HF 2018

1st Engrossment - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 03/06/2014 03:55pm

A bill for an act
relating to elections; requiring a candidate to file a petition in certain
circumstances; amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 204B.06,
subdivision 1; 204B.11, subdivision 2.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204B.06, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Form of affidavit.

An affidavit of candidacy shall state the name of
the office sought and, except as provided in subdivision 4, shall state that the candidate:

(1) is an eligible voter;

(2) has no other affidavit on file as a candidate for any office at the same primary
or next ensuing general election, except that a candidate for soil and water conservation
district supervisor in a district not located in whole or in part in Anoka, Hennepin,
Ramsey, or Washington County, may also have on file an affidavit of candidacy for
mayor or council member of a statutory or home rule charter city of not more than 2,500
population contained in whole or in part in the soil and water conservation district or for
town supervisor in a town of not more than 2,500 population contained in whole or in part
in the soil and water conservation district; deleted text begin and
deleted text end

(3) is, or will be on assuming the office, 21 years of age or more, and will have
maintained residence in the district from which the candidate seeks election for 30 days
before the general election new text begin ; and
new text end

new text begin (4) affirms that the candidate will meet the residency requirements for submitting a
filing fee in place of a petition, as provided in section 204B.11, subdivision 2, if applicable new text end .

An affidavit of candidacy must include a statement that the candidate's name as
written on the affidavit for ballot designation is the candidate's true name or the name by
which the candidate is commonly and generally known in the community.

An affidavit of candidacy for partisan office shall also state the name of the
candidate's political party or political principle, stated in three words or less.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204B.11, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Petition deleted text begin in place of filing fee deleted text end .

new text begin (a) Except as provided in this paragraph,
new text end at the time of filing an affidavit of candidacy, deleted text begin a deleted text end new text begin any new text end candidate may present a petition in
place of the filing fee. new text begin A candidate must present a petition, and may not submit a filing fee
in place of the petition, if the candidate:
new text end

new text begin (1) will have resided in the state for less than one year, as of the date of the election;
and
new text end

new text begin (2) will have resided in the district from which the candidate seeks to be elected for
fewer than six months, as of the date of the election, or less than one month prior to the
start of the candidate filing period, whichever is earlier.
new text end

new text begin (b) new text end The petition may be signed by any individual eligible to vote for the candidate. A
nominating petition filed pursuant to section 204B.07 is effective as a petition deleted text begin in place of a
filing fee deleted text end new text begin under this subdivision new text end if the nominating petition includes a prominent statement
informing the signers of the petition that it will be used for that purpose.

The number of signatures on a petition deleted text begin in place of a filing fee deleted text end shall be as follows:

deleted text begin (a) deleted text end new text begin (1) new text end for a state office voted on statewide, or for president of the United States,
or United States senator, 2,000;

deleted text begin (b) deleted text end new text begin (2) new text end for a congressional office, 1,000;

deleted text begin (c) deleted text end new text begin (3) new text end for a county or legislative office, or for the office of district judge, 500; and

deleted text begin (d) deleted text end new text begin (4) new text end for any other office which requires a filing fee as prescribed by law, municipal
charter, or ordinance, the lesser of 500 signatures or five percent of the total number of
votes cast in the municipality, ward, or other election district at the preceding general
election at which that office was on the ballot.

An official with whom petitions are filed shall make sample forms for petitions in
place of filing fees available upon request.

Sec. 3. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE.
new text end

new text begin Sections 1 and 2 are effective January 1, 2015, and apply to filings submitted during
a candidate filing period that begins on or after that date.
new text end