Minnesota AI laws for political campaigns

Yes. Minn. Stat. 609.771 bans disseminating (or contracting to disseminate) a deep fake, meaning realistic AI or technically manipulated video, audio, image, or photo of someone saying or doing something they did not, if it is done without the depicted person's consent, with intent to injure a candidate or influence an election, and during the protected window (90 days before a party nominating convention, or any time after absentee voting has begun for a primary or general election). Unlike most states there is no disclaimer safe harbor and no express satire or parody exemption, although courts have read the realism requirement to exclude content clearly labeled as parody. Penalties run from a 90-day misdemeanor up to 5 years in prison for repeat offenders, a convicted state or local candidate forfeits the nomination or office, and prosecutors, the depicted person, or an injured candidate can get an injunction. Two federal First Amendment challenges are pending but the law remains in force. Key law (HF 1370 (2023), amended by HF 4772 (2024), Minn. Stat. 609.771).

Minnesota does not prescribe exact wording. Minn. Stat. 609.771 bans disseminating (or contracting to disseminate) a deep fake, meaning realistic AI or technically manipulated video, audio, image, or photo of someone saying or doing something they did not, if it is done without the depicted person's consent, with intent to injure a candidate or influence an election, and during the protected window (90 days before a party nominating convention, or any time after absentee voting has begun for a primary or general election). Unlike most states there is no disclaimer safe harbor and no express satire or parody exemption, although courts have read the realism requirement to exclude content clearly labeled as parody. Penalties run from a 90-day misdemeanor up to 5 years in prison for repeat offenders, a convicted state or local candidate forfeits the nomination or office, and prosecutors, the depicted person, or an injured candidate can get an injunction. Two federal First Amendment challenges are pending but the law remains in force.

Criminal: Up to 90 days jail and/or $1,000 fine; up to 364 days and/or $3,000 if done with intent to cause violence or bodily harm; up to 5 years and/or $10,000 if within 5 years of a prior conviction under this section. Civil: A candidate for state or local office convicted under this section forfeits the nomination or office, and a convicted candidate or other individual is disqualified from appointment to that office or any other office for which the Legislature may set qualifications (added 2024). Private lawsuits: Injunctive relief only (no damages): the Attorney General, a county or city attorney, the depicted individual, or a candidate who is injured or likely to be injured may sue to stop dissemination.

within 90 days before a political party nominating convention, or after the start of absentee voting for a presidential nomination primary, state or local primary, or general election (as amended in 2024). It covers any video recording, motion-picture film, sound recording, electronic image, or photograph (or technological representation substantially derived from one) so realistic that a reasonable person would believe it shows real speech or conduct, whose production depended substantially on technical means rather than a human impersonator.

Minnesota's automatic dialing-announcing device law expressly covers devices that play a 'prerecorded or synthesized voice message' and defines a message as any call regardless of content, so it reaches political robocalls and AI voice calls. A caller may not use such a device unless the subscriber knowingly requested or consented to the message, or a live operator first introduces the call and gets the subscriber's consent before the message plays. Calls must also be made between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. and the device must disconnect within 10 seconds of hang-up. Separately, an AI voice clone of a candidate used to influence an election inside the 609.771 window is a crime. Under federal law, the FCC ruled in February 2024 that AI-generated voices are "artificial" voices under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, so prerecorded or AI voice calls to cell phones need prior express consent, and every such call must identify the caller at the start.

This tracker counts 2 Minnesota AI laws touching politics and elections as of October 5, 2026: 1 on elections, 1 on AI or artificial voice calls.

None pending (No bill amending 609.771 or adding an AI political ad disclaimer was enacted in the 2025 or 2026 sessions. The 2025 to 2026 biennium has ended, so all unpassed bills are dead. Public Citizen lists SF 4029 (2024) as failed.): No election AI bills pending until the 2027 session.