Bill > SF1217

This bill modifies Minnesota's election laws to expand the authorization and conduct of challengers at polling places, specifically focusing on early voting and in-person absentee voting locations. The bill defines a "polling place" to include not just traditional precinct polling sites but also locations where voters can cast early or in-person absentee ballots during the 18 days before an election. For partisan elections, each major political party can appoint one challenger per polling place, while nonpartisan elections allow one challenger per candidate. The bill clarifies that challengers must be state residents and can prove their residency using specific documents, but they do not need to be residents of the specific precinct where they are challenging. Challengers are subject to strict conduct restrictions: they cannot handle voter registration materials, create lists of voters, attempt to influence voting, or converse with voters. The bill also explicitly prohibits political parties from compiling challenge lists based on returned mail, with violations considered a gross misdemeanor. Additionally, the bill specifies that persons performing early voting election duties can challenge voters based on personal knowledge of voter ineligibility, similar to traditional election judges.

Government Affairs

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=Senate&f=SF1217&ssn=0&y=2025