1999 Minnesota Statutes

CHAPTER 211B. Fair campaign practices

     211B.01 Definitions. 

    Subdivision 1.    Application.  The definitions in 
 chapter 200 and this section apply to this chapter. 

    Subd. 2.    Campaign material.  "Campaign material" 
 means any literature, publication, or material tending to 
 influence voting at a primary or other election, except for news 
 items or editorial comments by the news media. 

    Subd. 3.    Candidate.  "Candidate" means an individual 
 who seeks nomination or election to a federal, statewide, 
 legislative, judicial, or local office including special 
 districts, school districts, towns, home rule charter and 
 statutory cities, and counties, except candidates for president 
 and vice-president of the United States.  

    Subd. 4.    Committee.  "Committee" means two or more 
 persons acting together or a corporation or association acting 
 to influence the nomination, election, or defeat of a candidate 
 or to promote or defeat a ballot question.  Promoting or 
 defeating a ballot question includes efforts to qualify or 
 prevent a proposition from qualifying for placement on the 
 ballot.  

    Subd. 5.    Disbursement.  "Disbursement" means an act 
 through which money, property, office, or position or other 
 thing of value is directly or indirectly promised, paid, spent, 
 contributed, or lent, and any money, property, office, or 
 position or other thing of value so promised or transferred. 

    Subd. 6.    Political purposes.  An act is done for 
 "political purposes" when the act is intended or done to 
 influence, directly or indirectly, voting at a primary or other 
 election.  This does not include news items or editorial 
 comments published or broadcast by the news media. 

    HIST: 1988 c 578 art 3 s 1 

     211B.02 False claim of support. 

    A person or candidate may not knowingly make, directly or 
 indirectly, a false claim stating or implying that a candidate 
 or ballot question has the support or endorsement of a major 
 political party or party unit or of an organization.  A person 
 or candidate may not state in written campaign material that the 
 candidate or ballot question has the support or endorsement of 
 an individual without first getting written permission from the 
 individual to do so. 

    HIST: 1988 c 578 art 3 s 2 

     211B.03 Use of the term reelect. 

    A person or candidate may not, in the event of 
 redistricting, use the term "reelect" in a campaign for elective 
 office unless the candidate is the incumbent of that office and 
 the office represents any part of the new district. 

    HIST: 1988 c 578 art 3 s 3 

     211B.04 Campaign literature must include disclaimer. 

    (a) A person who participates in the preparation or 
 dissemination of campaign material other than as provided in 
 section 211B.05, subdivision 1, that does not prominently 
 include the name and address of the person or committee causing 
 the material to be prepared or disseminated in a disclaimer 
 substantially in the form provided in paragraph (b) or (c) is 
 guilty of a misdemeanor.  

    (b) Except in cases covered by paragraph (c), the required 
 form of disclaimer is:  "Prepared and paid for by the .......... 
 committee, .........(address)" for material prepared and paid 
 for by a principal campaign committee, or "Prepared and paid for 
 by the .......... committee, .........(address), in support of 
 .........(insert name of candidate or ballot question)" for 
 material prepared and paid for by a person or committee other 
 than a principal campaign committee. 

    (c) In the case of broadcast media, the required form of 
 disclaimer is:  "Paid for by the ............ committee." 

    (d) Campaign material that is not circulated on behalf of a 
 particular candidate or ballot question must also include in the 
 disclaimer either that it is "in opposition to .....(insert name 
 of candidate or ballot question.....)"; or that "this 
 publication is not circulated on behalf of any candidate or 
 ballot question." 

    (e) This section does not apply to objects stating only the 
 candidate's name and the office sought, fundraising tickets, or 
 personal letters that are clearly being sent by the candidate. 

    (f) This section does not apply to an individual who acts 
 independently of any candidate, committee, political committee, 
 or political fund and spends only from the individual's own 
 resources a sum that is less than $300 in the aggregate to 
 produce or distribute campaign material that is distributed at 
 least 14 days before the election to which the campaign material 
 relates. 

    (g) This section does not modify or repeal section 211B.06. 

    HIST: 1988 c 578 art 3 s 4; 1991 c 227 s 24; 1998 c 376 s 2 

     211B.045 Noncommercial signs exemption. 

    In any municipality with an ordinance that regulates the 
 size of noncommercial signs, notwithstanding the provisions of 
 that ordinance, all noncommercial signs of any size may be 
 posted from August 1 in a state general election year until ten 
 days following the state general election. 

