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The Upper Midwest Law Center (UMLC) filed a federal lawsuit challenging a new Minnesota law that restricts free speech around election-related issues, including speech about the eligibility to vote in Minnesota elections. The law, which took effect June 15, 2023, imposes criminal and civil penalties on individuals who knowingly make materially false statements within 60 days of an election with the intent to impede or prevent another person from exercising their right to vote.
The lawsuit challenges an administrative rule adopted by the Secretary of State that conflicts with the Minnesota statute requiring absentee ballot board members to verify that absentee ballots belong to the voter named on the ballot and ballot application. The challenged rule limits the situations in which a ballot may be rejected to only those where the name signed is clearly a different name than the name of the voter as printed on the signature envelope.
(Golden Valley, MN) Upper Midwest Law Center’s (UMLC) lawsuit claims on behalf of Northland Baptist Church, Pastor John Bruski and Living Word Christian Center against Governor Walz’s discriminatory restrictions on Christian worship were sustained, and Attorney General Ellison’s motion to dismiss denied by Federal Court Order on March 30, 2021. These claims will go forward to trial per the Court’s Order.