Subdivision 1. Procedure. When the hours for voting have ended and all voting has concluded, the election judges shall immediately count the votes cast at the election. The count shall be held at the polling place and shall be public. It shall be continued without intermission until it is completed and the results are declared, except that the election judges may recess for meals or other necessary purposes. During the count no one except the election judges shall handle the ballots. Any other individual who touches or interferes with ballots during the counting or any election judge who permits such touching or interference is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Subd. 2. Counting ballots. Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, the ballot boxes shall be opened, the votes counted, and the total declared. The election judges on each counting team shall be evenly divided between the major political parties. The numbers entered on the summary sheet shall not be considered final until the ballots in all the boxes have been counted and corrections have been made if ballots have been deposited in the wrong boxes.
Subd. 3. Premature disclosure of count results. No count results from any precinct shall be disclosed by any election judge or other individual until all count results from that precinct are available, nor shall the public media disclose any count results from any precinct before the time when voting is scheduled to end in the state.
1981 c 29 art 5 s 19; 1987 c 266 art 1 s 38; 1991 c 227 s 17; 2013 c 131 art 2 s 34
Structure Minnesota Statutes
Chapters 200 - 212 — Elections
Chapter 204C — Election Day Activities
Section 204C.01 — Definitions.
Section 204C.02 — Chapter Application; Individuals Unable To Write.
Section 204C.03 — Public Meetings Prohibited On Election Day.
Section 204C.035 — Deceptive Practices In Elections.
Section 204C.04 — Employees; Time Off To Vote.
Section 204C.05 — State Elections; Hours For Voting.
Section 204C.06 — Conduct In And Near Polling Places.
Section 204C.07 — Challengers.
Section 204C.08 — Opening Of Polling Places.
Section 204C.09 — Ballot Preparation By Election Judges.
Section 204C.10 — Polling Place Roster; Voter Signature Certificate; Voter Receipt.
Section 204C.12 — Challenges To Voters; Penalty.
Section 204C.13 — Receiving And Marking Ballots.
Section 204C.14 — Unlawful Voting; Penalty.
Section 204C.15 — Assistance To Voters.
Section 204C.16 — Mismarking Ballots; Disclosure Of Markings By Others; Penalty.
Section 204C.17 — Voting; Secrecy.
Section 204C.18 — Ballots; Secrecy.
Section 204C.19 — Counting Votes; Penalty.
Section 204C.20 — Ballots; Number To Be Counted.
Section 204C.21 — Counting Ballots; Piling System.
Section 204C.22 — Determining Voter's Intent.
Section 204C.23 — Defective Ballots.
Section 204C.24 — Election Returns; Summary Statements.
Section 204C.25 — Disposition Of Ballots.
Section 204C.27 — Delivery Of Returns To County Auditors.
Section 204C.28 — Election Night; Duties Of County Auditors And Municipal Clerks.
Section 204C.29 — Improper Delivery Of Returns.
Section 204C.31 — Canvassing Boards; Membership.
Section 204C.32 — Canvass Of State Primaries.
Section 204C.33 — Canvass Of State General Elections.
Section 204C.35 — Federal, State, And Judicial Races.
Section 204C.36 — Recounts In County, School District, And Municipal Elections.
Section 204C.361 — Rules For Recounts.
Section 204C.37 — County Canvass; Return Of Reports To Secretary Of State.
Section 204C.38 — Correction Of Obvious Errors; When Candidates Agree.
Section 204C.39 — Correction Of Other Obvious Errors.
Section 204C.40 — Certificates Of Election.
Section 204C.41 — Neglect Of Duty; Other Offenses By Election Officials; Penalty.