§ 204C.15 — Assistance to Voters
Plain-Language Summary
Voters who cannot read English or are physically unable to mark a ballot can get help from two election judges of different parties or from any person they choose, except their employer, employer's agent, or union officer. Voters who cannot enter the polling place can vote from their car with the help of two election judges. Voters with disabilities can also get help moving through lines.
204C.15 ASSISTANCE TO VOTERS.
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Subdivision 1.Physical assistance in marking ballots.
A voter who claims a need for assistance because of inability to read English or physical inability to mark a ballot may obtain the aid of two election judges who are members of different major political parties. The election judges shall mark the ballots as directed by the voter and in as secret a manner as circumstances permit. A voter in need of assistance may alternatively obtain the assistance of any individual the voter chooses. Only the following persons may not provide assistance to a voter: the voter’s employer, an agent of the voter’s employer, or an officer or agent of the voter’s union. The person who assists the voter shall, unaccompanied by an election judge, retire with that voter to a booth and mark the ballot as directed by the voter. Before the ballots are deposited, the voter may show them privately to an election judge to ascertain that they are marked as the voter directed. An election judge or other individual assisting a voter shall not in any manner request, persuade, induce, or attempt to persuade or induce the voter to vote for any particular political party or candidate. The election judges or other individuals who assist the voter shall not reveal to anyone the name of any candidate for whom the voter has voted or anything that took place while assisting the voter. §
Subd. 2.Outside the polling place.
An individual who is unable to enter a polling place where paper ballots or an electronic voting system are used may register or update the voter’s registration and vote without leaving a motor vehicle. Two election judges who are members of different major political parties must assist the voter to register or to update a registration, as applicable, and to complete a voter’s certificate and must provide the necessary ballots. The voter may request additional assistance in marking ballots as provided in subdivision 1. §
Subd. 2a.
[Repealed, 1Sp2001 c 10 art 18 s 44] §
Subd. 3.Voting lines.
In all polling places, upon request of the voter, two election judges must assist a voter with a disability to enter the polling place and go through the lines to register to vote or update the voter’s registration, as applicable, and to vote. The voter may also request the assistance of election judges or any other individual in marking ballots, as provided in subdivision 1.
History:
1981 c 29 art 5 s 15; 1984 c 471 s 11,12; 1986 c 444; 1997 c 147 s 38; 2006 c 242 s 23; 2013 c 131 art 2 s 33; 2023 c 62 art 4 s 93; 2025 c 39 art 8 s 67,68
History: History: 1981 c 29 art 5 s 15; 1984 c 471 s 11,12; 1986 c 444; 1997 c 147 s 38; 2006 c 242 s 23; 2013 c 131 art 2 s 33; 2023 c 62 art 4 s 93; 2025 c 39 art 8 s 67,68