Minnesota § 201.016 - RESIDENCE REQUIREMENTS FOR VOTING; VIOLATIONS; PENALTY
Full text of Minnesota Minnesota Statutes § 201.016 — RESIDENCE REQUIREMENTS FOR VOTING; VIOLATIONS; PENALTY, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 201.016. RESIDENCE REQUIREMENTS FOR VOTING; VIOLATIONS; PENALTY
Subdivision 1.Determination of residence.
An eligible voter may vote only in the precinct in which the voter maintains residence. The residence of a voter shall be determined in accordance with section 200.031.
Subd. 1a.Violations; penalty.
(a) The county auditor shall mail a notice to any voter who the county auditor can determine has: (1) provided the address at which the voter maintains residence, but was allowed to vote in a precinct other than the precinct in which the voter maintains residence; and (2) not voted in the wrong precinct previously. The notice must be in the form provided by the secretary of state.
(b) The county auditor shall mail a violation notice to any voter who otherwise voted in a precinct in which the voter did not maintain residence on election day. The county auditor shall also change the status of the voter in the statewide registration system to "challenged" and the voter shall be required to provide proof of residence to either the county auditor or to the election judges in the voter's precinct before voting in the next election. Any of the forms authorized by section 201.061 for registration at the polling place may be used for this purpose.
(c) A voter who votes in a precinct other than the precinct in which the voter maintains residence after receiving an initial violation notice as provided in this subdivision is guilty of a petty misdemeanor.
(d) A voter who votes in a precinct other than the precinct in which the voter maintains residence after having been found to have committed a petty misdemeanor under paragraph (b) is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(e) Reliance by the voter on inaccurate information regarding the location of the voter's polling place provided by the state, county, or municipality is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under this subdivision.
Subd. 2.
[Repealed, 2014 c 264 s 31]
History:
1981 c 29 art 2 s 3; 1986 c 444; 1987 c 266 art 1 s 4; 1999 c 132 s 3,4; 1Sp2001 c 10 art 18 s 7; 2010 c 201 s 1
Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes
Source: official Minnesota text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About Minnesota § 201.016
What does Minnesota Statutes § 201.016 cover?
Section 201.016 ("RESIDENCE REQUIREMENTS FOR VOTING; VIOLATIONS; PENALTY") is part of the Minnesota Statutes, the codified statutory law of Minnesota. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Minnesota § 201.016?
A common citation format is "Minnesota Statutes § 201.016" (Minnesota). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Minnesota law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Minnesota official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Minnesota attorney.
How does Minnesota § 201.016 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Minnesota can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Minnesota.