2005 Minnesota Statutes

CHAPTER 201. Registration and eligibility of voters

  201.01 Definitions. 

    The definitions in chapter 200 apply to this chapter. 

    HIST: 1959 c 675 art 2 s 1; 1981 c 29 art 2 s 1 

  201.013 Repealed, 1959 c 675 art 13 s 1 

     201.014 Eligibility to vote. 

    Subdivision 1.    Requirements.  Except as provided in 
 subdivision 2, an individual who meets the following 
 requirements at the time of an election is eligible to vote.  
 The individual must:  

    (a) Be 18 years of age or older; 

    (b) Be a citizen of the United States; and 

    (c) Maintain residence in Minnesota for 20 days immediately 
 preceding the election.  

    Subd. 2.    Not eligible.  The following individuals are 
 not eligible to vote.  Any individual:  

    (a) convicted of treason or any felony whose civil rights 
 have not been restored; 

    (b) under a guardianship in which the court order revokes 
 the ward's right to vote; or 

    (c) found by a court of law to be legally incompetent. 

    Subd. 3.    Penalty.  Any individual who votes who 
 knowingly is not eligible to vote is guilty of a felony.  

    HIST: 1981 c 29 art 2 s 2; 1986 c 444; 2003 c 12 art 2 s 2; 
 2005 c 10 art 4 s 3; 2005 c 156 art 6 s 14 

     201.016 Residence requirements for voting; violations; 
  penalty. 

    Subdivision 1.    Determination of residence.  An 
 eligible voter may vote only in the precinct in which the voter 
 maintains residence.  The residence of a voter shall be 
 determined in accordance with section 200.031.  

    Subd. 1a.    Violations; penalty.  (a) The county 
 auditor shall mail a violation notice to any voter who the 
 county auditor can determine has voted in a precinct other than 
 the precinct in which the voter maintains residence.  The notice 
 must be in the form provided by the secretary of state.  The 
 county auditor shall also change the status of the voter in the 
 statewide registration system to "challenged" and the voter 
 shall be required to provide proof of residence to either the 
 county auditor or to the election judges in the voter's precinct 
 before voting in the next election.  Any of the forms authorized 
 by section 201.061 for registration at the polling place may be 
 used for this purpose. 

    (b) A voter who votes in a precinct other than the precinct 
 in which the voter maintains residence after receiving an 
 initial violation notice as provided in this subdivision is 
 guilty of a petty misdemeanor.  

    (c) A voter who votes in a precinct other than the precinct 
 in which the voter maintains residence after having been found 
 to have committed a petty misdemeanor under paragraph (b) is 
 guilty of a misdemeanor. 

    (d) Reliance by the voter on inaccurate information 
 regarding the location of the voter's polling place provided by 
 the state, county, or municipality is an affirmative defense to 
 a prosecution under this subdivision. 

    Subd. 2.    Duration of residence.  The governing body 
 of any city by resolution may require an eligible voter to 
 maintain residence in a precinct for a period of 30 days prior 
 to voting on any question affecting only that precinct or voting 
 to elect public officials representing only that precinct.  The 
 governing body of any town by resolution may require an eligible 
 voter to maintain residence in that town for a period of 30 days 
 prior to voting in a town election.  The school board of any 
 school district by resolution may require an eligible voter to 
 maintain residence in that school district for a period of 30 
 days prior to voting in a school district election. 

    HIST: 1981 c 29 art 2 s 3; 1986 c 444; 1987 c 266 art 1 s 4; 
 1999 c 132 s 3,4; 1Sp2001 c 10 art 18 s 7 

     201.018 Registration for voting. 

    Subdivision 1. Repealed, 1984 c 560 s 26 

    Subd. 2.    Registration required.  An eligible voter 
 must register in a manner specified by section 201.054, in order 
 to vote in any primary, special primary, general, school 
 district, or special election held in the county.  

    HIST: 1981 c 29 art 2 s 4; 1986 c 475 s 2; 1987 c 266 art 1 s 
 5 

  201.02 MS 1957 Repealed, 1959 c 675 art 13 s 1 

  201.02 MS 1971 Repealed, 1973 c 676 s 33 

     201.021 Permanent registration system. 

    A permanent system of voter registration by county is 
 established, with a single, official, centralized, interactive 
 computerized statewide voter registration list defined, 
 maintained, and administered at the state level that contains 
 the name and registration information of every legally 
 registered voter in the state, and assigns a unique identifier 
 to each legally registered voter in the state.  The interactive 
 computerized statewide voter registration list constitutes the 
 official list of every legally registered voter in the state.  
 The county auditor shall be chief registrar of voters and the 
 chief custodian of the official registration records in each 
 county.  The secretary of state is responsible for defining, 
 maintaining, and administering the centralized system. 

    HIST: 1973 c 676 s 3; 1975 c 204 s 94; 1981 c 29 art 2 s 5; 
 1984 c 560 s 2; 1987 c 361 s 2; 2004 c 293 art 1 s 1 

     201.022 Statewide registration system. 

    Subdivision 1.    Establishment.  The secretary of state 
 shall maintain a statewide voter registration system to 
 facilitate voter registration and to provide a central database 
 containing voter registration information from around the 
 state.  The system must be accessible to the county auditor of 
 each county in the state.  The system must also: 

    (1) provide for voters to submit their voter registration 
 applications to any county auditor, the secretary of state, or 
 the Department of Public Safety; 

    (2) provide for the definition, establishment, and 
 maintenance of a central database for all voter registration 
 information; 

    (3) provide for entering data into the statewide 
 registration system; 

    (4) provide for electronic transfer of completed voter 
 registration applications from the Department of Public Safety 
 to the secretary of state or the county auditor; 

    (5) assign a unique identifier to each legally registered 
 voter in the state; 

    (6) provide for the acceptance of the Minnesota driver's 
 license number, Minnesota state identification number, and last 
 four digits of the Social Security number for each voter record; 

    (7) coordinate with other agency databases within the 
 state; 

    (8) allow county auditors and the secretary of state to add 
 or modify information in the system to provide for accurate and 
 up-to-date records; 

    (9) allow county auditors, municipal and school district 
 clerks, and the secretary of state to have electronic access to 
 the statewide registration system for review and search 
 capabilities; 

    (10) provide security and protection of all information in 
 the statewide registration system and ensure that unauthorized 
 access is not allowed; 

    (11) provide access to municipal clerks to use the system; 

    (12) provide a system for each county to identify the 
 precinct to which a voter should be assigned for voting 
 purposes; 

    (13) provide daily reports accessible by county auditors on 
 the driver's license numbers, state identification numbers, or 
 last four digits of the Social Security numbers submitted on 
 voter registration applications that have been verified as 
 accurate by the secretary of state; and 

    (14) provide reports on the number of absentee ballots 
 transmitted to and returned and cast by voters under section 
 203B.16. 

    The appropriate state or local official shall provide 
 security measures to prevent unauthorized access to the 
 computerized list established under section 201.021.  

    Subd. 2.    Rules.  The secretary of state shall make 
 permanent rules necessary to administer the system required in 
 subdivision 1.  

    Subd. 3.    Consultation with local officials.  The 
 secretary of state must consult with representatives of local 
 election officials in the development of the statewide voter 
 registration system.  

