A social media post has circulated claiming that Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz violated state election laws by assisting his son while voting.

Wow! Here is Tim Walz appearing to help his son vote.

According to Minnesota law a candidate can’t assist someone with voting.

Did Tim Walz break the law?

H/t @GrageDustin pic.twitter.com/B6rx2PIujT

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) October 23, 2024

 Verdict: False

In June 2023, Minnesota’s HF 1830 Omnibus Bill amended state law to allow candidates to assist voters, striking a previous restriction that barred them from doing so. This change aligned with the Voting Rights Act, which protects voters’ rights to choose their own assistance if needed.

Fact Check:

Walz publicly compared former President Donald Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden in New York City to a pro-Nazi event held at the venue in 1939, according to The Hill. At the same time, Walz hosted a livestream on Twitch with Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to garner the youth vote, The New York Times reported.

The X post claims that Walz broke the law of Minnesota by helping his son vote in October 2024. “Here is Tim Walz appearing to help his son vote. According to Minnesota law a candidate can’t assist someone with voting,” the post’s caption claims. “Did Tim Walz break the law?”

In reality, Walz did not break any laws. This misconception arises from a misunderstanding of Minnesota’s election laws, which were significantly updated in June 2023 through the passage of the HF 1830 Omnibus Bill. The amendment specifically removed the prohibition against candidates assisting voters. According to the new legislation, candidates may now provide assistance to voters who request help, ensuring that voters can receive support from anyone they choose, including a candidate, without legal consequences.

“A voter who claims a need for assistance because of inability to read English or physical inability to mark a ballot may obtain the aid of two election judges who are members of different major political parties,” the new law reads. Walz’s son, Gus, has a non-verbal learning disorder and ADHD, which allows him to receive this assistance. (RELATED: Video Showing Bucks County Election Worker Ripping Up Ballots Is Fake)

Amending the law stemmed from concerns that the previous restriction was unenforceable and conflicting with federal protections under the Voting Rights Act. This act safeguards voters’ rights to assistance, allowing them to select helpers without interference. As such, Walz’son falls well within the current legal framework.

This legal clarification is supported by statements from the ACLU of Minnesota, which has advocated for broader voter assistance access, emphasizing that the right to help someone at the polls is crucial to upholding democratic processes.

This is not the first time Check Your Fact has debunked misinformation in regards of voting,