    HIST: 1990 c 585 s 30 

     211B.05 Paid advertisements in news. 

    Subdivision 1.    Acceptance of paid advertisements.  A 
 newspaper, periodical, or magazine may not intentionally accept 
 for insertion in the newspaper, magazine, or periodical a 
 political advertisement unless the words "PAID ADVERTISEMENT," 
 and the disclaimer required under section 211B.04 are included 
 at the beginning or end of the advertisement.  A radio station, 
 television station, or cable system may not accept for broadcast 
 a political advertisement unless the words "PAID ADVERTISEMENT" 
 are included at the beginning or end of the advertisement. 

    Subd. 2.    Advertising rates.  Rates charged for 
 advertising to support or oppose a candidate or ballot question 
 must be the same as the charges made for any other political 
 candidate and may be no greater than charges made for any other 
 comparable purpose or use according to the seller's rate 
 schedule. 

    Subd. 3.    Compensation prohibited, except for paid 
 advertisement.  An owner, publisher, editor, reporter, agent, 
 broadcaster, or employee of a newspaper, periodical, magazine, 
 radio or television broadcast station, or cable system may not 
 directly or indirectly solicit, receive, or accept a payment, 
 promise, or compensation, nor may a person pay or promise to pay 
 or in any manner compensate an owner, publisher, editor, 
 reporter, agent, broadcaster, or employee directly or indirectly 
 for influencing or attempting to influence voting at an election 
 or primary through printed material in the newspaper or 
 periodical, or radio, television, or cable broadcast, except as 
 a "PAID ADVERTISEMENT" as provided in this section.  

    Subd. 4.    Unpaid material identification.  Unpaid 
 material published in a newspaper, magazine, or other 
 publication that is:  (1) in unique typeset or otherwise 
 differentiated from other unpaid material, (2) designed to 
 influence or attempt to influence the voting at any election or 
 the passage or defeat of legislation, and (3) not placed on the 
 editorial page must be clearly identified as an editorial 
 opinion. 

    HIST: 1988 c 578 art 3 s 5 

     211B.06 False political and campaign material; penalty; 
  exceptions. 

    Subdivision 1.    Gross misdemeanor.  A person is guilty 
 of a gross misdemeanor who intentionally participates in the 
 preparation, dissemination, or broadcast of paid political 
 advertising or campaign material with respect to the personal or 
 political character or acts of a candidate, or with respect to 
 the effect of a ballot question, that is designed or tends to 
 elect, injure, promote, or defeat a candidate for nomination or 
 election to a public office or to promote or defeat a ballot 
 question, that is false, and that the person knows is false or 
 communicates to others with reckless disregard of whether it is 
 false. 

    A person is guilty of a misdemeanor who intentionally 
 participates in the drafting of a letter to the editor with 
 respect to the personal or political character or acts of a 
 candidate, or with respect to the effect of a ballot question, 
 that is designed or tends to elect, injure, promote, or defeat 
 any candidate for nomination or election to a public office or 
 to promote or defeat a ballot question, that is false, and that 
 the person knows is false or communicates to others with 
 reckless disregard of whether it is false. 

    Subd. 2.    Exception.  Subdivision 1 does not apply to 
 any person or organization whose sole act is, in the normal 
 course of their business, the printing, manufacturing, or 
 dissemination of the false information. 

    HIST: 1988 c 578 art 3 s 6; 1998 c 376 s 3 

     211B.07 Undue influence on voters prohibited. 

    A person may not directly or indirectly use or threaten 
 force, coercion, violence, restraint, damage, harm, loss, 
 including loss of employment or economic reprisal, undue 
 influence, or temporal or spiritual injury against an individual 
 to compel the individual to vote for or against a candidate or 
 ballot question.  Abduction, duress, or fraud may not be used to 
 obstruct or prevent the free exercise of the right to vote of a 
 voter at a primary or election, or compel a voter to vote at a 
 primary or election.  Violation of this section is a gross 
 misdemeanor.  

    HIST: 1988 c 578 art 3 s 7 

     211B.08 Solicitation of contributions prohibited. 