    HIST: 1987 c 361 s 1; 1988 c 646 s 1; 1990 c 585 s 2; 1995 c 
 233 art 2 s 56; 1Sp2001 c 10 art 18 s 8; 2004 c 293 art 1 s 2; 
 2005 c 162 s 1 

     201.023 Voter registration. 

    Amounts received by the secretary of state to pay the cost 
 of producing lists of registered voters under section 201.091, 
 subdivision 5, by the statewide registration system must be 
 deposited in the state treasury and credited to the general fund.

    HIST: 1988 c 646 s 2; 1990 c 585 s 3; 1990 c 594 art 3 s 8 

  201.03 MS 1957 Repealed, 1959 c 675 art 13 s 1 

  201.03 MS 1971 Repealed, 1973 c 676 s 33 

  201.04 MS 1957 Repealed, 1959 c 675 art 13 s 1 

  201.04 MS 1971 Repealed, 1973 c 676 s 33 

  201.05 MS 1957 Repealed, 1959 c 675 art 13 s 1 

  201.05 MS 1971 Repealed, 1973 c 676 s 33 

     201.054 Methods of registering; prohibitions; penalty. 

    Subdivision 1.    Registration.  An individual may 
 register to vote:  

    (1) at any time before the 20th day preceding any election 
 as provided in section 201.061, subdivision 1; 

    (2) on the day of an election as provided in section 
 201.061, subdivision 3; or 

    (3) when submitting an absentee ballot, by enclosing a 
 completed registration card as provided in section 203B.04, 
 subdivision 4.  

    Subd. 2.    Prohibitions; penalty.  No individual shall 
 intentionally:  

    (a) Cause or attempt to cause the individual's name to be 
 registered in any precinct if the individual is not eligible to 
 vote; 

    (b) Cause or attempt to cause the individual's name to be 
 registered for the purpose of voting in more than one precinct; 

    (c) Misrepresent the individual's identity when attempting 
 to register to vote; or 

    (d) Aid, abet, counsel, or procure any other individual to 
 violate this subdivision.  

    A violation of this subdivision is a felony.  

    HIST: 1981 c 29 art 2 s 6; 1986 c 444; 1987 c 361 s 3; 1990 c 
 585 s 4; 1999 c 132 s 5 

     201.056 Signature of registered voter; marks allowed. 

    An individual who is unable to write the individual's name 
 shall be required to sign a registration card by making the 
 individual's mark.  If the individual registers in person, the 
 clerk or election judge accepting the registration shall certify 
 the mark by signing the individual's name.  If the individual 
 registers by mail, the mark shall be certified by having a voter 
 registered in the individual's precinct sign the individual's 
 name and the voter's own name and give the voter's own address.  

    HIST: 1981 c 29 art 2 s 7; 1986 c 444 

  201.06 MS 1957 Repealed, 1959 c 675 art 13 s 1 

  201.06 MS 1971 Repealed, 1973 c 676 s 33 

     201.061 Registration on or before election day. 

    Subdivision 1.    Prior to election day.  At any time 
 except during the 20 days immediately preceding any election, an 
 eligible voter or any individual who will be an eligible voter 
 at the time of the next election may register to vote in the 
 precinct in which the voter maintains residence by completing a 
 voter registration application as described in section 201.071, 
 subdivision 1, and submitting it in person or by mail to the 
 county auditor of that county or to the Secretary of State's 
 Office.  A registration that is received no later than 5:00 p.m. 
 on the 21st day preceding any election shall be accepted.  An 
 improperly addressed or delivered registration application shall 
 be forwarded within two working days after receipt to the county 
 auditor of the county where the voter maintains residence.  A 
 state or local agency or an individual that accepts completed 
 voter registration applications from a voter must submit the 
 completed applications to the secretary of state or the 
 appropriate county auditor within ten days after the 
 applications are dated by the voter. 

    For purposes of this section, mail registration is defined 
 as a voter registration application delivered to the secretary 
 of state, county auditor, or municipal clerk by the United 
 States Postal Service or a commercial carrier. 

    Subd. 1a.    Incomplete registration by mail.  If the 
 county auditor determines that a voter who has submitted a voter 
 registration application by mail has not previously voted in 
 this state for a federal office and has also not presented a 
 document authorized for election day registration in section 
 201.061, subdivision 3, to the auditor, and the county auditor 
 is unable to verify the voter's driver's license, state 
 identification, or last four digits of the voter's Social 
 Security number as provided by the voter on the voter 
 registration application, then the county auditor must notify 
 the voter that the registration is incomplete and to complete 
 registration by using one of the following methods: 

    (1) presenting to the auditor more than 20 days before the 
 election a document authorized for election day registration in 
 section 201.061, subdivision 3; 

    (2) registering in person before or on election day; 

    (3) if voting by absentee ballot or by mail, following 
 election day registration procedures for absentee voters as 
 described in section 203B.04, subdivision 4; or 

    (4) providing proof of residence by any of the methods 
 authorized for election day registration in section 201.061, 
 subdivision 3. 

    Subd. 2. Repealed, 1990 c 585 s 34 

    Subd. 3.    Election day registration.  (a) An 
 individual who is eligible to vote may register on election day 
 by appearing in person at the polling place for the precinct in 
 which the individual maintains residence, by completing a 
 registration application, making an oath in the form prescribed 
 by the secretary of state and providing proof of residence.  An 
 individual may prove residence for purposes of registering by: 

    (1) presenting a driver's license or Minnesota 
 identification card issued pursuant to section 171.07; 

    (2) presenting any document approved by the secretary of 
 state as proper identification; 

    (3) presenting one of the following: 

    (i) a current valid student identification card from a 
 postsecondary educational institution in Minnesota, if a list of 
 students from that institution has been prepared under section 
 135A.17 and certified to the county auditor in the manner 
 provided in rules of the secretary of state; or 

    (ii) a current student fee statement that contains the 
 student's valid address in the precinct together with a picture 
 identification card; or 

    (4) having a voter who is registered to vote in the 
 precinct, or who is an employee employed by and working in a 
 residential facility in the precinct and vouching for a resident 
 in the facility, sign an oath in the presence of the election 
 judge vouching that the voter or employee personally knows that 
 the individual is a resident of the precinct.  A voter who has 
 been vouched for on election day may not sign a proof of 
 residence oath vouching for any other individual on that 
 election day.  A voter who is registered to vote in the precinct 
 may sign up to 15 proof-of-residence oaths on any election day.  
 This limitation does not apply to an employee of a residential 
 facility described in this clause.  The secretary of state shall 
 provide a form for election judges to use in recording the 
 number of individuals for whom a voter signs proof-of-residence 
 oaths on election day.  The form must include space for the 
 maximum number of individuals for whom a voter may sign 
 proof-of-residence oaths.  For each proof-of-residence oath, the 
 form must include a statement that the voter is registered to 
 vote in the precinct, personally knows that the individual is a 
 resident of the precinct, and is making the statement on oath.  
 The form must include a space for the voter's printed name, 
 signature, telephone number, and address. 

