City Clerk's Office

Elections & Voter Services

City Hall
350 S 5th St Rm 1B
Minneapolis, MN 55415
elections@minneapolismn.gov

Election Day Activities

Election law concerning election day activites

Authorized Persons in the Polling Place

During voting hours the law allows only election judges, people directly engaged in voting, and authorized persons to be present in a polling place.

Persons Allowed in Polling Place

• Voters and their minor children

• Persons registering to vote

• Vouchers while in the process of vouching

• Persons assisting a voter with a disability or who is unable to read English

• Election Judges

• Peace officers, if requested

The following individuals should directly report to the Chair Judge with their credentials

• Representatives of Secretary of State/County Auditor/City Clerk/School District Clerk

• Authorized Challengers

• Teachers and students participating in authorized educational activity

• Media

No Campaigning near Polling Place

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.

No Lingering Within 100 Feet of the Building with a Polling Place

An individual shall be allowed to go to and from the polling place for the purpose of voting without unlawful interference. No one except an election official or an individual who is waiting to register or to vote or an individual who is conducting exit polling shall stand within 100 feet of the building in which a polling place is located. "Exit polling" is defined as approaching voters in a predetermined pattern as they leave the polling place after they have voted and asking voters to fill out an anonymous, written questionnaire.

M.S. 204C.06 Subd. 2, 6 & 8; M.S. 204C.08, Subd. 1d; M.S. 211B.11

M.S. 204C.03 Public Meetings Prohibited on Election Day

 Subdivision 1. School districts; counties; municipalities; special taxing districts. No special taxing district governing body, school board, county board of commissioners, city council, or town board of supervisors shall conduct a meeting between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on the day that an election is held within the boundaries of the special taxing district, school district, county, city, or town. As used in this subdivision, “special taxing district” has the meaning given in section 275.066.

Subd. 2. State colleges and universities. Except for regularly scheduled classes, no Minnesota state college or university shall schedule an event between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on the day that an election is held in any political subdivision in which the university or college is located. 

Subd. 3. Public elementary and secondary schools. Except for regularly scheduled classes, a public elementary or secondary school may not schedule a school sponsored event between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on the day that a regularly scheduled election is held in any political subdivision in which the school is located. 
        
Subd. 4. State government. No state agency, board, commission, department, or committee shall conduct a public meeting on the day of the state primary or general election.

In all matters, the law and rule are the final authority.

Minneapolis Elections & Voter Registration, 350 South 5th Street – Room 1B, Minneapolis MN 55415
Minneapolis 311 or 612-673-3000
Web site: www.minneapolismn.gov/elections

 

 

Last updated Nov. 1, 2012