How can media coverage of polling influence the outcome of an election check all that apply

Do not enter a polling place unless you are authorized

Only authorized people are allowed inside a polling place during voting hours, such as voters and their minor children, poll workers and someone assisting a voter. People may not gather or linger in the polling place or within 100 feet of the building.

For a complete list of who's allowed inside, see Minnesota Statutes 204C.06.

Do not campaign in or near the polling place

You have the right to vote without anyone in the polling place trying to influence your vote.

No one can campaign inside the polling place or within 100 feet of the building. If the polling place is on public property, no one can campaign anywhere on the property, even beyond 100 feet. However, the prohibition of signs and campaign materials within 100 feet does not apply to adjacent private property.

Do not wear campaign materials

In the polling place, you cannot display campaign t-shirts, buttons or literature which relate to specific candidates, official political parties, or ballot questions on the ballot that day. You will need to either cover up or remove these items while in the polling place.

Do not initial or sign your ballot, or mark it with a sticker

Voters may not place pre-printed stickers on their ballot in the write-in space (Minnesota Rules 8230.1450).

Taking photos is discouraged

There is no law that strictly prohibits taking photos or videos in the polling place to record your own voting experience. However, the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State discourages this activity for the following reasons:

Voters have a right to privacy, both as to how an individual has voted as well as whether or not an individual has voted. Either or both of these could be compromised by pictures or video. In addition, other voters' objections to being photographed could lead to disruptions within the polling place.
When voter turnout is high there may be lines and polling places may be crowded. Voters have a right to take the time they need to vote, but should not take extra time to take pictures.
In addition, Minnesota Statutes 204C.17 and Minnesota Statutes 204C.18 prohibit voters from showing their marked ballot to others. Taking photographs or video of your own marked ballot could violate this prohibition.

How to file a complaint

If you believe someone has violated Minnesota election law, you will need to provide information to the proper authorities. Learn more about Secure and Fair Elections.

Making contributions

The law limits the sources and amounts of funds used to finance federal elections. Contributions are subject to the limits listed in this chart.

Contribution limits for 2021-2022

RecipientCandidate committeePAC† (SSF and nonconnected)Party committee: state/district/localParty committee: nationalAdditional national party committee accounts‡DonorIndividualCandidate committeePAC: multicandidatePAC: nonmulticandidateParty committee: state/district/localParty committee: national

$2,900* per election	$5,000 per year	$10,000 per year (combined)	$36,500* per year	$109,500* per account, per year
$2,000 per election	$5,000 per year	Unlimited transfers	Unlimited transfers
$5,000 per election	$5,000 per year	$5,000 per year (combined)	$15,000 per year	$45,000 per account, per year
$2,900* per election	$5,000 per year	$10,000 per year (combined)	$36,500* per year	$109,500* per account, per year
$5,000 per election (combined)	$5,000 per year (combined)	Unlimited transfers	Unlimited transfers
$5,000 per election**	$5,000 per year	Unlimited transfers	Unlimited transfers

*Indexed for inflation in odd-numbered years.

†“PAC” here refers to a committee that makes contributions to other federal political committees. Independent-expenditure-only political committees (sometimes called “Super PACs”) may accept unlimited contributions, including from corporations and labor organizations.

‡The limits in this column apply to a national party committee’s accounts for: (i) the presidential nominating convention; (ii) election recounts and contests and other legal proceedings; and (iii) national party headquarters buildings. A party’s national committee, Senate campaign committee and House campaign committee are each considered separate national party committees with separate limits. Only a national party committee, not the parties’ national congressional campaign committees, may have an account for the presidential nominating convention.

**Additionally, a national party committee and its Senatorial campaign committee may contribute up to $51,200 combined per campaign to each Senate candidate.

Public communications

Individuals and groups may support or oppose a candidate by paying for public communications (communications by means of any broadcast, cable or satellite communication, newspaper, magazine, outdoor advertising facility, mass mailing or telephone bank to the general public, or any other form of general public political advertising). Communications over the internet are not considered "public communications," except for communications placed for a fee on another person’s website. Communications over the internet are discussed in the section "Using a computer for political activity."

Coordinated communications

When an individual or group pays for a communication that is coordinated with a campaign, a candidate, a political party committee, or with an agent of a campaign, candidate, or political party committee, the communication results in an in-kind contribution subject to limitations and prohibitions, and must display a disclaimer notice.