    The oath required by this subdivision and Minnesota Rules, 
 part 8200.9939, must be attached to the voter registration 
 application and the information on the oath must be recorded on 
 the records of both the voter registering on election day and 
 the voter who is vouching for the person's residence, and 
 entered into the statewide voter registration system by the 
 county auditor when the voter registration application is 
 entered into that system. 

    (b) The operator of a residential facility shall prepare a 
 list of the names of its employees currently working in the 
 residential facility and the address of the residential 
 facility.  The operator shall certify the list and provide it to 
 the appropriate county auditor no less than 20 days before each 
 election for use in election day registration.  

    (c) "Residential facility" means transitional housing as 
 defined in section 256E.33, subdivision 1; a supervised living 
 facility licensed by the commissioner of health under section 
 144.50, subdivision 6; a nursing home as defined in section 
 144A.01, subdivision 5; a residence registered with the 
 commissioner of health as a housing with services establishment 
 as defined in section 144D.01, subdivision 4; a veterans home 
 operated by the board of directors of the Minnesota Veterans 
 Homes under chapter 198; a residence licensed by the 
 commissioner of human services to provide a residential program 
 as defined in section 245A.02, subdivision 14; a residential 
 facility for persons with a developmental disability licensed by 
 the commissioner of human services under section 252.28; group 
 residential housing as defined in section 256I.03, subdivision 
 3; a shelter for battered women as defined in section 611A.37, 
 subdivision 4; or a supervised publicly or privately operated 
 shelter or dwelling designed to provide temporary living 
 accommodations for the homeless. 

    (d) For tribal band members, an individual may prove 
 residence for purposes of registering by presenting an 
 identification card issued by the tribal government of a tribe 
 recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, United States 
 Department of the Interior, that contains the name, address, 
 signature, and picture of the individual.  

    (e) A county, school district, or municipality may require 
 that an election judge responsible for election day registration 
 initial each completed registration application. 

    Subd. 4.    Registration by election judges; procedures. 
  Registration at the polling place on election day shall be 
 conducted by the election judges.  The election judge who 
 registers an individual at the polling place on election day 
 shall not handle that voter's ballots at any time prior to the 
 opening of the ballot box after the voting ends.  Registration 
 cards and forms for oaths shall be available at each polling 
 place.  If an individual who registers on election day proves 
 residence by oath of a registered voter, the form containing the 
 oath shall be attached to the individual's registration card.  
 Registration cards completed on election day shall be forwarded 
 to the county auditor who shall add the name of each voter to 
 the registration system unless the information forwarded is 
 substantially deficient.  A county auditor who finds an election 
 day registration substantially deficient shall give written 
 notice to the individual whose registration is found deficient.  
 An election day registration shall not be found deficient solely 
 because the individual who provided proof of residence was 
 ineligible to do so. 

    Subd. 5.    Unregistered voters; penalty.  No election 
 judge in any precinct in which registration is required may 
 receive the vote at any election of any individual whose name is 
 not registered in a manner specified in section 201.054, 
 subdivision 1 or not recorded under section 203B.19.  A 
 violation of this subdivision is a felony.  

    Subd. 6.    Precinct map.  Except as otherwise provided 
 by this subdivision, the county auditor shall provide each 
 precinct with an accurate precinct map or precinct finder to 
 assist the election judges in determining whether an address is 
 located in that precinct.  A county auditor may delegate this 
 responsibility as provided in section 201.221, subdivision 4, to 
 a municipal or school district clerk who prepares precinct maps 
 as provided in section 204B.14, subdivision 5.  

    Subd. 7.    Record of attempted registrations.  The 
 election judge responsible for election day registration shall 
 attempt to keep a record of the number of individuals who 
 attempt to register on election day but who cannot provide proof 
 of residence as required by this section.  The record shall be 
 forwarded to the county auditor with the election returns for 
 that precinct.  

    HIST: 1973 c 676 s 4; 1974 c 583 s 1,2; 1977 c 395 s 1,2; 1978 
 c 714 s 1,30; 1981 c 29 art 2 s 8; 1981 c 217 s 3; 2Sp1981 c 2 s 
 1; 1983 c 253 s 1; 1984 c 560 s 3; 1986 c 444; 1987 c 266 art 1 
 s 6,7; 1987 c 361 s 4; 1990 c 585 s 5; 1991 c 227 s 4; 1997 c 
 147 s 2; 2000 c 467 s 5; 2002 c 394 s 1; 2004 c 293 art 1 s 3-5; 2005 c 
 98 art 1 s 24; 2005 c 156 art 6 s 15 

  201.07 MS 1957 Repealed, 1959 c 675 art 13 s 1 

  201.07 MS 1971 Repealed, 1973 c 676 s 33 

     201.071 Registration cards. 

    Subdivision 1.    Form.  A voter registration 
 application must be of suitable size and weight for mailing and 
 contain spaces for the following required information:  voter's 
 first name, middle name, and last name; voter's previous name, 
 if any; voter's current address; voter's previous address, if 
 any; voter's date of birth; voter's municipality and county of 
 residence; voter's telephone number, if provided by the voter; 
 date of registration; current and valid Minnesota driver's 
 license number or Minnesota state identification number, or if 
 the voter has no current and valid Minnesota driver's license or 
 Minnesota state identification, the last four digits of the 
 voter's Social Security number; and voter's signature.  The 
 registration application may include the voter's e-mail address, 
 if provided by the voter, and the voter's interest in serving as 
 an election judge, if indicated by the voter.  The application 
 must also contain the following certification of voter 
 eligibility: 

    "I certify that I: 

    (1) will be at least 18 years old on election day; 

    (2) am a citizen of the United States; 

    (3) will have resided in Minnesota for 20 days immediately 
 preceding election day; 

    (4) maintain residence at the address given on the 
 registration form; 

    (5) am not under court-ordered guardianship in which the 
 court order revokes my right to vote; 

    (6) have not been found by a court to be legally 
 incompetent to vote; 

    (7) have the right to vote because, if I have been 
 convicted of a felony, my felony sentence has expired (been 
 completed) or I have been discharged from my sentence; and 

    (8) have read and understand the following statement:  that 
 giving false information is a felony punishable by not more than 
 five years imprisonment or a fine of not more than $10,000, or 
 both." 

    The certification must include boxes for the voter to 
 respond to the following questions:  

    "(1) Are you a citizen of the United States?" and 

    "(2) Will you be 18 years old on or before election day?" 

    And the instruction: 

    "If you checked 'no' to either of these questions, do not 
 complete this form." 

    The form of the voter registration application and the 
 certification of voter eligibility must be as provided in this 
 subdivision and approved by the secretary of state.  Voter 
 registration forms authorized by the National Voter Registration 
 Act must also be accepted as valid.  The federal postcard 
 application form must also be accepted as valid if it is not 
 deficient and the voter is eligible to register in Minnesota.  

    An individual may use a voter registration application to 
 apply to register to vote in Minnesota or to change information 
 on an existing registration. 

    Subd. 2.    Instructions.  A registration application 
 shall be accompanied by instructions specifying the manner and 
 method of registration, the qualifications for voting, 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.  The instructions must indicate that if the voter 
 does not have a valid Minnesota driver's license or 
 identification card, the last four digits of the voter's Social 
 Security number must be provided, unless the voter does not have 
 a Social Security number.  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 24-point 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.  

