1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to elections; proposing an amendment to the 
  1.3             Minnesota Constitution, article VII, section 1; 
  1.4             proposing a new democracy act opening the elections 
  1.5             and political process; appropriating money; amending 
  1.6             Minnesota Statutes 1994, sections 10A.31, by adding a 
  1.7             subdivision; 10A.322, subdivision 1; 129D.14, 
  1.8             subdivision 3; 201.014, subdivision 1; 201.071, 
  1.9             subdivision 1; 201.13, subdivision 1; 201.14; 201.15, 
  1.10            subdivision 1; 202A.14, subdivision 1; 202A.15, 
  1.11            subdivision 2; 202A.16, subdivision 1; 202A.19, 
  1.12            subdivisions 1, 3, 5, and 6; 203B.02, subdivision 1; 
  1.13            203B.03, subdivision 1; 203B.085; 203B.09; 203B.10; 
  1.14            203B.12, by adding a subdivision; 203B.19; 204B.03; 
  1.15            204B.04, subdivisions 1 and 2; 204B.06, subdivision 1; 
  1.16            204B.07, subdivision 1; 204B.09, subdivision 1; 
  1.17            204B.35, subdivision 4; 204C.21, subdivision 1; 
  1.18            204C.24, subdivision 1; 204C.26, subdivision 2; 
  1.19            204C.33, subdivisions 1 and 3; 204D.03, subdivision 1; 
  1.20            and 204D.13, subdivision 2; proposing coding for new 
  1.21            law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 10A; and 203B; 
  1.22            repealing Minnesota Statutes 1994, sections 203B.02, 
  1.23            subdivision 1a; and 211B.11, subdivision 2.  
  1.24  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.25                             ARTICLE 1
  1.26                          FUSION CANDIDACY
  1.27     Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 204B.03, is 
  1.28  amended to read: 
  1.29     204B.03 [MANNER OF NOMINATION.] 
  1.30     Candidates of a major political party for any partisan 
  1.31  office except presidential elector and all candidates for 
  1.32  nonpartisan office shall apply for a place on the primary ballot 
  1.33  by filing an affidavit of candidacy as provided in section 
  1.34  204B.06, and except as otherwise provided in section 204D.07, 
  2.1   subdivision 3, shall be nominated by primary.  Candidates for 
  2.2   any partisan office who do not seek the nomination of a major 
  2.3   political party shall be nominated by nominating petition as 
  2.4   provided in sections 204B.07 and 204B.08, and, except for 
  2.5   presidential elector candidates, shall file an affidavit of 
  2.6   candidacy as provided in section 204B.06.  Candidates for any 
  2.7   partisan office who seek the nomination of a political party, or 
  2.8   political principle other than the candidate's political party, 
  2.9   shall be nominated by nominating petition as provided in 
  2.10  sections 204B.07 and 204B.08, and except for presidential 
  2.11  elector candidates, shall file an affidavit of candidacy as 
  2.12  provided in section 204B.06. 
  2.13     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 204B.04, 
  2.14  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  2.15     Subdivision 1.  [MAJOR PARTY CANDIDATES.] No individual 
  2.16  shall be named on any ballot as the candidate of more than one 
  2.17  major political party.  An individual may be named on a ballot 
  2.18  as a candidate of a major political party and as a candidate of 
  2.19  any political party or political principle that is not a major 
  2.20  political party.  No individual who has been certified by a 
  2.21  canvassing board as the nominee of any major political party 
  2.22  shall be named on any ballot as the candidate of any other major 
  2.23  political party at the next ensuing general election.  
  2.24     Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 204B.04, 
  2.25  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  2.26     Subd. 2.  [CANDIDATES SEEKING NOMINATION BY PRIMARY.] No 
  2.27  individual who seeks nomination for any partisan or nonpartisan 
  2.28  office as a major political party candidate at a primary shall 
  2.29  be nominated for the same office as a major political party 
  2.30  candidate by nominating petition, except as otherwise 
  2.31  provided for partisan offices in section 204D.10, subdivision 2, 
  2.32  and for nonpartisan offices.  No individual who seeks nomination 
  2.33  for any nonpartisan office at a primary shall be nominated for 
  2.34  the same office except as otherwise provided in section 204B.13, 
  2.35  subdivision 4. 