    A religious, charitable, or educational organization may 
 not request a candidate or committee to contribute to the 
 organization, to subscribe for the support of a club or 
 organization, to buy tickets to entertainment, or to pay for 
 space in a publication.  This section does not apply to: 

    (1) the solicitation of a business advertisement in 
 periodicals in which the candidate was a regular contributor, 
 before candidacy; 

    (2) ordinary business advertisements; 

    (3) regular payments to a religious, charitable, or 
 educational organization, of which the candidate was a member, 
 or to which the candidate was a contributor for more than six 
 months before candidacy; or 

    (4) ordinary contributions at church services. 

    HIST: 1988 c 578 art 3 s 8 

     211B.09 Prohibited public employee activities. 

    An employee or official of the state or of a political 
 subdivision may not use official authority or influence to 
 compel a person to apply for membership in or become a member of 
 a political organization, to pay or promise to pay a political 
 contribution, or to take part in political activity.  A 
 political subdivision may not impose or enforce additional 
 limitations on the political activities of its employees. 

    HIST: 1988 c 578 art 3 s 9 

     211B.10 Inducing or refraining candidacy; time off for 
  public office meetings. 

    Subdivision 1.    Inducing or refraining from candidacy. 
  A person may not reward or promise to reward another in any 
 manner to induce the person to be or refrain from or cease being 
 a candidate.  A person may not solicit or receive a payment, 
 promise, or reward from another for this purpose. 

    Subd. 2.    Time off for public office meetings.  A 
 person elected to a public office must be permitted time off 
 from regular employment to attend meetings required by reason of 
 the public office.  The time off may be without pay, with pay, 
 or made up with other hours, as agreed between the employee and 
 employer.  When an employee takes time off without pay, the 
 employer shall make an effort to allow the employee to make up 
 the time with other hours when the employee is available.  No 
 retaliatory action may be taken by the employer for absences to 
 attend meetings necessitated by reason of the employee's public 
 office. 

    HIST: 1988 c 578 art 3 s 10 

     211B.11 Election day prohibitions. 

    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 
 within a polling place or within 100 feet of the building in 
 which a polling place is situated, or anywhere on the public 
 property on which a polling place is situated, on primary or 
 election day to vote for or refrain from voting for a candidate 
 or ballot question.  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. 

    Subd. 2. Repealed, 1997 c 147 s 79 

    Subd. 3.    Transportation of voters to polling place; 
 penalty.  A person transporting a voter to or from the polling 
 place may not ask, solicit, or in any manner try to induce or 
 persuade a voter on primary or election day to vote or refrain 
 from voting for a candidate or ballot question.  

    Subd. 4.    Penalty.  Violation of this section is a 
 petty misdemeanor. 

    HIST: 1988 c 578 art 3 s 11; 1989 c 291 art 1 s 32; 1993 c 223 
 s 25 

     211B.12 Legal expenditures. 

    Use of money collected for political purposes is prohibited 
 unless the use is reasonably related to the conduct of election 
 campaigns, or is a noncampaign disbursement as defined in 
 section 10A.01, subdivision 10c.  The following are permitted 
 expenditures when made for political purposes: 

    (1) salaries, wages, and fees; 

    (2) communications, mailing, transportation, and travel; 

    (3) campaign advertising; 

    (4) printing; 

    (5) office and other space and necessary equipment, 
 furnishings, and incidental supplies; 

    (6) charitable contributions of not more than $50 to any 
 charity annually; and 

    (7) other expenses, not included in clauses (1) to (6), 
 that are reasonably related to the conduct of election campaigns.
 In addition, expenditures made for the purpose of providing 
 information to constituents, whether or not related to the 
 conduct of an election, are permitted expenses.  Money collected 
 for political purposes and assets of a political committee or 
 political fund may not be converted to personal use. 

    HIST: 1988 c 578 art 3 s 12; 1993 c 318 art 2 s 48 

     211B.13 Bribery, treating, and solicitation. 

    Subdivision 1.    Bribery, advancing money, and treating 
 prohibited.  A person who willfully, directly or indirectly, 
 advances, pays, gives, promises, or lends any money, food, 
 liquor, clothing, entertainment, or other thing of monetary 
 value, or who offers, promises, or endeavors to obtain any 
 money, position, appointment, employment, or other valuable 
 consideration, to or for a person, in order to induce a voter to 
 refrain from voting, or to vote in a particular way, at an 
 election, is guilty of a felony.  This section does not prevent 
 a candidate from stating publicly preference for or support of 
 another candidate to be voted for at the same primary or 
 election.  Refreshments of food or nonalcoholic beverages of 
 nominal value consumed on the premises at a private gathering or 
 public meeting are not prohibited under this section. 