    Subd. 3.    Deficient registration.  No voter 
 registration application is deficient if it contains the voter's 
 name, address, date of birth, current and valid Minnesota 
 driver's license number or Minnesota state identification 
 number, or if the voter has no current and valid Minnesota 
 driver's license or Minnesota state identification number, the 
 last four digits of the voter's Social Security number, if the 
 voter has been issued a Social Security number, prior 
 registration, if any, and signature.  The absence of a zip code 
 number does not cause the registration to be deficient.  Failure 
 to check a box on an application form that a voter has certified 
 to be true does not cause the registration to be deficient.  The 
 election judges shall request an individual to correct a voter 
 registration application if it is deficient or illegible or if 
 the name or number of the voter's school district is missing or 
 obviously incorrect.  No eligible voter may be prevented from 
 voting unless the voter's registration application is deficient 
 or the voter is duly and successfully challenged in accordance 
 with section 201.195 or 204C.12. 

    A voter registration application accepted prior to August 
 1, 1983, is not deficient for lack of date of birth.  The county 
 or municipality may attempt to obtain the date of birth for a 
 voter registration application accepted prior to August 1, 1983, 
 by a request to the voter at any time except at the polling 
 place.  Failure by the voter to comply with this request does 
 not make the registration deficient.  

    A voter registration application accepted before January 1, 
 2004, is not deficient for lack of a valid Minnesota driver's 
 license or state identification number or the last four digits 
 of a Social Security number.  A voter registration application 
 submitted by a voter who does not have a Minnesota driver's 
 license or state identification number, or a Social Security 
 number, is not deficient for lack of any of these numbers. 

    Subd. 4.    Change of registration.  Any county auditor 
 who receives a registration card indicating that an individual 
 was previously registered in a different county in Minnesota 
 shall notify the county auditor of that county electronically 
 through the statewide registration system in the manner 
 prescribed in the rules of the secretary of state.  A county 
 auditor receiving a registration card indicating that a voter 
 was previously registered in a different precinct in the same 
 county or receiving a notification as provided in this 
 subdivision shall remove that individual's voter registration 
 card from the files. Any county auditor who receives a 
 registration card or notification requiring a change of 
 registration records under this subdivision as a result of an 
 election day registration shall also check the statewide 
 registration system to determine whether the individual voted in 
 more than one precinct in the most recent election.  

    Subd. 5. Repealed, 1990 c 585 s 34 

    Subd. 6. Repealed, 1990 c 585 s 34 

    Subd. 7. Repealed, 1983 c 124 s 6 

    Subd. 8.    School district assistance.  School 
 districts shall assist county auditors in determining the school 
 district in which a voter resides. 

    HIST: 1973 c 676 s 5; 1974 c 583 s 3,4; 1977 c 395 s 3; 1978 c 
 714 s 2,30; 1981 c 29 art 2 s 9; 1981 c 92 s 1; 1983 c 124 s 
 1-3; 1983 c 303 s 1; 1984 c 471 s 1; 1984 c 628 art 3 s 11; 1986 
 c 444; 1987 c 175 s 1; 1987 c 266 art 1 s 8,9; 1987 c 361 s 5; 
 1988 c 646 s 3; 1990 c 453 s 1; 1990 c 585 s 6,7; 1993 c 223 s 
 1; 1997 c 147 s 3; 2004 c 293 art 1 s 6-8; 2005 c 10 art 4 s 4; 
 2005 c 156 art 6 s 16 

  201.08 MS 1957 Repealed, 1959 c 675 art 13 s 1 

  201.08 MS 1971 Repealed, 1973 c 676 s 33 

     201.081 Registration files. 

    The statewide registration system is the official record of 
 registered voters.  The voter registration cards and the 
 terminal providing access to the statewide registration system 
 must be under the control of the county auditor or the public 
 official to whom the county auditor has delegated the 
 responsibility for maintaining voter registration records.  The 
 voter registration cards and terminals providing access to the 
 statewide registration system must not be removed from the 
 control of the county auditor except as provided in this 
 subdivision.  The county auditor may make photographic copies of 
 voter registration cards in the manner provided by section 
 138.17.  

    A properly completed voter registration card that has been 
 submitted to the secretary of state or a county auditor must be 
 maintained by the secretary of state or the county auditor for 
 at least 22 months after the date that the information on the 
 card is entered into the database of the statewide registration 
 system.  The secretary of state or the county auditor may 
 dispose of the cards after retention for 22 months in the manner 
 provided by section 138.17. 

    HIST: 1973 c 676 s 6; 1976 c 223 s 4; 1978 c 714 s 30; 1981 c 
 29 art 2 s 10; 1987 c 361 s 6; 1990 c 585 s 8; 1993 c 223 s 2; 
 1997 c 147 s 4 

  201.09 MS 1957 Repealed, 1959 c 675 art 13 s 1 

  201.09 MS 1971 Repealed, 1973 c 676 s 33 

     201.091 Registered voter lists; reports; registration 
  places. 

    Subdivision 1.    Master list.  Each county auditor 
 shall prepare and maintain a current list of registered voters 
 in each precinct in the county which is known as the master 
 list.  The master list must be created by entering each 
 completed voter registration card received by the county auditor 
 into the statewide registration system.  It must show the name, 
 residence address, and date of birth of each voter registered in 
 the precinct.  The information contained in the master list may 
 only be made available to public officials for purposes related 
 to election administration, jury selection, and in response to a 
 law enforcement inquiry concerning a violation of or failure to 
 comply with any criminal statute or state or local tax statute. 

    Subd. 2.    Corrected list.  By February 15 of each 
 year, the secretary of state shall prepare the master list for 
 each county auditor.  The records in the statewide registration 
 system must be periodically corrected and updated by the county 
 auditor.  An updated master list for each precinct must be 
 available for absentee voting at least 32 days before each 
 election.  A final corrected master list must be available seven 
 days before each election. 

    Subd. 3. Repealed, 1990 c 585 s 34 

    Subd. 4.    Public information lists.  The county 
 auditor shall make available for inspection a public information 
 list which must contain the name, address, year of birth, and 
 voting history of each registered voter in the county.  The 
 telephone number must be included on the list if provided by the 
 voter.  The public information list may also include information 
 on voting districts.  The county auditor may adopt reasonable 
 rules governing access to the list.  No individual inspecting 
 the public information list shall tamper with or alter it in any 
 manner.  No individual who inspects the public information list 
 or who acquires a list of registered voters prepared from the 
 public information list may use any information contained in the 
 list for purposes unrelated to elections, political activities, 
 or law enforcement.  The secretary of state may provide copies 
 of the public information lists and other information from the 
 statewide registration system for uses related to elections, 
 political activities, or in response to a law enforcement 
 inquiry from a public official concerning a failure to comply 
 with any criminal statute or any state or local tax statute. 

    Before inspecting the public information list or obtaining 
 a list of voters or other information from the list, the 
 individual shall provide identification to the public official 
 having custody of the public information list and shall state in 
 writing that any information obtained from the list will not be 
 used for purposes unrelated to elections, political activities, 
 or law enforcement.  Requests to examine or obtain information 
 from the public information lists or the statewide registration 
 system must be made and processed in the manner provided in the 
 rules of the secretary of state. 

