Minnesota Session Laws - 2005, Regular Session

                            CHAPTER 113-S.F.No. 370 
                  An act relating to elections; increasing news media 
                  access to polling places; amending Minnesota Statutes 
                  2004, section 204C.06, subdivision 8. 
        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
           Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 204C.06, 
        subdivision 8, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 8.  [ACCESS FOR NEWS MEDIA.] The county auditor or 
        municipal or school district clerk, or their designee, may, by 
        written authorization, permit A news media representatives to 
        representative may enter a polling places for up to 15 minutes 
        place during voting hours only to observe the voting process.  A 
        media representative must obtain prior authorization and present 
        photo identification to the head election judge upon arrival at 
        the polling place and, along with either a recognized media 
        credential or written statement from a local election official 
        attesting to the media representative's credentials.  A media 
        representative must not otherwise: 
           (1) approach within six feet of an election judge or a 
        voter; 
           (2) converse with a voter while in the polling place; 
           (3) make a list of persons voting or not voting; or 
           (4) interview a voter within the polling place interfere 
        with the voting process. 
           Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
           This act is effective the day following final enactment. 
           Presented to the governor May 24, 2005 
           Signed by the governor May 27, 2005, 3:50 p.m.