1998 Minnesota Statutes

     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 
 registration card 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 card 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 cards from a voter must submit the completed 
 cards to the secretary of state or the appropriate county 
 auditor within ten days after the cards are dated by the voter. 

    Subd. 2. Repealed, 1990 c 585 s 34 

    Subd. 3.    Election day registration.  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 card, 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) showing a driver's license or Minnesota identification 
 card issued pursuant to section 171.07; 

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

    (3) showing one of the following: 

    (i) a current valid student identification card from a 
 post-secondary 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 sign an oath in the presence of the election judge 
 vouching that the voter 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 county, school district, or municipality may require that 
 an election judge responsible for election day registration 
 initial each completed registration card.  

    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 
 until the individual's address is verified by the county 
 auditor.  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