    Upon receipt of a statement signed by the voter that 
 withholding the voter's name from the public information list is 
 required for the safety of the voter or the voter's family, the 
 secretary of state and county auditor must withhold from the 
 public information list the name of a registered voter.  

    Subd. 5.    Copy of list to registered voter.  The 
 county auditors and the secretary of state shall provide copies 
 of the public information lists in electronic or other media to 
 any voter registered in Minnesota within ten days of receiving a 
 written or electronic request accompanied by payment of the cost 
 of reproduction.  The county auditors and the secretary of state 
 shall make a copy of the list available for public inspection 
 without cost.  An individual who inspects or acquires a copy of 
 a public information list may not use any information contained 
 in it for purposes unrelated to elections, political activities, 
 or law enforcement.  

    Subd. 6. Repealed, 1983 c 303 s 24 

    Subd. 7. Repealed, 1983 c 303 s 24 

    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 must be designated for each 30,000 residents of the 
 county.  At least one telecommunications device for the deaf 
 must be available for voter registration information in each 
 county seat and in every city of the first, second, and third 
 class. 

    An adequate supply of registration cards and instructions 
 must be maintained at each designated location, and a designated 
 individual 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 must 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.  

    Subd. 9.    Restricted data.  A list provided for public 
 inspection or purchase, for jury selection, or in response to a 
 law enforcement inquiry, must not include a voter's date of 
 birth or any part of a voter's Social Security number, driver's 
 license number, or identification card number. 

    HIST: 1973 c 676 s 7; 1974 c 55 s 1; 1976 c 223 s 1-3; 1977 c 
 96 s 1; 1977 c 395 s 4-6; 1978 c 714 s 30; 1981 c 29 art 2 s 11; 
 1984 c 471 s 2; 1985 c 31 s 1; 1986 c 444; 1987 c 175 s 2; 1988 
 c 646 s 4,5; 1990 c 585 s 9; 1991 c 227 s 5,6; 1991 c 349 s 28; 
 2004 c 293 art 1 s 9-11; 2005 c 156 art 6 s 17,18 

  201.095 Repealed, 1987 c 266 art 1 s 68 

     201.096 School elections; use of voter registration 
  system. 

    The county auditor shall allow independent or special 
 school districts to use the necessary portions of the statewide 
 registration system for school district elections.  The county 
 auditor may impose reasonable requirements to preserve the 
 security and integrity of the system.  The county auditor and 
 the school district shall provide by agreement for the details 
 of the use of the system by the school district.  The school 
 board may designate a member of the board or an employee as 
 registration officer.  The provisions of this chapter and 
 chapter 203B relating to registration of voters apply to school 
 district elections in which the statewide registration system is 
 used.  

    HIST: 1990 c 585 s 10 

  201.10 MS 1957 Repealed, 1959 c 675 art 13 s 1 

  201.10 MS 1971 Repealed, 1973 c 676 s 33 

  201.11 Precinct boundaries changed, change of files. 

    When the boundaries of a precinct are changed, the county 
 auditor shall immediately update the voter records for that 
 precinct in the statewide registration system to accurately 
 reflect those changes. 

    HIST: 1959 c 675 art 2 s 11; 1973 c 676 s 8; 1981 c 29 art 2 s 
 13; 1993 c 223 s 3 

  201.12 Proper registration; verification by mail; 
  challenges. 

    Subdivision 1.    Notice of registration.  To prevent 
 fraudulent voting and to eliminate excess names, the county 
 auditor may mail to any registered voter a notice stating the 
 voter's name and address as they appear in the registration 
 files.  The notice shall request the voter to notify the county 
 auditor if there is any mistake in the information.  

    Subd. 2.    Challenges.  Upon return of any 
 nonforwardable mailing from an election official, the county 
 auditor or the auditor's staff shall ascertain the name and 
 address of that individual.  If the individual is no longer at 
 the address recorded in the statewide registration system, the 
 county auditor shall change the registrant's status to 
 "challenged" in the statewide registration system.  An 
 individual challenged in accordance with this subdivision shall 
 comply with the provisions of section 204C.12, before being 
 allowed to vote.  If a notice mailed at least 60 days after the 
 return of the first nonforwardable mailing is also returned by 
 the postal service, the county auditor shall change the 
 registrant's status to "inactive" in the statewide registration 
 system. 

    HIST: 1959 c 675 art 2 s 12; 1973 c 676 s 9; 1981 c 29 art 2 s 
 14; 1986 c 444; 1986 c 475 s 3; 1990 c 585 s 11; 1997 c 147 s 5; 
 1999 c 132 s 6 

     201.121 Entry of names; mailed notice. 

    Subdivision 1.    Entry of registration information.  
 (a) At the time a voter registration application is properly 
 completed, submitted, and received in accordance with sections 
 201.061 and 201.071, the county auditor shall enter the 
 information contained on it into the statewide registration 
 system.  Voter registration applications completed before 
 election day must be entered into the statewide registration 
 system within ten days after they have been submitted to the 
 county auditor.  Voter registration applications completed on 
 election day must be entered into the statewide registration 
 system within 42 days after the election, unless the county 
 auditor notifies the secretary of state before the 42-day 
 deadline has expired that the deadline will not be met. 

    (b) Upon receiving a completed voter registration 
 application, the secretary of state may electronically transmit 
 the information on the application to the appropriate county 
 auditor as soon as possible for review by the county auditor 
 before final entry into the statewide registration system.  The 
 secretary of state may mail the voter registration application 
 to the county auditor.  

    (c) Within ten days after the county auditor has entered 
 information from a voter registration application into the 
 statewide registration system, the secretary of state shall 
 compare the voter's name, date of birth, and driver's license 
 number, state identification number, or the last four digits of 
 the Social Security number with the same information contained 
 in the Department of Public Safety database.  

    (d) The secretary of state shall provide a report to the 
 county auditor on a weekly basis that includes a list of voters 
 whose name, date of birth, or identification number have been 
 compared with the same information in the Department of Public 
 Safety database and cannot be verified as provided in this 
 subdivision.  The report must list separately those voters who 
 have submitted a voter registration application by mail and have 
 not voted in a federal election in this state. 

    (e) The county auditor shall compile a list of voters for 
 whom the county auditor and the secretary of state are unable to 
 conclude that information on the voter registration application 
 and the corresponding information in the Department of Public 
 Safety database relate to the same person. 

    (f) The county auditor shall send a notice of incomplete 
 registration to any voter whose name appears on the list and 
 change the voter's status to "incomplete."  A voter who receives 
 a notice of incomplete registration from the county auditor may 
 either provide the information required to complete the 
 registration at least 21 days before the next election or at the 
 polling place on election day. 

    Subd. 2.    Notice of registration; challenges.  The 
 county auditor shall mail a notice indicating the individual's 
 name, address, precinct and polling place to each registered 
 voter.  The notice shall indicate that it must be returned if it 
 is not deliverable to the voter at the named address.  Upon 
 return of the notice by the postal service, the county auditor 
 shall change the registrant's status to "challenged" in the 
 statewide registration system.  An individual challenged in 
 accordance with this subdivision shall comply with the 
 provisions of section 204C.12, before being allowed to vote.  