    Subd. 2.    Certain solicitations prohibited.  A person 
 may not knowingly solicit, receive, or accept any money, 
 property, or other thing of monetary value, or a promise or 
 pledge of these that is a disbursement prohibited by this 
 section or section 211B.15. 

    HIST: 1988 c 578 art 3 s 13 

     211B.14 Digest of laws. 

    The secretary of state, with the approval of the attorney 
 general, shall prepare and print an easily understandable digest 
 of this chapter and annotations of it.  The digest may include 
 other related laws and annotations at the discretion of the 
 secretary of state. 

    The secretary of state shall distribute the digest to 
 candidates and committees through the county auditor or 
 otherwise as the secretary of state considers expedient.  A copy 
 of the digest and, if appropriate, a financial reporting form 
 and a certification of filing form must be distributed to each 
 candidate by the filing officer at the time that the candidate's 
 affidavit of candidacy is filed. 

    HIST: 1988 c 578 art 3 s 14; 1993 c 223 s 26; 1997 c 147 s 73 

     211B.15 Corporate political contributions. 

    Subdivision 1.    Definitions.  For purposes of this 
 section, "corporation" means: 

    (1) a corporation organized for profit that does business 
 in this state; 

    (2) a nonprofit corporation that carries out activities in 
 this state; or 

    (3) a limited liability company formed under chapter 322B, 
 or under similar laws of another state, that does business in 
 this state. 

    Subd. 2.    Prohibited contributions.  A corporation may 
 not make a contribution or offer or agree to make a 
 contribution, directly or indirectly, of any money, property, 
 free service of its officers, employees, or members, or thing of 
 monetary value to a major political party, organization, 
 committee, or individual to promote or defeat the candidacy of 
 an individual for nomination, election, or appointment to a 
 political office.  For the purpose of this subdivision, 
 "contribution" includes an expenditure to promote or defeat the 
 election or nomination of a candidate to a political office that 
 is made with the authorization or expressed or implied consent 
 of, or in cooperation or in concert with, or at the request or 
 suggestion of, a candidate or committee established to support 
 or oppose a candidate.  

    Subd. 3.    Independent expenditures.  A corporation may 
 not make an independent expenditure or offer or agree to make an 
 independent expenditure to promote or defeat the candidacy of an 
 individual for nomination, election, or appointment to a 
 political office.  For the purpose of this subdivision, 
 "independent expenditure" means an expenditure that is not made 
 with the authorization or expressed or implied consent of, or in 
 cooperation or concert with, or at the request or suggestion of, 
 a candidate or committee established to support or oppose a 
 candidate. 

    Subd. 4.    Ballot question.  A corporation may make 
 contributions or expenditures to promote or defeat a ballot 
 question, to qualify a question for placement on the ballot 
 unless otherwise prohibited by law, or to express its views on 
 issues of public concern.  A corporation may not make a 
 contribution to a candidate for nomination, election, or 
 appointment to a political office or to a committee organized 
 wholly or partly to promote or defeat a candidate. 

    Subd. 5.    News media.  This section does not prohibit 
 publication or broadcasting of news items or editorial comments 
 by the news media.  

    Subd. 6.    Penalty for individuals.  An officer, 
 manager, stockholder, member, agent, employee, attorney, or 
 other representative of a corporation acting in behalf of the 
 corporation who violates this section may be fined not more than 
 $20,000 or be imprisoned for not more than five years, or both.  

    Subd. 7.    Penalty for corporations.  A corporation 
 convicted of violating this section is subject to a fine not 
 greater than $40,000.  A convicted domestic corporation may be 
 dissolved as well as fined.  If a foreign or nonresident 
 corporation is convicted, in addition to being fined, its right 
 to do business in this state may be declared forfeited.  

    Subd. 8.    Permitted activity; political party.  It is 
 not a violation of this section for a political party, as 
 defined in section 200.02, subdivision 7, to form a nonprofit 
 corporation for the sole purpose of holding real property to be 
 used exclusively as the party's headquarters. 

    Subd. 9.    Media projects.  It is not a violation of 
 this section for a corporation to contribute to or conduct 
 public media projects to encourage individuals to attend 
 precinct caucuses, register, or vote if the projects are not 
 controlled by or operated for the advantage of a candidate, 
 political party, or committee. 

    Subd. 10.    Meeting facilities.  It is not a violation 
 of this section for a corporation to provide meeting facilities 
 to a committee, political party, or candidate on a 
 nondiscriminatory and nonpreferential basis. 

