The county auditors, municipal clerks, and school district clerks shall retain all election materials returned to them after any election for at least 22 months from the date of that election. All records and materials must be stored in a locked container or other secured and locked space. All election materials involved in a contested election must be retained for 22 months or until the contest has been finally determined, whichever is later. Abstracts filed by canvassing boards shall be retained permanently by any officer with whom those abstracts are filed. Election materials no longer required to be retained pursuant to this section shall be disposed of in accordance with sections 138.163 to 138.21. Sealed envelopes containing voted ballots must be retained unopened, except as provided in this section, in a secure location. The county auditor, municipal clerk, or school district clerk shall not permit any voted ballots to be tampered with or defaced.
After the time for filing a notice of contest for an election has passed, the secretary of state may, for the purpose of monitoring and evaluating election procedures: (1) open the sealed ballot envelopes and inspect the ballots for that election maintained by the county auditors, municipal clerks, or school district clerks; (2) inspect the polling place rosters and completed voter registration applications; or (3) examine other forms required in the Minnesota election laws for use in the polling place. No inspected ballot or document may be marked or identified in any manner. After inspection, all ballots must be returned to the ballot envelope and the ballot envelope must be securely resealed. Any other election materials inspected or examined must be secured or resealed. No polling place roster may be inspected until the voting history for that precinct has been posted. No voter registration application may be inspected until the information on it has been entered into the statewide registration system.
1981 c 29 art 4 s 40; 1987 c 175 s 7; 1989 c 291 art 1 s 10; 1995 c 8 s 4; 2000 c 467 s 19; 2006 c 242 s 19; 1Sp2021 c 12 art 4 s 10
Structure Minnesota Statutes
Chapters 200 - 212 — Elections
Chapter 204B — Election Administration; General Provisions
Section 204B.01 — Definitions.
Section 204B.02 — Application.
Section 204B.03 — Manner Of Nomination.
Section 204B.04 — Candidacy; Prohibitions.
Section 204B.06 — Filing For Primary; Affidavit Of Candidacy.
Section 204B.07 — Nominating Petitions.
Section 204B.071 — Petitions; Rules Of Secretary Of State.
Section 204B.08 — Signing Petitions.
Section 204B.09 — Time And Place Of Filing Affidavits And Petitions.
Section 204B.10 — Affidavits Of Candidacy; Nominating Petitions; Duties.
Section 204B.11 — Candidates; Filing Fees; Petition In Place Of Filing Fee.
Section 204B.12 — Withdrawal Of Candidates.
Section 204B.13 — Vacancy In Nomination; Partisan Office.
Section 204B.131 — Vacancy In Nomination; Nonpartisan Office.
Section 204B.135 — Redistricting Of Election Districts.
Section 204B.14 — Election Precincts.
Section 204B.145 — Duties Of Secretary Of State; Redistricting.
Section 204B.146 — Duties Of Secretary Of State.
Section 204B.15 — Unorganized Territory; Election Precincts.
Section 204B.16 — Polling Places; Designation.
Section 204B.175 — Change Of Polling Place In An Emergency.
Section 204B.18 — Polling Places; Equipment.
Section 204B.181 — Election Emergency Plans.
Section 204B.19 — Election Judges; Qualifications.
Section 204B.195 — Time Off From Work To Serve As Election Judge.
Section 204B.20 — Election Board; Head Election Judge; Duties.
Section 204B.21 — Appointment Of Election Judges.
Section 204B.22 — Election Judges; Number Required.
Section 204B.23 — Vacancies Among Election Judges.
Section 204B.24 — Election Judges; Oath.
Section 204B.25 — Training For Election Judges.
Section 204B.26 — Election Judges; Violations; Penalties.
Section 204B.27 — Duties Of Secretary Of State.
Section 204B.28 — Clerks; Election Supplies; Duties.
Section 204B.29 — Election Judges; Election Supplies; Duties.
Section 204B.30 — Unofficial Ballots.
Section 204B.31 — Compensation For Election Services.
Section 204B.32 — Election Expenses; Payment.
Section 204B.33 — Notice Of Filing.
Section 204B.34 — Notice Of Election.
Section 204B.35 — Preparation Of Ballots.
Section 204B.36 — Ballots; Form.
Section 204B.37 — Back Of Ballot.
Section 204B.38 — Names On Ballots; Identical Descriptive Words.
Section 204B.39 — Substitute Ballots.
Section 204B.40 — Ballots; Election Records And Other Materials; Disposition; Inspection Of Ballots.
Section 204B.43 — Unlawful Printing Or Distribution Of Ballots; Penalty.
Section 204B.44 — Errors And Omissions; Remedy.
Section 204B.45 — Mail Balloting.
Section 204B.46 — Mail Elections; Questions.
Section 204B.47 — Alternative Election Procedures; Duties Of Secretary Of State.