Campaign Guidance for Candidates and
Multi-unit Residential Buildings
Minnesota Statute authorizes candidate access to multi-unit residential buildings (Minn. Stat. § 211B.20). This information below is not intended to be legal advice, and it should not be interpreted as legal advice. For more information on campaign regulations, please visit the Secretary of State’s website. If you have any questions, please seek advice from your own legal counsel.
What buildings or premises are covered?
The state law covers all apartment and condominium buildings, townhouses, college dormitories, nursing homes, mobile home parks and private roadways on which there are two or more single family homes.
Who can enter the buildings or premises?
The following persons are authorized access under the state law.
- Any candidate for a state, federal, county, municipal or school district office who has either filed an affidavit of candidacy or organized a campaign committee for the upcoming general election, provided that the building is within the district or territory that will be represented by the office to which the candidate seeks election.
- Campaign workers who are accompanying the candidate.
What can the candidates and campaign workers do while in the building?
Candidates and campaign workers may:
- Speak to voters in the district in which the candidate seeks election.
- Conduct voter-registration activities.
- Knock on the doors of individual housing units and leave campaign literature under the doors, except in nursing homes, where campaign materials may be required to be left in an orderly manner at a central location.
How many buildings may the candidates and campaign workers visit on a single trip?
Candidates and campaign workers who are campaigning at properties with more than one building may only visit one building at a time. If more than one candidate is campaigning on site at the same time as another candidate, each candidate is permitted to be in separate buildings.
Do the candidates and campaign workers have to carry identification?
Yes, you can ask to see reasonable and proper identification from both the candidates and their campaign workers before granting them access to the buildings.
Can property owners require the candidates to make an appointment to visit property or limit their access to certain times of the day?
Yes, you can require that the candidates make a prior appointment with you before their visit and you can impose reasonable limits on the number of persons permitted onsite and the hours during which they may conduct campaign activities.
Are there instances when property owners can deny access?
Yes, you can deny candidates and campaign workers access into an individual residential unit, such as an apartment or mobile home. At nursing homes and assisted living facilities, you may also deny access to any voter’s residential unit for valid health-related reasons. With good cause, you may also deny or expel candidates and campaign workers from your property.
What are the consequences for not permitting candidates and campaign workers access to my property?
A building owner or building manager who violates a provision of the state law authorizing candidates and campaign workers access to a multiple-unit residential facility can be the subject of an unfair campaign practices complaint. Minn. Stat. §§ 211B.31-.37. If found to have committed an unfair campaign practices, sanctions can include any or more of the following: a reprimand, a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per violation, referral to the appropriate county attorney for possible prosecution of a petty misdemeanor (which may result in a fine of up to for each offense).
Our thanks to Ramsey County for providing much of the contents of this page.
