Appeals court affirms no politicking in, near polling places

A federal appeals court has upheld the constitutionality of Minnesota's law banning political messages from polling places.

Minnesota Majority sued the Secretary of State and Hennepin and Ramsey county election officials after a group of activists in 2010 were asked to remove buttons that said "Please I.D. Me" before voting.

Minnesota Majority argued a state law that bans political material within a hundred feet of a polling place was unconstitutional and applied inconsistently.

Dan McGrath, executive director of Minnesota Majority, said he is pleased that the justices also sent the case back to a lower court to decide the question of how the law is applied.

"That's what we were trying to stop with our lawsuit -- different people being treated differently in different polling locations," McGrath said. "I think we still have an opportunity here to correct the law through the courts and provide better clarity and guidance on that."

John Kelly of the Ramsey County Attorney's office said, "We're pleased with the court's decision in upholding the constitutionality of the statute in question. And we look forward to the next phase of the process."