    Subd. 11.    Messages on premises.  It is not a 
 violation of this section for a corporation selling products or 
 services to the public to post on its public premises messages 
 that promote participation in precinct caucuses, voter 
 registration, or elections if the messages are not controlled by 
 or operated for the advantage of a candidate, political party, 
 or committee. 

    Subd. 12.    Reports required.  The total amount of an 
 expenditure or contribution for any one project permitted by 
 subdivisions 9 and 11 that is more than $200, together with the 
 date, purpose, and the names and addresses of the persons 
 receiving the contribution or expenditures, must be reported to 
 the secretary of state.  The reports must be filed on forms 
 provided by the secretary of state on the dates required for 
 committees under section 211A.02.  Failure to file is a 
 misdemeanor. 

    Subd. 13.    Aiding violation; penalty.  An individual 
 who aids, abets, or advises a violation of this section is 
 guilty of a gross misdemeanor. 

    Subd. 14.    Prosecutions; venue.  Violations of this 
 section may be prosecuted in the county where the payment or 
 contribution was made, where services were rendered, or where 
 money was paid or distributed. 

    Subd. 15.    Nonprofit corporation exemption.  The 
 prohibitions in this section do not apply to a nonprofit 
 corporation that: 

    (1) is not organized or operating for the principal purpose 
 of conducting a business; 

    (2) has no shareholders or other persons affiliated so as 
 to have a claim on its assets or earnings; and 

    (3) was not established by a business corporation or a 
 labor union and has a policy not to accept significant 
 contributions from those entities. 

    Subd. 16.    Employee political fund solicitation.  Any 
 solicitation of political contributions by an employee must be 
 in writing, informational and nonpartisan in nature, and not 
 promotional for any particular candidate or group of 
 candidates.  The solicitation must consist only of a general 
 request on behalf of an independent political committee (conduit 
 fund) and must state that there is no minimum contribution, that 
 a contribution or lack thereof will in no way impact the 
 employee's employment, that the employee must direct the 
 contribution to candidates of the employee's choice, and that 
 any response by the employee shall remain confidential and shall 
 not be directed to the employee's supervisors or managers.  
 Questions from an employee regarding a solicitation may be 
 answered orally or in writing consistent with the above 
 requirements.  Nothing in this subdivision authorizes a 
 corporate donation of an employee's time prohibited under 
 subdivision 2.  

    Subd. 17.    Nonprofit corporation political activity.  
 It is not a violation of this section for a nonprofit 
 corporation to provide administrative assistance to one 
 political committee or political fund that is associated with 
 the nonprofit corporation and registered with the campaign 
 finance and public disclosure board under section 10A.14.  Such 
 assistance must be limited to accounting, clerical or legal 
 services, bank charges, utilities, office space, and supplies.  
 The records of the political committee or political fund may be 
 kept on the premises of the nonprofit corporation. 

    The administrative assistance provided by the nonprofit 
 corporation to the political committee or political fund is 
 limited annually to the lesser of $5,000 or 7-1/2 percent of the 
 expenditures of the political committee or political fund. 

    HIST: 1988 c 578 art 3 s 15; 1989 c 209 art 2 s 26; 1992 c 517 
 art 1 s 1-9; 1993 c 318 art 2 s 49; 1996 c 459 s 3,4; 1997 c 202 
 art 2 s 63 

     211B.16 County attorney inquiry; associate counsel. 

    Subdivision 1.    County attorney inquiry.  A county 
 attorney who is notified of an alleged violation of this chapter 
 shall promptly investigate.  If there is probable cause for 
 instituting a prosecution, the county attorney shall proceed by 
 complaint or present the charge, with whatever evidence has been 
 found, to the grand jury.  A county attorney who refuses or 
 intentionally fails to faithfully perform this or any other duty 
 imposed by this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon 
 conviction forfeits the office.  The county attorney, under the 
 penalty of forfeiture of office, shall prosecute all violations 
 of this chapter except violations of this section.  If, however, 
 a complainant withdraws an allegation under this chapter, the 
 county attorney is not required to proceed with prosecution.  