  2.36     Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 204B.06, 
  3.1   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  3.2      Subdivision 1.  [FORM OF AFFIDAVIT.] An affidavit of 
  3.3   candidacy shall state the name of the office sought and shall 
  3.4   state that the candidate:  
  3.5      (a) Is an eligible voter; 
  3.6      (b) Has no other affidavit on file as a candidate for any 
  3.7   other office at the same primary or next ensuing general 
  3.8   election; and 
  3.9      (c) Is, or will be on assuming the office, 21 years of age 
  3.10  or more, and will have maintained residence in the district from 
  3.11  which the candidate seeks election for 30 days before the 
  3.12  general election. 
  3.13     An affidavit of candidacy must include a statement that the 
  3.14  candidate's name as written on the affidavit for ballot 
  3.15  designation is the candidate's true name or the name by which 
  3.16  the candidate is commonly and generally known in the community. 
  3.17     An affidavit of candidacy for partisan office shall also 
  3.18  state the name of the candidate's political party or political 
  3.19  principle, stated in three words or less.  A candidate that has 
  3.20  filed an affidavit of candidacy as a major political party 
  3.21  candidate may file an affidavit accepting the nomination of the 
  3.22  candidate by any other political party or political principle by 
  3.23  stating the name of the other political party or political 
  3.24  principle in three words or less. 
  3.25     Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 204B.07, 
  3.26  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  3.27     Subdivision 1.  [FORM OF PETITION.] A nominating petition 
  3.28  may consist of one or more separate pages each of which shall 
  3.29  state:  
  3.30     (a) The office sought; 
  3.31     (b) The candidate's name and residence address, including 
  3.32  street and number if any; and 
  3.33     (c) The candidate's political party or political principle 
  3.34  or the political party or political principle of the individual 
  3.35  filing the nominating petition expressed in not more than three 
  3.36  words.  No candidate who files for a partisan office by 
  4.1   nominating petition and no candidate who files an affidavit 
  4.2   accepting a nomination by nominating petition shall use the term 
  4.3   "nonpartisan" as a statement of political principle or the name 
  4.4   of the candidate's political party.  No part of the name of a 
  4.5   major political party may be used to designate the political 
  4.6   party or principle of a candidate who files or accepts the 
  4.7   filing for a partisan office by nominating petition, except that 
  4.8   the word "independent" may be used to designate the party or 
  4.9   principle.  A candidate who files by nominating petition to fill 
  4.10  a vacancy in nomination for a nonpartisan office pursuant to 
  4.11  section 204B.13, shall not state any political principle or the 
  4.12  name of any political party on the petition.  
  4.13     Sec. 6.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 204C.21, 
  4.14  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  4.15     Subdivision 1.  [METHOD.] The election judges shall take 
  4.16  all the ballots of the same kind and count the votes cast for 
  4.17  each office or question, beginning with the first office or 
  4.18  question on the ballot.  They shall make one pile of the ballots 
  4.19  for each the candidate who of each political party or political 
  4.20  principle that received votes for that office, or one pile for 
  4.21  the "Yes" votes and one pile for the "No" votes on a question.  
  4.22  They shall make a pile of totally defective ballots and a pile 
  4.23  of totally blank ballots.  They shall make a pile of ballots 
  4.24  that are not totally defective but are defective with respect to 
  4.25  the office or question being counted and a pile of ballots that 
  4.26  are not totally blank but are blank with respect to the office 
  4.27  or question being counted.  After the separation into piles, the 
  4.28  election judges shall examine each pile and remove and place in 
  4.29  the proper pile any ballots that are found in the wrong pile.  
  4.30  The election judges shall count the totally blank and totally 
  4.31  defective ballots and set them aside until the counting is over 
  4.32  for that ballot.  The election judges may pile ballots crosswise 
  4.33  in groups of 25 in the same pile to facilitate counting.  When 
  4.34  their counts agree, the election judges shall announce the 
  4.35  number of ballots in each pile, and shall write the number in 
  4.36  the proper place on the summary statements.  
  5.1      The election judges shall then return all the counted 
  5.2   ballots, and all the partially defective or partially blank 
  5.3   ballots, to the original pile to be separated and counted in the 
  5.4   same manner for the next office or question.  
  5.5      Sec. 7.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 204C.24, 
  5.6   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  5.7      Subdivision 1.  [INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS.] Precinct 
  5.8   summary statements shall be submitted by the election judges in 
  5.9   every precinct.  The election judges shall complete three or 
  5.10  more copies of the summary statements, and each copy shall 
  5.11  contain the following information for each kind of ballot:  
  5.12     (a) the number of votes each candidate of each political 
  5.13  party or political principle received or the number of yes and 
  5.14  no votes on each question, the number of undervotes or partially 
  5.15  blank ballots, and the number of overvotes or partially 
  5.16  defective ballots with respect to each office or question; 
  5.17     (b) the number of totally blank ballots, the number of 
  5.18  totally defective ballots, the number of spoiled ballots, and 
  5.19  the number of unused ballots; 
  5.20     (c) the number of individuals who voted at the election in 
  5.21  the precinct; 
  5.22     (d) the number of voters registering on election day in 
  5.23  that precinct; and 
  5.24     (e) the signatures of the election judges who counted the 
  5.25  ballots certifying that all of the ballots cast were properly 
  5.26  piled, checked, and counted; and that the numbers entered by the 
  5.27  election judges on the summary statements correctly show the 
  5.28  number of votes cast for each candidate and for and against each 
  5.29  question. 