    Subd. 3.    Postelection sampling.  Within ten days 
 after an election, the county auditor shall send the notice 
 required by subdivision 2 to a random sampling of the 
 individuals registered on election day.  The random sampling 
 shall be determined in accordance with the rules of the 
 secretary of state.  As soon as practicable after the election, 
 the county auditor shall mail the notice required by subdivision 
 2 to all other individuals registered on election day.  If a 
 notice is returned as not deliverable, the county auditor shall 
 attempt to determine the reason for the return.  A county 
 auditor who does not receive or obtain satisfactory proof of an 
 individual's eligibility to vote shall immediately notify the 
 county attorney and the secretary of state. 

    HIST: 1973 c 676 s 10; 1978 c 714 s 3,30; 1981 c 29 art 2 s 
 15; 1986 c 444; 1987 c 361 s 7; 1990 c 585 s 12,13; 1997 c 147 s 
 6; 2004 c 293 art 1 s 12 

  201.13 Report of deceased voters; changes to voter 
  records. 

    Subdivision 1.    Commissioner of health, reports of 
 deceased residents.  Pursuant to the Help America Vote Act of 
 2002, Public Law 107-252, the commissioner of health shall 
 report monthly by electronic means to the secretary of state the 
 name, address, date of birth, and county of residence of each 
 individual 18 years of age or older who has died while 
 maintaining residence in Minnesota since the last previous 
 report.  The secretary of state shall determine if any of the 
 persons listed in the report are registered to vote and shall 
 prepare a list of those registrants for each county auditor.  
 Within 60 days after receiving the list from the secretary of 
 state, the county auditor shall change the status of those 
 registrants to "deceased" in the statewide registration system. 

    Subd. 2.    Deceased nonresidents.  After receiving 
 notice of death of a voter who has died outside the county, the 
 county auditor shall change the voter's status to "deceased."  
 Notice must be in the form of a printed obituary or a written 
 statement signed by a registered voter of the county.  

    Subd. 3.    Use of change of address system.  The county 
 auditor may delete the records in the statewide registration 
 system of voters whose change of address can be confirmed by the 
 United States Postal Service.  The secretary of state may 
 provide the county auditors with periodic reports on voters 
 whose change of address can be confirmed by the United States 
 Postal Service. 

    Subd. 4.    Request for removal of voter record.  If a 
 voter makes a written request for removal of the voter's record, 
 the county auditor shall remove the record of the voter from the 
 statewide registration system. 

    HIST: 1959 c 675 art 2 s 13; 1973 c 676 s 11; 1981 c 29 art 2 
 s 16; 1987 c 361 s 8; 1989 c 7 s 1; 1991 c 227 s 7; 1993 c 101 s 
 1; 1993 c 223 s 4,5; 1994 c 465 art 3 s 63; 1997 c 147 s 7,8; 
 1999 c 132 s 7; 2004 c 293 art 1 s 13 

  201.14 Court administrator of district court, report 
  changes of names. 

    The court administrator of district court in each county 
 shall report monthly to the county auditor the name and address 
 of each individual, 18 years of age or over, who maintains 
 residence in that county and whose name was changed during the 
 month preceding the date of the report, by marriage, divorce or 
 any order or decree of the court.  Upon receipt of the report, 
 the county auditor shall notify by mail each registered voter 
 whose name was changed that it will be necessary to reregister 
 under the changed name in order to vote. 

    HIST: 1959 c 675 art 2 s 14; 1973 c 676 s 12; 1973 c 725 s 38; 
 1977 c 395 s 7; 1981 c 29 art 2 s 17; 1986 c 444; 1Sp1986 c 3 
 art 1 s 82 

  201.15 District judge, report guardianships and 
  commitments. 

    Subdivision 1.    Guardianships and incompetents.  
 Pursuant to the Help America Vote Act of 2002, Public Law 
 107-252, the state court administrator shall report monthly by 
 electronic means to the secretary of state the name, address, 
 and date of birth of each individual 18 years of age or over, 
 who during the month preceding the date of the report:  

    (a) was placed under a guardianship in which the court 
 order revokes the ward's right to vote; or 

    (b) was adjudged legally incompetent. 

    The court administrator shall also report the same 
 information for each individual transferred to the jurisdiction 
 of the court who meets a condition specified in clause (a) or 
 (b).  The secretary of state shall determine if any of the 
 persons in the report is registered to vote and shall prepare a 
 list of those registrants for the county auditor.  The county 
 auditor shall change the status on the record in the statewide 
 registration system of any individual named in the report to 
 indicate that the individual is not eligible to reregister or 
 vote. 

    Subd. 2.    Guardianship termination or modification.  
 Pursuant to the Help America Vote Act of 2002, Public Law 
 107-252, the state court administrator shall report monthly by 
 electronic means to the secretary of state the name, address, 
 and date of birth of each individual whose guardianship was 
 modified to restore the ward's right to vote or whose 
 guardianship was terminated by order of the court under section 
 524.5-317 after being ineligible to vote for any of the reasons 
 specified in subdivision 1.  The secretary of state shall 
 determine if any of the persons in the report is registered to 
 vote and shall prepare a list of those registrants for the 
 county auditor.  The county auditor shall change the status on 
 the voter's record in the statewide registration system to 
 "active." 

    HIST: 1959 c 675 art 2 s 15; 1961 c 697 s 1; 1967 c 839 s 2; 
 1973 c 676 s 13; 1973 c 725 s 39; 1978 c 714 s 4; 1979 c 43 s 1; 
 1981 c 29 art 2 s 18; 1986 c 475 s 4; 1987 c 361 s 9; 1993 c 223 
 s 6; 1Sp1994 c 1 art 2 s 20; 1995 c 186 s 50; 1995 c 189 s 8; 
 1996 c 277 s 1; 1997 c 147 s 9; 1998 c 376 s 1; 2003 c 12 art 2 
 s 3; 2004 c 293 art 1 s 14; 2005 c 10 art 4 s 5; 2005 c 156 art 
 6 s 19 

     201.155 Report on felony convictions. 

    Pursuant to the Help America Vote Act of 2002, Public Law 
 107-252, the state court administrator shall report monthly by 
 electronic means to the secretary of state the name, address, 
 date of birth, date of sentence, effective date of the sentence, 
 and county in which the conviction occurred of each person who 
 has been convicted of a felony.  The state court administrator 
 shall also report the name, address, and date of birth of each 
 person previously convicted of a felony whose civil rights have 
 been restored.  The secretary of state shall determine if any of 
 the persons in the report is registered to vote and shall 
 prepare a list of those registrants for each county auditor.  
 The county auditor shall change the status of those registrants 
 in the appropriate manner in the statewide registration system. 

