1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to elections; requiring training for polling place challengers; imposing 
1.3 	additional requirements on polling place challengers;amending Minnesota 
1.4 	Statutes 2012, section 204C.07, subdivisions 1, 2, 4, by adding a subdivision.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204C.07, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.7 		Subdivision 1.Partisan elections. At an election to fill partisan offices, the chair of 
1.8 	an authorized committee of each major political party may appoint by written certificate 
1.9 	voters from that political party to act as challengers of voters at the polling place for each 
1.10 	precinct. Only one challenger from each major political party for each precinct shall be 
1.11 	allowed to remain in the polling place at one time. A challenger may only remain in a 
1.12 	polling place while performing authorized duties of a challenger or for other purposes 
1.13 	as specified by law.

1.14 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204C.07, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
1.15 		Subd. 2.Nonpartisan elections. At an election to fill nonpartisan offices, each 
1.16 	nonpartisan candidate may appoint by written certificate voters to act as challengers of 
1.17 	voters at the polling place for each precinct. Only one challenger for each candidate shall 
1.18 	be allowed to remain in the polling place for each precinct at one time. A challenger 
1.19 	may only remain in a polling place while performing authorized duties of a challenger 
1.20 	or for other purposes as specified by law.

1.21 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204C.07, is amended by adding a subdivision 
1.22 	to read:
2.1 		Subd. 3b.Training requirement. (a) An individual must successfully complete 
2.2 	one hour of training prior to serving as a challenger. The individual must complete the 
2.3 	training once per two-year election cycle. The training must be approved by the secretary 
2.4 	of state. The training must include, at a minimum, information on the role of challengers 
2.5 	in the polling place, valid bases for challenges, prohibited conduct by challengers, and 
2.6 	procedures for making challenges.
2.7 	(b) Individuals seeking admission to a polling place to serve as a challenger must 
2.8 	provide a certificate issued by the secretary of state or a designee of the secretary of 
2.9 	state. The certificate must state that the individual completed the required training and 
2.10 	include the date of the training. An individual that fails to present a certificate or presents 
2.11 	a certificate dated before the current two-year election cycle shall not be allowed to serve 
2.12 	as a challenger.

2.13 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204C.07, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
2.14 		Subd. 4.Restrictions on conduct. (a) An election judge may not be appointed as a 
2.15 	challenger. The election judges shall permit challengers appointed pursuant to this section 
2.16 	to be present in the polling place during the hours of voting and to remain there until the 
2.17 	votes are counted and the results declared. NoAn election judge may order a challenger 
2.18 	to leave the polling place if the challenger fails to comply with the requirements of 
2.19 	this section. A challenger must comply with the order to leave and must not serve as a 
2.20 	challenger at any polling place for the remainder of the day.
2.21 	(b) A challenger shall not:
2.22 	(1) handle or inspect registration cards, files, or lists. Challengers shall not;
2.23 	(2)  prepare in any manner any list of individuals who have or have not voted. They 
2.24 	shall not;
2.25 	(3)  attempt to influence voting in any manner. They shall not;
2.26 	(4)  converse with a voter except to determine, in the presence of an election judge, 
2.27 	whether the voter is eligible to vote in the precinct. or with a person assisting a voter;
2.28 	(5) use any electronic communication device inside the polling place; or 
2.29 	(6) interfere with an election judge who is performing official duties.
2.30 	(c) Individuals seeking admission to a polling place to serve as a challenger must 
2.31 	sign a form that acknowledges the challenger is aware of the prohibited activities in 
2.32 	paragraph (b). The form shall be prescribed by the secretary of state and must, at a 
2.33 	minimum, include a list of the prohibited activities in paragraph (b).