and no voter shall remain within the 
voting machine booth longer than three minutes and if he shall 
refuse to leave it after the lapse of three minutes he shall be 
removed by the election judges.  If necessitated by the length 
of the ballot or the handicap of the voter, election judges may 
allow a voter to remain in the voting booth longer than three 
minutes.  
    Subd. 5.  If the official ballots at a precinct at which a 
voting machine is to be used are not delivered at the time 
required, or if after delivery they shall become lost, destroyed 
or stolen the election judges shall immediately notify the clerk 
or other authority under whose direction the ballots are printed 
who shall cause other ballots to be prepared, printed, or 
written as nearly in the form of the official ballot as 
practicable.  The election judges shall cause such substituted 
ballots to be used in the same manner as the official ballots.  
    Subd. 6.  Ballots cast for persons not nominated by the use 
of the machine device provided for that purpose shall be 
designated irregular ballots.  
    Subd. 7.  If any voting machine being used in any election 
shall become out of order during such election it shall be 
repaired if possible or another machine substituted as promptly 
as possible.  In case such substitution or repair cannot be 
made, paper ballots printed or written, and of any suitable form 
may be used for the taking of votes and for such purpose voting 
machine sample ballots may be used. 
    Sec. 17. [EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION.] 
    Sections 1 to 16 are effective August 1, 1984, except that 
election materials printed before the effective date of sections 
1 to 16 may be used until July 1, 1985. 
    Approved April 25, 1984