    HIST: 1997 c 147 s 10; 2004 c 293 art 1 s 15 

  201.16 MS 1957 Repealed, 1959 c 675 art 13 s 1 

  201.16 MS 1971 Repealed, 1973 c 676 s 33 

     201.161 Driver's license and identification card 
  applications. 

    The Department of Public Safety shall change its 
 applications for an original, duplicate, or change of address 
 driver's license or identification card so that the forms may 
 also serve as voter registration applications.  The forms must 
 contain spaces for all information collected by voter 
 registration applications prescribed by the secretary of state.  
 Applicants for driver's licenses or identification cards must be 
 asked if they want to register to vote at the same time and that 
 information must be transmitted at least weekly by electronic 
 means to the secretary of state.  Pursuant to the Help America 
 Vote Act of 2002, Public Law 107-252, the computerized driver's 
 license record containing the voter's name, address, date of 
 birth, driver's license number or state identification number, 
 county, town, and city must be made available for access by the 
 secretary of state and interaction with the statewide voter 
 registration system.  

    HIST: 1977 c 395 s 8; 1981 c 29 art 2 s 19; 1987 c 361 s 10; 
 2004 c 293 art 1 s 16; art 2 s 9 

     201.1611 Postsecondary institution voter registration. 

    Subdivision 1.    Forms.  All postsecondary institutions 
 that enroll students accepting state or federal financial aid 
 shall provide voter registration forms to each student as early 
 as possible in the fall quarter.  All school districts shall 
 make available voter registration applications each May and 
 September to all students registered as students of the school 
 district who will be eligible to vote at the next election after 
 those months.  A school district has no obligation to provide 
 voter registration applications to students who participate in a 
 postsecondary education option program or who otherwise reside 
 in the district but do not attend a school operated by the 
 district.  A school district fulfills its obligation to a 
 student under this section if it provides a voter registration 
 application to the student one time.  The forms must contain 
 spaces for the information required in section 201.071, 
 subdivision 1, and applicable rules of the secretary of state.  
 The institutions and school districts may request these forms 
 from the secretary of state.  Institutions shall consult with 
 their campus student government in determining the most 
 effective means of distributing the forms and in seeking to 
 facilitate election day registration of students under section 
 201.061, subdivision 3.  School districts must advise students 
 that completion of the voter registration application is not a 
 school district requirement. 

    Subd. 2.    Student voter registration.  A copy of each 
 completed voter registration form must be sent to the county 
 auditor of the county in which the voter maintains residence or 
 to the secretary of state as soon as possible.  All completed 
 voter registration forms must be forwarded no later than 21 days 
 before the general election. 

    HIST: 1991 c 227 s 8; 1996 c 398 s 57; 2004 c 293 art 2 s 10 

     201.1615 Information sharing; use of Social Security 
  number. 

    The secretary of state shall enter into an agreement with 
 the commissioner of public safety to match information in the 
 statewide voter registration system with information in the 
 Department of Public Safety database to verify the accuracy of 
 the information provided on applications for voter registrations.

    The commissioner of public safety shall enter into an 
 agreement with the commissioner of the United States Social 
 Security Administration under section 205(r)(8) of the Social 
 Security Act to allow the use of the last four digits of the 
 Social Security number to be used to verify voter registration 
 information, to ensure the maintenance of the confidentiality of 
 any applicable information disclosed, and to establish 
 procedures to permit the department to use the information for 
 purposes of maintaining its records. 

    HIST: 2004 c 293 art 1 s 17 

     201.162 Duties of state agencies. 

    The commissioner or chief administrative officer of each 
 state agency or community-based public agency or nonprofit 
 corporation that contracts with the state agency to carry out 
 obligations of the state agency shall provide voter registration 
 services for employees and the public.  A person may complete a 
 voter registration application or apply to change a voter 
 registration name or address if the person has the proper 
 qualifications on the date of application.  Nonpartisan voter 
 registration assistance, including routinely asking members of 
 the public served by the agency whether they would like to 
 register to vote and, if necessary, assisting them in preparing 
 the registration forms must be part of the job of appropriate 
 agency employees. 

    HIST: 1987 c 361 s 11 

  201.17 MS 1957 Repealed, 1959 c 675 art 13 s 1 

  201.17 MS 1971 Repealed, 1973 c 676 s 33 

     201.171 Posting voting history; failure to vote; 
  registration removed. 

    Within six weeks after every election, the county auditor 
 shall post the voting history for every person who voted in the 
 election.  After the close of the calendar year, the secretary 
 of state shall determine if any registrants have not voted 
 during the preceding four years.  The secretary of state shall 
 perform list maintenance by changing the status of those 
 registrants to "inactive" in the statewide registration system.  
 The list maintenance performed must be conducted in a manner 
 that ensures that the name of each registered voter appears in 
 the official list of eligible voters in the statewide 
 registration system.  A voter must not be removed from the 
 official list of eligible voters unless the voter is not 
 eligible or is not registered to vote.  List maintenance must 
 include procedures for eliminating duplicate names from the 
 official list of eligible voters.  

    The secretary of state shall also prepare a report to the 
 county auditor containing the names of all registrants whose 
 status was changed to "inactive." 

    Registrants whose status was changed to "inactive" must 
 register in the manner specified in section 201.054 before 
 voting in any primary, special primary, general, school 
 district, or special election, as required by section 201.018. 

    Although not counted in an election, a late absentee ballot 
 must be considered a vote for the purpose of continuing 
 registration.  

    HIST: 1973 c 676 s 14; 1981 c 29 art 2 s 20; 1987 c 361 s 12; 
 1990 c 585 s 14; 1997 c 147 s 11; 2004 c 293 art 1 s 18; art 2 s 
 11 

  201.18 MS 1957 Repealed, 1959 c 675 art 13 s 1 

  201.18 MS 1980 Repealed, 1981 c 217 s 11 

  201.19 MS 1957 Repealed, 1959 c 675 art 13 s 1 

  201.19 MS 1971 Repealed, 1973 c 676 s 33 

  201.191 Repealed, 1959 c 675 art 13 s 1 

     201.195 Challenges. 

    Subdivision 1.    Petition; hearing.  Upon petition 
 filed with the county auditor, any voter registered within a 
 county may challenge the eligibility or residence of any other 
 voter registered within that county.  The petition shall state 
 the grounds for challenge and be accompanied by an affidavit 
 stating that the challenge is based on the challenger's personal 
 knowledge.  Within five days after receipt of the petition, the 
 county auditor shall set a date for a hearing on the challenge 
 and notify the challenger by mail.  A copy of the petition and 
 notice of the hearing shall be served on the challenged voter by 
 the county auditor in the same manner as in a civil action.  The 
 hearing shall be held before the county auditor or the auditor's 
 designee who shall then make findings and affirm or dismiss the 
 challenge. 

    Subd. 2.    Appeal.  If a challenge is affirmed, the 
 voter whose registration has been challenged may appeal the 
 ruling to the secretary of state.  The appeal shall be heard 
 within five days but in any case before election day.  Upon 
 hearing the appeal the secretary of state shall affirm or 
 reverse the ruling and shall give appropriate instructions to 
 the county auditor.  

    Subd. 3.    Hearing procedures.  A hearing before the 
 secretary of state shall be conducted as a contested case and 
 determined in accordance with chapter 14.  

