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Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State <br /> 2021 Redistricting Guide <br /> 25 <br />5.2 Polling place requirements <br />All polling places whether new or reestablished must be: <br />• fully accessible (see following subsection); <br />• large enough to accommodate the election activities; <br />• free of other, non-election activities; <br />• smoking free; <br />• liquor free and not adjacent to a liquor service area; <br />• located within the precinct except: <br />o metropolitan area cities and towns may locate a polling place outside the precinct if it is within one mile <br />of the precinct boundary or it is part of a combined polling place (see 5.3.2 Combined polling places); <br />o non-metropolitan cities and towns may locate polling places up to five miles outside the precinct <br />boundary. <br />(M.S. 144.414; 200.02, subd. 24; 204B.16; 473.121) <br />5.2.1 Accessibility <br />Federal and state laws require that all polling places be fully accessible and usable by elderly or disabled persons. (M.S. <br />204B.16, subd. 4) <br />Minimum requirements include: <br />• paved parking with wide spaces reserved for disabled persons, <br />• curb cuts or temporary ramps, <br />• paved main routes free of stairs or with ramp or elevator bypasses, <br />• entrances/doorways a minimum of 32 inches wide, <br />• walkways and hallways at least 36 inches wide, <br />• hallways free of protrusions overhanging the floor, <br />• handrails on all stairs, <br />• signs directing voters around obstructed entrances or stairs to accessible routes, <br />• signs outlining the assistance available to voters, and <br />• one or more wheelchair accessible voting booth(s) or station(s) with writing surface 34 inches high. <br />(M.S. 204B.16, subd. 5) <br />Minnesota election law offers some additional accommodations if the voter needs assistance with the voting materials: <br />• voting by absentee ballot; <br />• curbside voting; <br />• a bipartisan team of election judges to provide assistance in the polling place; or <br />• the voter bringing someone of their choosing to assist in the polling place. <br />(M.S. 203B.02, subd. 1; 204C.15, subd. 1; 204C.15, subd. 2)