  5.30     Sec. 8.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 204C.26, 
  5.31  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  5.32     Subd. 2.  [SUMMARY STATEMENTS; CONTENTS.] The blank summary 
  5.33  statement forms furnished to each precinct shall identify the 
  5.34  precinct, ward number if any, city, school district if 
  5.35  applicable, or town, date, and kind of election and, under 
  5.36  appropriate headings identifying each color ballot, shall 
  6.1   contain spaces for the election judges to enter the information 
  6.2   required by section 204C.24, subdivision 1. 
  6.3      Each blank summary statement form shall also contain a 
  6.4   certificate to be signed by the election judges stating that the 
  6.5   national flag was displayed on a suitable staff during voting 
  6.6   hours; that all of the ballots cast were properly piled, 
  6.7   checked, and counted; and that the numbers entered by the 
  6.8   election judges on the summary statements correctly show the 
  6.9   number of votes cast for each candidate of each political party 
  6.10  or political principle and for and against each question.  
  6.11     Sec. 9.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 204C.33, 
  6.12  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  6.13     Subdivision 1.  [COUNTY CANVASS.] The county canvassing 
  6.14  board shall meet at the county auditor's office on or before the 
  6.15  third day following the state general election.  After taking 
  6.16  the oath of office, the board shall promptly and publicly 
  6.17  canvass the general election returns delivered to the county 
  6.18  auditor.  Upon completion of the canvass, the board shall 
  6.19  promptly prepare and file with the county auditor a report which 
  6.20  states:  
  6.21     (a) The number of individuals voting at the election in the 
  6.22  county and in each precinct; 
  6.23     (b) The number of individuals registering to vote on 
  6.24  election day and the number of individuals registered before 
  6.25  election day in each precinct; 
  6.26     (c) The names of the candidates for each office of each 
  6.27  political party or political principle and the number of votes 
  6.28  received by each candidate of each political party or political 
  6.29  principle in the county and in each precinct; 
  6.30     (d) The number of votes counted for and against a proposed 
  6.31  change of county lines or county seat; and 
  6.32     (e) The number of votes counted for and against a 
  6.33  constitutional amendment or other question in the county and in 
  6.34  each precinct.  
  6.35     Upon completion of the canvass, the county canvassing board 
  6.36  shall combine the votes for the same candidate without regard to 
  7.1   political party or political principle, and declare the 
  7.2   candidate duly elected who received the highest number of votes 
  7.3   for each county and state office voted for only within the 
  7.4   county.  The county auditor shall promptly certify to the 
  7.5   secretary of state the vote reported by the county canvassing 
  7.6   board for candidates of each political party or political 
  7.7   principle voted for in more than one county.  
  7.8      Sec. 10.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 204C.33, 
  7.9   subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
  7.10     Subd. 3.  [STATE CANVASS.] The state canvassing board shall 
  7.11  meet at the secretary of state's office on the second Tuesday 
  7.12  following the state general election to canvass the certified 
  7.13  copies of the county canvassing board reports received from the 
  7.14  county auditors and shall prepare a report that states: 
  7.15     (a) The number of individuals voting in the state and in 
  7.16  each county; 
  7.17     (b) The number of votes received by each of the 
  7.18  candidates of each political party or political principle, and 
  7.19  the total number of votes received by each of the candidates 
  7.20  without regard to political party or political principle, 
  7.21  specifying the counties in which they were cast; and 
  7.22     (c) The number of votes counted for and against each 
  7.23  constitutional amendment, specifying the counties in which they 
  7.24  were cast.  
  7.25     All members of the state canvassing board shall sign the 
  7.26  report and certify its correctness.  The state canvassing board 
  7.27  shall declare the result within three days after completing the 
  7.28  canvass.  