    HIST: 1981 c 29 art 2 s 22; 1982 c 424 s 130; 1986 c 444 

  201.20 MS 1957 Repealed, 1959 c 675 art 13 s 1 

  201.20 MS 1971 Repealed, 1973 c 676 s 33 

  201.21 MS 1957 Repealed, 1959 c 675 art 13 s 1 

  201.21 MS 1971 Repealed, 1973 c 676 s 33 

     201.211 Costs. 

    The office required to perform the functions and duties of 
 this chapter shall bear the costs incurred.  If these functions 
 and duties are delegated to another office, that office shall 
 bear the costs.  The secretary of state shall pay the costs of 
 operating and maintaining the statewide registration system.  
 The secretary of state shall also pay the costs of preparing 
 polling place rosters and master lists from the money 
 appropriated for this purpose. 

    HIST: 1973 c 676 s 16; 1981 c 29 art 2 s 23; 1990 c 585 s 15 

  201.22 MS 1957 Repealed, 1959 c 675 art 13 s 1 

  201.22 MS 1971 Repealed, 1973 c 676 s 33 

     201.221 Rules. 

    Subdivision 1.    Adoption of rules.  To implement the 
 provisions of this chapter, the secretary of state shall adopt 
 rules consistent with federal and state election laws.  

    Subd. 2.    Uniform procedures for counties.  The 
 secretary of state shall assist local election officers by 
 devising uniform forms and procedures.  The secretary of state 
 shall provide uniform rules for maintaining voter registration 
 records on the statewide registration system.  The secretary of 
 state shall supervise the development and use of the statewide 
 registration system to insure that it conforms to applicable 
 federal and state laws and rules.  

    Subd. 3.    Procedures for polling place rosters.  The 
 secretary of state shall prescribe the form of polling place 
 rosters that include the voter's name, address, date of birth, 
 school district number, and space for the voter's signature.  
 The secretary of state may prescribe additional election-related 
 information to be placed on the polling place rosters on an 
 experimental basis for one state primary and general election 
 cycle; the same information may not be placed on the polling 
 place roster for a second state primary and general election 
 cycle unless specified in this subdivision.  The polling place 
 roster must be used to indicate whether the voter has voted in a 
 given election.  The secretary of state shall prescribe 
 procedures for transporting the polling place rosters to the 
 election judges for use on election day.  The secretary of state 
 shall prescribe the form for a county or municipality to request 
 the date of birth from currently registered voters.  The county 
 or municipality shall not request the date of birth from 
 currently registered voters by any communication other than the 
 prescribed form and the form must clearly indicate that a 
 currently registered voter does not lose registration status by 
 failing to provide the date of birth.  In accordance with 
 section 204B.40, the county auditor shall retain the prescribed 
 polling place rosters used on the date of election for 22 months 
 following the election.  

    Subd. 4.    County rules.  The county auditor of each 
 county may adopt rules that delegate to the secretary of state 
 or municipal officials in that county the duties assigned to 
 county auditors by this chapter.  Delegation of duties to the 
 secretary of state requires the approval of the secretary of 
 state.  Delegation to a municipal official requires the approval 
 of the governing body of the municipality.  Delegation by the 
 county auditor of the duty to accept registrations does not 
 relieve the county auditor of the duty to accept registrations.  
 Each delegation agreement must include a plan to allocate the 
 costs of the duties to be delegated.  

    HIST: 1973 c 676 s 17; 1978 c 714 s 30; 1981 c 29 art 2 s 24; 
 1981 c 92 s 2; 1986 c 444; 1987 c 266 art 1 s 10; 1987 c 361 s 
 13,14; 1990 c 585 s 16; 2004 c 293 art 1 s 19,20 

  201.23 MS 1957 Repealed, 1959 c 675 art 13 s 1 

  201.23 MS 1971 Repealed, 1973 c 676 s 33 

  201.231 Repealed, 1981 c 29 art 7 s 39 

  201.24 MS 1957 Repealed, 1959 c 675 art 13 s 1 

  201.24 MS 1971 Repealed, 1973 c 676 s 33 

  201.25 MS 1957 Renumbered 201.28 

  201.25 MS 1971 Repealed, 1973 c 676 s 33 

  201.26 MS 1957 Renumbered 201.29 

  201.26 MS 1980 Repealed, 1981 c 29 art 7 s 39 

  201.261 Repealed, 1973 c 676 s 33 

  201.27 Violations, penalty. 

    Subdivision 1.    Intentional violation.  No officer, 
 deputy, clerk, or other employee shall intentionally:  

    (1) fail to perform or enforce any of the provisions of 
 this chapter except subdivision 2; 

    (2) remove a registration card or record from its proper 
 place in the registration files in a manner or for a purpose not 
 authorized by law; 

    (3) destroy or make an unauthorized change to a record 
 required to be kept by this chapter; or 

    (4) add a name or names to the voter registration files, 
 records, or cards, except as authorized by law.  

    An individual who violates this subdivision is guilty of a 
 felony.  

    Subd. 2.    Knowledge of violation.  A deputy, clerk, 
 employee, or other subordinate of a county auditor or municipal 
 or school district clerk who has knowledge or reason to believe 
 that a violation of this chapter has occurred shall immediately 
 transmit a report of the knowledge or belief to the county 
 auditor or municipal or school district clerk, together with any 
 possessed evidence of the violation.  Any county auditor or 
 municipal or school district clerk who has knowledge or reason 
 to believe that a violation of this chapter has occurred shall 
 immediately transmit a report of the knowledge or belief to the 
 county attorney of the county where the violation is thought to 
 have occurred, together with any possessed evidence of the 
 violation.  The county auditor or municipal or school district 
 clerk shall also immediately send a copy of the report to the 
 secretary of state.  A violation of this subdivision is a 
 misdemeanor. 

    Subd. 3.    General penalty.  An individual who 
 intentionally violates any provision of this chapter is guilty 
 of a felony, unless a different penalty is specifically provided 
 by law.  

    HIST: 1959 c 675 art 2 s 27; 1973 c 676 s 20; 1978 c 714 s 
 5,30; 1981 c 29 art 2 s 25; 1986 c 444; 1987 c 266 art 1 s 11; 
 1990 c 585 s 17 

     201.275 Investigations; prosecutions. 

    A county attorney who is notified by affidavit 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 shall 
 forfeit 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 the prosecution. 

    HIST: 1978 c 714 s 6; 1981 c 29 art 2 s 26; 1986 c 444; 1988 c 
 578 art 1 s 2; 2004 c 277 s 2 

  201.28 MS 1957 Renumbered 201.31 

  201.28 MS 1971 Repealed, 1973 c 676 s 33 

  201.29 MS 1957 Renumbered 201.32 

  201.29 MS 1971 Repealed, 1973 c 676 s 33 

  201.30 MS 1957 Repealed, 1959 c 675 art 13 s 1 

  201.30 MS 1971 Repealed, 1973 c 676 s 33 

  201.31 MS 1957 Repealed, 1959 c 675 art 13 s 1 

  201.31 MS 1971 Repealed, 1973 c 676 s 33 

  201.32 MS 1957 Repealed, 1959 c 675 art 13 s 1 

  201.32 MS 1971 Repealed, 1973 c 676 s 33 

  201.33 MS 1957 Repealed, 1959 c 675 art 13 s 1 

  201.33 MS 1980 Repealed, 1981 c 29 art 7 s 39 

  201.34 MS 1957 Repealed, 1959 c 675 art 13 s 1 

  201.34 MS 1974 Repealed, 1975 c 204 s 106