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Minnesota historically has led the nation in voter turnout, here's a commentary on how to keep Minnesota #1 in Elections by Minnesota's Secretary of State, Mark Ritchie.
We have compiled the most relevant sub-chapters from Minnesota's voting law and provided a summary of each, along with a link to the State of Minnesota's official repository of statues.
Chapter 200: Election Laws - General
Chapter 200.02: Definitions
Summary: Definitions of Election-related terminology
Chapter 206: Voting Systems
Chapter 206.56: Definitions
Summary: Definitions of Voting related terminology cited in MN statutes.
Chapter 206.57: Examination Of New Voting Systems
Summary: Vendors may pay a fee to the Secretary of State's office to have electronic voting equipment tested for compliance and efficacy. If all criteria is met, the equipment may be adopted as approved equipment for Minnesota. Vendors must provide a $5k bond and certification that they will not sell equipment that does not meet MN Voting System requirements. For federal and state elections held after 12/31/05, and for township elections held after 12/31/07, equipment must be provided which allows access to the disabled, including nonvisual accessibility for the blind and visually impaired. The equipment must provide the same privacy allowed all voters.
Chapter 206.58: Authorization for Use
Summary: Municipalities may use new electronic voting equipment subject to approval by the County Auditor. Instructions on how to use said equipment must be distributed 60 days in advance of the election. A public demonstration should also take place. The governing body of a municipality may provide for the experimental use of an electronic voting system in one or more precincts without formal adoption of the system. No system may be adopted or used unless it has been approved by the secretary of state pursuant to section 206.57. If a municipality adopts the use of an electronic voting system, the municipal clerk shall certify to the secretary of state within 30 days from the date of adoption that an electronic voting system will be used in the municipality and the date when use will commence.
Chapter 206.59: Payment for Voting Systems
Summary: A municipality or county may make payment by appropriating money from the general fund, by levying a tax in the same manner as other taxes are levied, or by issuing and selling bonds or other certificates of indebtedness, which must be a charge upon the municipality or county adopting and purchasing the electronic voting system. Bonds or other certificates of indebtedness may be issued by a majority vote of the governing body of the municipality or county adopting and purchasing an electronic voting system, notwithstanding any contrary provision contained in any home rule charter or law of this state.
Chapter 206.61: Ballots
Summary: Covers who provides the ballots, how candidate names should be listed, and the order of the ballot.
Chapter 206.62: Sample Ballots
Summary: The officials who prepare ballot cards shall provide each polling place with at least two sample ballots which are facsimiles of the card to be voted on in that precinct. The sample ballots may be either in full or reduced size. The sample ballots must be posted prominently in the polling place and must remain open to inspection by the voters throughout election day.
Chapter 206.64: Accessibility; Instructions; Assistance to Voters
Summary: Covers privacy and time allotted for voting.
Chapter 206.66:Violations, Penalties
Summary: Intentionally injuring voting equipment is a felony. Failing to follow rules and regulations set forth by the Secretary of State is a gross misdemeanor. Vendors must provide a bond to the Secretary of State's office conditioned on performance of the machines.
Chapter 206.80: Electronic Voting Systems
Summary: Covers the requirements that must be met by electronic voting systems in MN.
Chapter 206.81: State Voting Systems Contracts
Summary: Covers guidelines and requirements for electronic voting system contracts and escrow of the software source code.
Chapter 206.81: Electronic Voting Systems - Experimental Use
Summary: The Secretary of State may approve equipment for experimental use.
Chapter 206.82: Preparation for Electronic Voting Systems and Plans
Summary: Guidelines for Counties and municipalities in conducting independent verification of electroinc voting machine programs, and for submitting an operating plan to the Secretary of State's office.
Chapter 206.83: Testing of Voting Systems
Summary: Outlines requirements for pre-election testing of electronic operating systems
Chapter 206.84: Methods of Using Electronic Voting Systems
Summary: Lists general procedures for using electronic voting system manual marking devices and the electronic ballot marker, including assistive voting technology.
Chapter 206.85: Ballot Recording and Counting Security
Summary: Bans wireless transmission during the voting process. Outlines guidelines for electronically submitting election results to the Secretary of State's office after the polling location has closed.
Chapter 206.85: Officials in charge of counting
Summary: Covers duties of local election officials in charge of elections and guidelines for counting centers serving more than one municipality.
Chapter 206.86: Counting Electronic Voting System Results
Summary: Procedures for tabulating vote counts and handling of marked ballots once the polling location has closed.
Chapter 206.87: Canvassing Board Duties
Summary: In a municipality where an electronic voting system is used the canvassing board shall be constituted and shall perform the same duties as provided in sections 204C.32, 204C.33, and 204C.39 on the canvassing of paper ballots.
Chapter 206.88: Partial Recounts on Electronic Voting Systems
Summary: The secretary of state may conduct a recount to verify the accuracy of vote counting and recording in one or more precincts in which an electronic voting system was used in the election.
Chapter 206.89: Post Election Review of Voting Systems
Summary: After the election has taken place, each MN county must conduct a hand count of 2 to 4 precincts, (depending on the county's size) to ensure the original results were accurate. If discrepancies between the manual count and hand count are found, further steps, as outlined in this law, must take place.
Chapter 206.9: Secretary of State Monitor
Summary: The secretary of state must monitor and evaluate election procedures in precincts subject to the audit provided for in section 206.89 in at least four precincts in each congressional district. The precincts must be chosen by lot by the State Canvassing Board at its meeting to canvass the state general election.
Chapter 206.90: Optical Scan Voting Systems
Summary: Guidelines for use of optical scan voting machines
Chapter 206.91: Voting Machines Options Working Group
Summary: To investigate and recommend to the legislature requirements for additional options for voting equipment that complies with the requirements of section 301 of the Help America Vote Act, Public Law 107-252, to provide private and independent voting for individuals with disabilities. The working group must be cochaired by representatives of the Minnesota Disability Law Center and Citizens for Election Integrity - Minnesota.
Registering
Chapter 200.03: Determination of Residence
Summary: Factors used to determine a voter's eligibility with regard to their residence.
Chapter 201.01: Eligibility to Vote
Summary: Defines who is eligible to vote
Chapter 201.02: Residency requirements for voting; violations, penalties
Summary: Defines Minnesota's residency requirements
Chapter 201.06: Registration on or before Election Day
Summary: How, when and where Minnesotans can register to vote
Chapter 201.2: Challenges
Summary:Covers the process of challenging the eligibility of another registered voter
Absentee Voting
Chapter 203B.02: Eligibility
Summary:General Eligibility Requirements for Absentee Voting
Chapter 203B.17: Application for Ballot
Summary:How to apply for an absentee ballot
Chapter 203B.08: Marking and return
Summary:Ways an absentee ballot may be submitted.
Chapter 203B.07: Return and Ballot Envelopes - Directions to Voters
Summary:Guidelines for mailing in absentee ballots
Chapter 203B.081: Locations for Absentee Voting in Person
Summary:Where to go to absentee vote in person