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1 MINNESOTA STATUTES 2015 204B.16 <br />Copyright © 2015 by the Revisor of Statutes, State of Minnesota. All Rights Reserved. <br />204B.16 POLLING PLACES; DESIGNATION. <br />Subdivision 1. Authority; location. The governing body of each municipality and of each county with <br />precincts in unorganized territory shall designate by ordinance or resolution a polling place for each election <br />precinct. Polling places must be designated and ballots must be distributed so that no one is required to go <br />to more than one polling place to vote in a school district and municipal election held on the same day. The <br />polling place for a precinct in a city or in a school district located in whole or in part in the metropolitan <br />area defined by section 200.02, subdivision 24, shall be located within the boundaries of the precinct or <br />within one mile of one of those boundaries unless a single polling place is designated for a city pursuant <br />to section 204B.14, subdivision 2, or a school district pursuant to section 205A.11. The polling place for <br />a precinct in unorganized territory may be located outside the precinct at a place which is convenient to <br />the voters of the precinct. If no suitable place is available within a town or within a school district located <br />outside the metropolitan area defined by section 200.02, subdivision 24, then the polling place for a town or <br />school district may be located outside the town or school district within five miles of one of the boundaries <br />of the town or school district. <br />Subd. 1a. Notice to voters. If the location of a polling place has been changed, the governing body <br />establishing the polling place shall send to every affected household with at least one registered voter in the <br />precinct a nonforwardable mailed notice stating the location of the new polling place at least 25 days before <br />the next election. The secretary of state shall prepare a sample of this notice. A notice that is returned as <br />undeliverable must be forwarded immediately to the county auditor. This subdivision does not apply to a <br />polling place location that is changed on election day under section 204B.17. <br />Subd. 2. [Repealed, 1994 c 607 s 7] <br />Subd. 3. Designation effective until changed. The designation of a polling place pursuant to this section <br />shall remain effective until a different polling place is designated for that precinct. No designation of a new <br />or different polling place shall become effective less than 90 days prior to an election, including school <br />district elections or referenda, and no polling place changes may occur during the period between the state <br />primary and the state general election, except that a new polling place may be designated to replace a polling <br />place that has become unavailable for use. <br />Subd. 4. Prohibited locations. No polling place shall be designated in any place where intoxicating <br />liquors or nonintoxicating malt beverages are served or in any adjoining room. No polling place shall be <br />designated in any place in which substantial compliance with the requirements of this chapter cannot be <br />attained. <br />Subd. 5. Access by elderly and persons with disabilities. Each polling place shall be accessible to and <br />usable by elderly individuals and individuals with disabilities. A polling place is deemed to be accessible <br />and usable if it complies with the standards in paragraphs (a) to (f). <br />(a) At least one set of doors must have a minimum width of 32 inches if the doors must be used to enter <br />or leave the polling place. <br />(b) Any curb adjacent to the main entrance to a polling place must have curb cuts or temporary ramps. <br />Where the main entrance is not the accessible entrance, any curb adjacent to the accessible entrance must <br />also have curb cuts or temporary ramps. <br />(c) Where the main entrance is not the accessible entrance, a sign shall be posted at the main entrance <br />giving directions to the accessible entrance.