  7.29     Sec. 11.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 204D.13, 
  7.30  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  7.31     Subd. 2.  [ORDER OF POLITICAL PARTIES.] The first name 
  7.32  printed for each partisan office on the white ballot shall be 
  7.33  that of the candidate of the major political party that received 
  7.34  the smallest average number of votes at the last state general 
  7.35  election.  The succeeding names shall be those of the candidates 
  7.36  of the other major political parties that received a 
  8.1   succeedingly higher average number of votes respectively.  For 
  8.2   the purposes of this subdivision, the average number of votes of 
  8.3   a major political party shall be computed by dividing the total 
  8.4   number of votes counted for all of the party's candidates for 
  8.5   statewide office at the state general election by the number of 
  8.6   those candidates at the election.  The succeeding names shall be 
  8.7   those of the remaining candidates for the office and their 
  8.8   political party or principle.  
  8.9      On voting machines the first name printed for each office 
  8.10  means the position nearest the top or left edge of the machine, 
  8.11  whichever applies.  
  8.12     Sec. 12.  [NEW DEMOCRACY ACT.] 
  8.13     Articles 1 to 3 shall be known as the New Democracy Act. 
  8.14                             ARTICLE 2
  8.15             CITIZEN PARTICIPATION; ELECTION SCHEDULING
  8.16     Section 1.  [10A.025] [CAMPAIGN JURY.] 
  8.17     Subdivision 1.  [CREATION.] The campaign jury is 
  8.18  established.  The secretary of state shall nominate the nine 
  8.19  members of the campaign jury with the advice and consent of the 
  8.20  senate and the house of representatives.  The nine members of 
  8.21  the campaign jury must be chosen to represent the demographic 
  8.22  and political diversity of the state.  The membership terms, 
  8.23  compensation, and removal of members of the campaign jury is 
  8.24  provided in section 15.0575.  The campaign jury expires January 
  8.25  1, 2003.  The campaign jury is located in the offices of the 
  8.26  ethical practices board and shall receive staffing assistance 
  8.27  from the board. 
  8.28     Subd. 2.  [PURPOSE; FUNCTION.] The campaign jury shall meet 
  8.29  in the two weeks prior to the partisan primary and the general 
  8.30  election to review political advertisements and literature used 
  8.31  in campaigns for the office of governor.  The jury shall 
  8.32  announce the results of its review and provide any additional 
  8.33  factual information it determines is necessary to provide 
  8.34  accurate information to the public.  During the week before the 
  8.35  primary and the week before the general election, the jury shall 
  8.36  convene a debate of the candidates for the office of governor 
  9.1   appearing on the ballot for each election. 
  9.2      Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 10A.31, is 
  9.3   amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  9.4      Subd. 13.  [DISTRIBUTION PROHIBITED.] No distribution shall 
  9.5   be made under subdivision 6 to a candidate for the office of 
  9.6   governor who failed to participate in the debate before the 
  9.7   primary sponsored by the campaign jury under section 10A.025.  
  9.8   No distribution shall be made under subdivision 7 to a candidate 
  9.9   for the office of governor who failed to participate in the 
  9.10  debate before the general election sponsored by the campaign 
  9.11  jury board under section 10A.025. 
  9.12     Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 10A.322, 
  9.13  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  9.14     Subdivision 1.  [AGREEMENT BY CANDIDATE.] (a) As a 
  9.15  condition of receiving a public subsidy, a candidate shall sign 
  9.16  and file with the board a written agreement in which the 
  9.17  candidate agrees that the candidate will comply with sections 
  9.18  10A.25 and 10A.324. 
  9.19     (b) Before the first day of filing for office, the board 
  9.20  shall forward agreement forms to all filing officers.  The board 
  9.21  shall also provide agreement forms to candidates on request at 
  9.22  any time.  The candidate may sign an agreement and submit it to 
  9.23  the filing officer on the day of filing an affidavit of 
  9.24  candidacy or petition to appear on the ballot, in which case the 
  9.25  filing officer shall without delay forward signed agreements to 
  9.26  the board.  Alternatively, the candidate may submit the 
  9.27  agreement directly to the board at any time before September 1 
  9.28  preceding the general election.  An agreement may not be filed 
  9.29  after that date.  An agreement once filed may not be rescinded. 
  9.30     (c) The board shall forward a copy of any agreement signed 
  9.31  under this subdivision to the commissioner of revenue.  
  9.32     (d) Notwithstanding any provisions of this section, when a 
  9.33  vacancy occurs that will be filled by means of a special 
  9.34  election and the filing period does not coincide with the filing 
  9.35  period for the general election, a candidate may sign and submit 
  9.36  a spending limit agreement at any time before the deadline for 
 10.1   submission of a signed agreement under section 10A.315. 
