SF 370

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to elections; increasing news media access to 
  1.3             polling places; amending Minnesota Statutes 2004, 
  1.4             section 204C.06, subdivision 8. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 204C.06, 
  1.7   subdivision 8, is amended to read: 
  1.8      Subd. 8.  [ACCESS FOR NEWS MEDIA.] The county auditor or 
  1.9   municipal or school district clerk, or their designee, may, by 
  1.10  written authorization, permit A news media representatives to 
  1.11  representative may enter a polling places for up to 15 minutes 
  1.12  place during voting hours to observe the voting process.  A 
  1.13  media representative must obtain prior authorization and present 
  1.14  photo identification to the head election judge upon arrival at 
  1.15  the polling place and, along with either a recognized media 
  1.16  credential or written acknowledgment from a local election 
  1.17  official of the media representative's credentials.  A media 
  1.18  representative must not otherwise: 
  1.19     (1) approach within six feet of an election judge or a 
  1.20  voter; 
  1.21     (2) converse with a voter while in the polling place; 
  1.22     (3) make a list of persons voting or not voting; or 
  1.23     (4) interview a voter within the polling place interfere 
  1.24  with the voting process. 
  1.25     Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.1      This act is effective the day following final enactment.