What happens when your vote is challenged in Minnesota?

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Following news about mass voter challenge schemes in other states, such as Michigan, you may be wondering how voter challenges work and who is at risk of being challenged. Minnesota has strict laws about voter challenges, which are described below. If you are worried about being challenged, you can bring a photo ID card showing your address, or any of the other information that is needed for same-day voter registration.

Registering on Election Day
Information from Minnesota Secretary of State
If you are not registered to vote or need to update your registration information, you may do so at your local polling location on Election Day. However, you are required to provide proof of residence when registering on Election Day.

To register at your polling place on Election Day, you must have one of the following with your current name and address in the precinct to verify your residence:

* A valid Minnesota driver’s license, learner’s permit, Minnesota ID card, or receipt for any of these
* A valid student ID card including your photo, if your college has provided a student housing list to election officials
* A Tribal ID card that contains your picture and signature
* A valid registration in the same precinct under a different name or address
* A notice of late registration sent to you by your county auditor or city clerk
* A voter registered in the same precinct as you who can confirm your address with a signed oath
* An employee of the residential facility where you live who can confirm your address with a signed oath

Alternatively, you may provide both 1) a photo ID from the list below, and 2) a current bill with your current name and address in the precinct.

Photo IDs (may be expired)
* Minnesota Driver’s License
* Minnesota ID Card
* United States Passport
* United States Military ID Card
* Tribal ID Card
* Minnesota University, College, or Technical College ID Card

Bills (delivered electronically or by mail)
* Utility bill due within 30 days of election day:
o Telephone (landline, cell, VOIP, etc.)
o TV (cable, satellite, etc.)
o Internet services
o Electric
o Gas
o Solid Waste
o Sewer Services
o Water
* Rent statement dated within 30 days of election day that itemizes utilities
* Current student fee statement

Other voters and election judges are allowed to challenge a voter, based on their personal knowledge of the voter. For example, a voter might be challenged because they work in the precinct but do not live there.

The challenger must fill out a form stating the reason for the challenge, and then sign the statement under oath.

The voter who has been challenged will then be asked regarding the challenge. Failure to submit to questioning will result in the person’s forfeiting of the right to vote.

After the person is questioned, they are either deemed able to vote, and they can vote, or they are deemed ineligible and their ballot is placed with the spoiled ballots.

The practice of challenging exists to weed out voter fraud, like people voting in districts where they do not reside, but marginalized groups might worry about bogus challenges keeping them from voting.

Political parties and candidates sometimes appoint “challengers” in certain districts to watch the polling place. According to the Secretary of State’s website, they can only challenge votes “based on personal knowledge”. The law also states that appointed challengers may NOT:

• handle or inspect registration cards, files, or lists;
• prepare in any manner any list of individuals who have or have not voted;
• attempt to influence voting in any manner;
• talk with a voter except to determine, in the presence of an election judge, if the voter is eligible to vote in the precinct; or
• compile lists of voters to challenge on the basis of mail sent by a political party that was returned as undeliverable, or if receipt by the intended recipient was not acknowledged in the case of registered mail;
• Take pictures within the polling place;
• Go within 6 feet of the ballot counter.

Katie Mocol is a journalism student at Hamline University and an intern with the Twin Cities Daily Planet.

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