 10.2      (e) A candidate for the office of governor must agree to 
 10.3   participate in the debates sponsored by the campaign jury in the 
 10.4   week before the primary and the week before the general election 
 10.5   as a condition of receiving a public subsidy. 
 10.6      Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 129D.14, 
 10.7   subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 10.8      Subd. 3.  [ELIGIBILITY.] To qualify for a grant under this 
 10.9   section, the licensee shall: 
 10.10     (a) Hold a valid noncommercial educational radio station 
 10.11  license or program test authority from the Federal 
 10.12  Communications Commission; 
 10.13     (b) Have facilities adequate to provide local program 
 10.14  production and origination; 
 10.15     (c) Employ a minimum of two full-time professional radio 
 10.16  staff persons or the equivalent in part-time staff and agree to 
 10.17  employ a minimum of two full-time professional radio staff 
 10.18  persons or the equivalent in part-time staff throughout the 
 10.19  fiscal year of the grant; 
 10.20     (d) Maintain a minimum daily broadcasting schedule of (1) 
 10.21  the maximum allowed by its Federal Communications Commission 
 10.22  license or (2) 12 hours a day during the first year of 
 10.23  eligibility for state assistance, 15 hours a day during the 
 10.24  second year of eligibility and 18 hours a day during the third 
 10.25  and following years of eligibility; 
 10.26     (e) Broadcast 365 days a year or the maximum number of days 
 10.27  allowed by its Federal Communications Commission license; 
 10.28     (f) Have a daily broadcast schedule devoted primarily to 
 10.29  programming that serves ascertained community needs of an 
 10.30  educational, informational or cultural nature within its primary 
 10.31  signal area; however, a program schedule of a main channel 
 10.32  carrier designed to further the principles of one or more 
 10.33  particular religious philosophies or including 25 percent or 
 10.34  more religious programming on a broadcast day does not meet this 
 10.35  criterion, nor does a program schedule of a main channel carrier 
 10.36  designed primarily for in-school or professional in-service 
 11.1   audiences; 
 11.2      (g) Originate significant, locally produced programming 
 11.3   designed to serve its community of license; 
 11.4      (h) Have a total annual operating income and budget of at 
 11.5   least $50,000; 
 11.6      (i) Have either a board of directors representing the 
 11.7   community or a community advisory board that conducts advisory 
 11.8   board meetings that are open to the public; 
 11.9      (j) Have a board of directors that:  (1) holds the portion 
 11.10  of any meeting relating to the management or operation of the 
 11.11  radio station open to the public and (2) permits any person to 
 11.12  attend any meeting of the board without requiring a person, as a 
 11.13  condition to attendance at the meeting, to register the person's 
 11.14  name or to provide any other information; and 
 11.15     (k) Agree to allow all candidates appearing on the ballot 
 11.16  for the office of governor five minutes of public service 
 11.17  broadcast time to address the citizens of Minnesota in the week 
 11.18  before the primary and the week before the general election. 
 11.19     (l) Have met the criteria in clauses (a) to (j) for six 
 11.20  months before it is eligible for state assistance under this 
 11.21  section. 
 11.22     The commissioner shall accept the judgment of Corporation 
 11.23  for Public Broadcasting accepted audit when it is available on a 
 11.24  station's eligibility for assistance under the criteria of this 
 11.25  subdivision.  If the station is not qualified for assistance 
 11.26  from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, an independent 
 11.27  audit is required.  If neither is available, the commissioner 
 11.28  may accept a written declaration of eligibility signed by an 
 11.29  independent auditor, a certified public accountant, or the chief 
 11.30  executive officer of the station's parent organization if it is 
 11.31  an institution of education. 
 11.32     Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 202A.14, 
 11.33  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 11.34     Subdivision 1.  [TIME AND MANNER OF HOLDING; POSTPONEMENT.] 
 11.35  At 7:00 p.m. After noon on the first Tuesday second Saturday 
 11.36  in March April in every state general election year there shall 
 12.1   be held for every election precinct a party caucus in the manner 
 12.2   provided in sections 202A.14 to 202A.19, except that in the 
 12.3   event of severe weather a major political party may request the 
 12.4   secretary of state to postpone caucuses.  If a major political 
 12.5   party makes a request, or upon the secretary of state's own 
 12.6   initiative, after consultation with all major political parties 
 12.7   and on the advice of the federal weather bureau and the 
 12.8   department of transportation, the secretary of state may declare 
 12.9   precinct caucuses to be postponed for a week in counties where 
 12.10  weather makes travel especially dangerous.  The secretary of 
 12.11  state shall submit a notice of the postponement to news media 
 12.12  covering the affected counties by 6:00 p.m. noon on the 
 12.13  scheduled day of the caucus.  A postponed caucus may also be 
 12.14  postponed pursuant to this subdivision. 