    Subd. 2.    Associate counsel.  Anyone except the person 
 under investigation or the person's agent may employ an attorney 
 to assist the county attorney in the investigation and 
 prosecution of a violation of this chapter.  The county attorney 
 and the court shall recognize the attorney as associate counsel 
 for the proceeding.  A prosecution, action, or proceeding must 
 not be dismissed without notice to the associate counsel.  If 
 the associate counsel objects to the dismissal, the county 
 attorney's reasons for dismissal and the associate counsel's 
 objections must be filed with the court and heard within the 
 time period the court requires.  

    HIST: 1988 c 578 art 3 s 16 

     211B.17 Forfeiture of nomination or office; 
  circumstances where not forfeited. 

    Subdivision 1.    Forfeiture of nomination or office.  
 Except as provided in subdivision 2, if a candidate is found 
 guilty of violating this chapter or an offense was committed by 
 another individual with the knowledge, consent, or connivance of 
 the candidate, the court, after entering the adjudication of 
 guilty, shall enter a supplemental judgment declaring that the 
 candidate has forfeited the nomination or office.  If the court 
 enters the supplemental judgment, it shall transmit to the 
 filing officer a transcript of the supplemental judgment, the 
 nomination or office becomes vacant, and the vacancy must be 
 filled as provided by law. 

    Subd. 2.    Circumstances where nomination or office not 
 forfeited.  In a trial for a violation of this chapter, the 
 candidate's nomination or election is not void if the court 
 finds that: 

    (1) an offense, though committed by the candidate or with 
 the candidate's knowledge, consent, or connivance, was trivial; 
 or 

    (2) an act or omission of a candidate arose from accidental 
 miscalculation or other reasonable cause, but in any case not 
 from a want of good faith; 

 and the court also finds that it would be unjust for a candidate 
 to forfeit the nomination or election.  

    None of these findings is a defense to a conviction under 
 this chapter. 

    HIST: 1988 c 578 art 3 s 17 

     211B.18 Disqualified candidate not to hold various 
  positions. 

    A candidate whose election to office has been set aside for 
 a violation of this chapter may not be appointed, during the 
 period fixed by law as the term of the office, to fill a vacancy 
 in that office.  A candidate or other individual who is 
 convicted of a violation of this chapter may not be appointed, 
 during the period fixed by law as the term of the office with 
 respect to which the election was held and the offense was 
 committed, to fill a vacancy that may occur in the office.  An 
 appointment to an office made contrary to the provisions of this 
 section is void. 

    A candidate or other individual who is convicted of a 
 violation of this chapter is not qualified, during the period 
 fixed by law as the term of the office with respect to which the 
 election was held and the offense was committed, to fill a 
 vacancy in an office for which the legislature may establish 
 qualifications under article XII, section 3, of the Minnesota 
 Constitution.  

    HIST: 1988 c 578 art 3 s 18 

     211B.19 Penalties for violation. 

    A violation of this chapter for which no other penalty is 
 provided is a misdemeanor.  

    HIST: 1988 c 578 art 3 s 19 

     211B.20 Denial of access by political candidates to 
  multiple unit dwellings. 

    Subdivision 1.    Prohibition.  It is unlawful for a 
 person, either directly or indirectly, to deny access to an 
 apartment house, dormitory, nursing home, manufactured home 
 park, other multiple unit facility used as a residence, or an 
 area in which two or more single-family dwellings are located on 
 private roadways to a candidate who has filed for election to 
 public office or to campaign workers accompanied by the 
 candidate, if the candidate and workers seeking admittance to 
 the facility do so solely for the purpose of campaigning.  A 
 violation of this section is a petty misdemeanor. 

    Subd. 2.    Exceptions.  Subdivision 1 does not prohibit:

    (1) denial of admittance into a particular apartment, room, 
 manufactured home, or personal residential unit; 

    (2) requiring reasonable and proper identification as a 
 necessary prerequisite to admission to a multiple unit dwelling; 

    (3) in the case of a nursing home, denial of permission to 
 visit certain persons for valid health reasons; 

    (4) limiting visits by candidates or workers accompanied by 
 the candidate to a reasonable number of persons or reasonable 
 hours; 

    (5) requiring a prior appointment to gain access to the 
 facility; or 

    (6) denial of admittance to or expulsion from a multiple 
 unit dwelling for good cause. 

    HIST: 1988 c 578 art 3 s 20 

     211B.21 Applicability. 

    Nothing in section 211B.17 or 211B.18 may be construed to 
 limit the ability of each house of the legislature to act as 
 judge of the election returns and eligibility of its own members.

    HIST: 1988 c 578 art 3 s 21