2007 Minnesota Statutes

204C.08 OPENING OF POLLING PLACES.
    Subdivision 1. Display of flag. Upon their arrival at the polling place on the day of election,
the election judges shall cause the national flag to be displayed on a suitable staff at the entrance
to the polling place. The flag shall be displayed continuously during the hours of voting and the
election judges shall attest to that fact by signing the flag certification statement on the precinct
summary statement. The election judges shall receive no compensation for any time during which
they intentionally fail to display the flag as required by this subdivision.
    Subd. 1a. Voter's Bill of Rights. The county auditor shall prepare and provide to each
polling place sufficient copies of a poster setting forth the Voter's Bill of Rights as set forth in this
section. Before the hours of voting are scheduled to begin, the election judges shall post it in a
conspicuous location or locations in the polling place. The Voter's Bill of Rights is as follows:

"VOTER'S BILL OF RIGHTS

For all persons residing in this state who meet federal voting eligibility requirements:
(1) You have the right to be absent from work for the purpose of voting during the morning
of election day.
(2) If you are in line at your polling place any time between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., you
have the right to vote.
(3) If you can provide the required proof of residence, you have the right to register to vote
and to vote on election day.
(4) If you are unable to sign your name, you have the right to orally confirm your identity
with an election judge and to direct another person to sign your name for you.
(5) You have the right to request special assistance when voting.
(6) If you need assistance, you may be accompanied into the voting booth by a person of
your choice, except by an agent of your employer or union or a candidate.
(7) You have the right to bring your minor children into the polling place and into the voting
booth with you.
(8) If you have been convicted of a felony but your felony sentence has expired (been
completed) or you have been discharged from your sentence, you have the right to vote.
(9) If you are under a guardianship, you have the right to vote, unless the court order
revokes your right to vote.
(10) You have the right to vote without anyone in the polling place trying to influence
your vote.
(11) If you make a mistake or spoil your ballot before it is submitted, you have the right to
receive a replacement ballot and vote.
(12) You have the right to file a written complaint at your polling place if you are dissatisfied
with the way an election is being run.
(13) You have the right to take a sample ballot into the voting booth with you.
(14) You have the right to take a copy of this Voter's Bill of Rights into the voting booth
with you."
    Subd. 2. Posting of voting instructions. Before the hours for voting are scheduled to
begin, the election judges shall post any official voter instruction posters furnished to them in a
conspicuous location or locations in the polling place.
    Subd. 2a. Sample ballots. A sample ballot must be posted in a conspicuous location in the
polling place. The sample ballot must accurately reflect the offices, candidates, and rotation
sequence on the ballots used in that polling place.
    Subd. 3. Locking of ballot boxes. Immediately before the time when voting is scheduled to
begin, one of the election judges shall open the ballot boxes in the presence of the individuals
assembled at the polling place, turn the boxes upside down to empty them, lock them, and deliver
the key to another election judge. The boxes shall not be reopened except to count the ballots after
the hours for voting have ended and all voting has been concluded. The boxes shall be kept in
public view at all times during voting hours. After locking the ballot boxes, the election judges
shall proclaim that voting may begin, and shall post outside the polling place conspicuous written
or printed notices of the time when voting is scheduled to end.
    Subd. 4. Ballot boxes, boxcar seals. The governing body of a municipality or school district
by resolution may direct the municipal or school district clerk to furnish a boxcar seal for each
ballot box in place of a lock and key. Each seal shall consist of a numbered metal strap with a
self-locking device securely attached to one end of the strap so that the other end may be inserted
and securely locked in the seal. No two metal straps shall bear the same number.
History: 1981 c 29 art 5 s 8; 1983 c 253 s 11; 1987 c 266 art 1 s 37; 1997 c 147 s 37;
2004 c 293 art 1 s 30; 2005 c 156 art 6 s 44