 12.15     Sec. 6.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 202A.15, 
 12.16  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 12.17     Subd. 2.  The precinct caucuses shall be held at the 
 12.18  regular polling places for each precinct or other suitable 
 12.19  places designated in the call, and no caucus may be adjourned to 
 12.20  any other place or time.  
 12.21     In the event that there is only one suitable meeting place 
 12.22  in the precinct polling place and the major political parties 
 12.23  cannot agree as to its use, the county auditor shall decide by 
 12.24  lot prior to January 15, 1970, in the even-numbered year which 
 12.25  party which is to receive the use of the meeting place in years 
 12.26  evenly divisible by four and which party shall receive the use 
 12.27  of the meeting place in other years in which a state general 
 12.28  election is held.  The report of such selections by lot in the 
 12.29  county shall be filed by the auditor with the county board which 
 12.30  shall publish the same as a part of the minutes of the board 
 12.31  meeting at which the report is filed.  
 12.32     A precinct caucus must be held at a place that meets the 
 12.33  accessibility standards for precinct polling places specified in 
 12.34  section 204B.16, subdivision 5.  In addition, the place where a 
 12.35  precinct caucus is held must contain restrooms that conform to 
 12.36  the standards in the state building code for accessibility by 
 13.1   handicapped persons.  If a precinct caucus is held on a floor of 
 13.2   a building that is either above or below the entrance level for 
 13.3   the building, an elevator must be available.  Any elevators used 
 13.4   for access to the room where the precinct caucus is held must 
 13.5   conform to the standards in the state building code for 
 13.6   accessibility by handicapped persons.  
 13.7      If there are not enough places within a precinct that are 
 13.8   or can be made accessible as provided by this subdivision and 
 13.9   section 204B.16, subdivision 5, for each major party to hold its 
 13.10  precinct caucus, a major party may hold its caucus at a place 
 13.11  outside one of the boundaries of the precinct in order to comply 
 13.12  with accessibility requirements.  
 13.13     If only one place satisfies the accessibility and location 
 13.14  requirements of this subdivision, the major parties shall 
 13.15  alternate use of the place.  Prior to January 1, 1990 1996, and 
 13.16  each even-numbered year thereafter, the county auditor shall 
 13.17  decide by lot which party is to use the accessible place in 
 13.18  years evenly divisible by four and which party is to use the 
 13.19  place in other years when a state general election is held. 
 13.20     Sec. 7.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 202A.16, 
 13.21  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 13.22     Subdivision 1.  Only those individuals who are or will be 
 13.23  eligible to vote 14 years of age or older at the time of the 
 13.24  next state general election, may vote or be elected a delegate 
 13.25  or officer at the precinct caucus.  An eligible voter may A 
 13.26  person 14 years of age or older may vote or be elected a 
 13.27  delegate or officer only in the precinct where the voter person 
 13.28  resides at the time of the caucus. 
 13.29     Sec. 8.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 202A.19, 
 13.30  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 13.31     Subdivision 1.  No school board, county board of 
 13.32  commissioners, township board, or city council may conduct a 
 13.33  meeting after 6:00 p.m. noon on the day of a major political 
 13.34  party precinct caucus. 
 13.35     Sec. 9.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 202A.19, 
 13.36  subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 14.1      Subd. 3.  The University of Minnesota may not schedule an 
 14.2   event which will take place after 6:00 p.m. noon on the day of a 
 14.3   major political party precinct caucus unless permission to do so 
 14.4   has been received from the board of regents.  No state 
 14.5   university may schedule an event which will take place after 
 14.6   6:00 p.m. noon on the day of a major political party precinct 
 14.7   caucus unless permission to do so has been received from the 
 14.8   state university board.  No community college may schedule an 
 14.9   event which will take place after 6:00 p.m. noon on the day of a 
 14.10  major political party precinct caucus unless permission to do so 
 14.11  has been received from the state board for community colleges. 
 14.12     Sec. 10.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 202A.19, 
 14.13  subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
 14.14     Subd. 5.  No public elementary or secondary school may hold 
 14.15  a school sponsored event after 6:00 p.m. noon on the day of a 
 14.16  major political party precinct caucus. 
 14.17     Sec. 11.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 202A.19, 
 14.18  subdivision 6, is amended to read: 
 14.19     Subd. 6.  No state agency, board, commission, department or 
 14.20  committee shall conduct a public meeting after 6:00 p.m. noon on 
 14.21  the day of a major political party precinct caucus. 