Independent expenditures

Individuals and groups may support or oppose candidates by making independent expenditures. An independent expenditure is an expenditure for a communication that expressly advocates the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate and which is not made in coordination with any campaign, candidate, political party committee, or with an agent of any campaign, candidate, or political party committee.

Independent expenditures are not subject to any contribution limits, but may be subject to reporting requirements. (The campaign of a candidate benefiting from an independent expenditure has no reporting obligation.) An independent expenditure must display a disclaimer notice.

Acting as a group

A group of persons must register as a political committee within 10 days of raising or spending more than $1,000 in contributions or expenditures during a calendar year if the group’s major purpose is federal campaign activity (that is, the nomination or election of federal candidates). Groups that wish to avoid registration and disclosure should make certain that their activities do not exceed this registration threshold.

Volunteering

Personal services

An individual may help candidates and committees by volunteering personal services. For example, a volunteer may want to take part in a voter drive or offer skills to a political committee. Volunteer services are not considered contributions as long as the volunteer is not paid by anyone. (If services are compensated by someone other than the committee itself, the payment is considered a contribution by that person to the committee.)

A volunteer may spend unlimited money for normal living expenses.

Home events

Individuals may use their homes and personal property for activities benefiting a candidate or political party without making a contribution. For instance, an individual might want to hold a fundraising party or reception in his or her home. Costs for invitations and for food and beverages served at the event are not considered contributions if they remain under certain limits. These expenses on behalf of a candidate are limited to $1,000 per election; expenses on behalf of a political party are limited to $2,000 per year. Any amount spent in excess of the limits is a contribution to the candidate or party committee.

Corporate or union facilities

Individuals who are employees, stockholders or members of a corporation or labor union may use the organization's facilities — for example, the phone — in connection with personal volunteer activities, subject to the rules and practices of the organization. The activity, however, cannot prevent an employee from completing normal work, nor can it interfere with the organization's normal activity.

If volunteer activity exceeds "incidental use" of the facilities — one hour a week or four hours a month — a volunteer must reimburse the corporation or union the normal rental charge within a commercially reasonable time. If a volunteer uses the organization's equipment to produce campaign materials, reimbursement is required regardless of how much time is spent. Any reimbursement for use of facilities is considered a contribution from the individual to the political committee that benefits.

Using a computer for political activity

An uncompensated individual or group of individuals may engage in internet activities for the purpose of influencing a federal election without restriction.

This exemption applies to individuals acting with or without the knowledge or consent of a campaign or a political party committee. Possible internet activities include, but are not limited to:

Sending or forwarding email
Providing a hyperlink to a website
Creating, maintaining or hosting a website and paying a nominal fee for the use of a website.

Please note that these exemptions apply regardless of whether the individual owns the computer he or she is using.

Using a work computer for online political activity

Personal use of computers and internet access is allowed, subject to the employer’s rules and so long as the individual is not compensated for the activity.

Sending personal emails regarding political topics or federal elections

Individuals may send unlimited emails on any political topic without identifying who they are or whether their messages have been authorized by any party or campaign committee.

Posting comments to a blog in connection with a federal election

Uncompensated blogging, whether done by individuals or a group of individuals, incorporated or unincorporated, is exempt from regulation, even in those cases where a nominal fee is paid.

Paying to place an ad on someone else’s website

Internet communications placed on another person’s website for a fee are considered "general public political advertising," and are thus "public communications" under the law. As such,these payments may result in contributions or expenditures. Other regulations regarding coordinated communications and disclaimer requirements would also apply.

Presidential elections

Presidential elections are subject to many of the same funding rules as House and Senate campaigns. For information on how to support a presidential candidate, see the information on this page regarding contributions, public communications and volunteering.

Filing a complaint

Anyone can submit a complaint if he or she believes a violation of the law has occurred or is about to occur. The requirements for submitting a complaint are set by law.

Continue learning

What are the three factors that influence voters decisions at the polls?

The three cleavage-based voting factors focused on in research are class, gender and religion. Firstly, religion is often a factor which influences one's party choice.

How can social media influence the election process quizlet?

Social media can help voters get more informed about politics, but it can also provide false information that could affect the voters' opinions in a negative way.

How does the media influence politics quizlet?

The media helps; influence what issues voters should care about in elections. What criteria they should use to evaluate candidates - (by placing a spotlight on certain issues). As the mass media have become more important in political campaigns, political party organizations have become less important.

What role does the media play in elections quizlet?

How does the media play a role in the political process? media helps candidates win by infleuncing the people viewing them to vote for the candidate advertise.