 14.22     Sec. 12.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 203B.02, 
 14.23  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 14.24     Subdivision 1.  [UNABLE TO GO TO POLLING PLACE VOTING 
 14.25  BEFORE ELECTION DAY.] Any eligible voter who reasonably expects 
 14.26  to be unable to go to the polling place on election day in the 
 14.27  precinct where the individual maintains residence because of 
 14.28  absence from the precinct, illness, disability, religious 
 14.29  discipline, observance of a religious holiday, or service as an 
 14.30  election judge in another precinct may vote up to 30 days early 
 14.31  or by absentee ballot as provided in sections 203B.04 to 203B.15 
 14.32  this chapter. 
 14.33     Sec. 13.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 203B.03, 
 14.34  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 14.35     Subdivision 1.  [VIOLATION.] No individual shall 
 14.36  intentionally:  
 15.1      (a) make or sign any false certificate required by this 
 15.2   chapter; 
 15.3      (b) make any false or untrue statement in any application 
 15.4   for absentee ballots; 
 15.5      (c) apply for early or absentee ballots more than once in 
 15.6   any election with the intent to cast an illegal ballot; 
 15.7      (d) exhibit a ballot marked by that individual to any other 
 15.8   individual; 
 15.9      (e) do any act in violation of the provisions of this 
 15.10  chapter for the purpose of casting an illegal vote in any 
 15.11  precinct or for the purpose of aiding another to cast an illegal 
 15.12  vote; or 
 15.13     (f) use information from early or absentee ballot materials 
 15.14  or records for purposes unrelated to elections, political 
 15.15  activities, or law enforcement; or 
 15.16     (g) provide assistance to an absentee voter except in the 
 15.17  manner provided by section 204C.15, subdivision 1. 
 15.18     Before inspecting information from absentee ballot 
 15.19  materials or records, an individual shall provide identification 
 15.20  to the public official having custody of the material or 
 15.21  information.  
 15.22     Sec. 14.  [203B.081] [VOTING BEFORE ELECTION DAY.] 
 15.23     An eligible voter may vote early or by absentee ballot in 
 15.24  the office of the county auditor and at any other polling place 
 15.25  designated by the county auditor during the 30 days before the 
 15.26  election.  At least one voting booth in each polling place must 
 15.27  be made available by the county auditor for this purpose.  
 15.28     Sec. 15.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 203B.085, is 
 15.29  amended to read: 
 15.30     203B.085 [COUNTY AUDITOR'S OFFICE TO REMAIN OPEN DURING 
 15.31  CERTAIN HOURS PRECEDING ELECTION.] 
 15.32     The county auditor's office in each county must be open for 
 15.33  acceptance of absentee ballot applications, early voting, and 
 15.34  casting of absentee ballots between the hours of 1:00 to 3:00 
 15.35  p.m. on Saturday and 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Monday immediately 
 15.36  preceding a primary or general election.  The school district 
 16.1   clerk, when performing the county auditor's election duties, 
 16.2   need not comply with this section. 
 16.3      Sec. 16.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 203B.09, is 
 16.4   amended to read: 
 16.5      203B.09 [FORM AND CONTENT OF REQUIRED MATERIALS; RULES OF 
 16.6   SECRETARY OF STATE.] 
 16.7      The secretary of state shall adopt rules establishing the 
 16.8   form, content, and type size and style for the printing of blank 
 16.9   applications for absentee ballots, absentee voter lists, return 
 16.10  envelopes, certificates of eligibility to vote by absentee 
 16.11  ballot and early voting ballots, ballot envelopes and directions 
 16.12  for casting an absentee or early voting ballot.  Any official 
 16.13  charged with the duty of printing any of these materials shall 
 16.14  do so in accordance with these rules.  
 16.15     Sec. 17.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 203B.10, is 
 16.16  amended to read: 
 16.17     203B.10 [DELIVERY OF ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATIONS TO 
 16.18  ELECTION JUDGES.] 
 16.19     On the day before an election:  
 16.20     (a) The county auditor shall deliver to the municipal 
 16.21  clerks within that county the early voting ballots; the 
 16.22  applications for absentee ballots theretofore received and 
 16.23  endorsed as provided in section 203B.06, subdivision 5; and 
 16.24     (b) The municipal clerks shall deliver the ballots and 
 16.25  applications received from the county auditor and the 
 16.26  applications for absentee ballots filed with their respective 
 16.27  offices and endorsed as provided in section 203B.06, subdivision 
 16.28  5, to the appropriate election judges.  Applications received on 
 16.29  election day pursuant to section 203B.04, subdivision 2, shall 
 16.30  be promptly delivered to the election judges in the precincts or 
 16.31  to the judges of an absentee ballot board. 
 16.32     Sec. 18.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 203B.12, is 
 16.33  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 16.34     Subd. 7.  [NAMES OF PERSONS SUBMITTING EARLY OR ABSENTEE 
 16.35  BALLOTS.] The names of voters who have voted early or submitted 
 16.36  an absentee ballot return envelope to the county auditor or 
 17.1   municipal clerk may not be made available for public inspection 
 17.2   until the close of voting on election day.  
 17.3      Sec. 19.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 203B.19, is 
 17.4   amended to read: 
 17.5      203B.19 [RECORDING APPLICATIONS.] 
 17.6      Upon accepting an application, the county auditor shall 
 17.7   record in a permanent register on the statewide registration 
 17.8   system the voter's name, address of present or former residence 
 17.9   in Minnesota, mailing address, date of birth, school district 
 17.10  number, and the category under section 203B.16, to which the 
 17.11  voter belongs.  After recording this information, The county 
 17.12  auditor shall retain the application record for two years after 
 17.13  the date of the next state general election.  A voter whose name 
 17.14  is recorded as provided in this section shall not be required to 
 17.15  register under any other provision of law in order to vote under 
 17.16  sections 203B.16 to 203B.27.  
 17.17     The polling place rosters prepared by the secretary of 
 17.18  state must include separate pages to list the persons whose 
 17.19  applications have been recorded as provided in this section.  
 17.20  The election judges shall indicate on the roster each person for 
 17.21  whom an early voting or absentee ballot has been accepted.  
 17.22     Sec. 20.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 204B.09, 
 17.23  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 17.24     Subdivision 1.  [CANDIDATES IN STATE AND COUNTY GENERAL 
 17.25  ELECTIONS.] Except as otherwise provided by this subdivision, 
 17.26  affidavits of candidacy and nominating petitions for county, 
 17.27  state and federal offices filled at the state general election 
 17.28  shall be filed not more than 70 98 days nor less than 56 70 days 
 17.29  before the state primary.  The affidavit may be prepared and 
 17.30  signed at any time between 60 days before the filing period 
 17.31  opens and the last day of the filing period.  Notwithstanding 
 17.32  other law to the contrary, the affidavit of candidacy must be 
 17.33  signed in the presence of a notarial officer.  Candidates for 
 17.34  presidential electors may file petitions on or before the state 
 17.35  primary day.  Nominating petitions to fill vacancies in 
 17.36  nominations shall be filed as provided in section 204B.13.  No 
 18.1   affidavit or petition shall be accepted later than 5:00 p.m. on 
 18.2   the last day for filing.  Affidavits and petitions for offices 
 18.3   to be voted on in only one county shall be filed with the county 
 18.4   auditor of that county.  Affidavits and petitions for offices to 
 18.5   be voted on in more than one county shall be filed with the 
 18.6   secretary of state. 
 18.7      Sec. 21.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 204B.35, 
 18.8   subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
 18.9      Subd. 4.  [ABSENTEE AND EARLY BALLOTS; PREPARATION; 
 18.10  DELIVERY.] Ballots necessary to fill applications of absentee 
 18.11  voters and early voters shall be prepared and delivered at least 
 18.12  30 45 days before the election to the officials who administer 
 18.13  the provisions of chapter 203B.  
 18.14     This section applies to school district elections held on 
 18.15  the same day as a statewide election or an election for a county 
 18.16  or municipality located partially or wholly within the school 
 18.17  district. 
 18.18     Sec. 22.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 204D.03, 
 18.19  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 18.20     Subdivision 1.  [STATE PRIMARY.] The state primary shall be 
 18.21  held on the first Tuesday after the second Monday Saturday in 
 18.22  September August in each even-numbered year to select the 
 18.23  nominees of the major political parties for partisan offices and 
 18.24  the nominees for nonpartisan offices to be filled at the state 
 18.25  general election, other than presidential electors.  
 18.26     Sec. 23.  [APPROPRIATION.] 
 18.27     $....... is appropriated from the general fund to the 
 18.28  ethical practices board for the purposes of section 1, to be 
 18.29  available until June 30, 1997. 
 18.30     Sec. 24.  [TASK FORCE.] 
 18.31     A legislative task force is created to study deregulation 
 18.32  of political parties.  The task force shall review current laws 
 18.33  affecting activities of political parties.  The task force is 
 18.34  composed of ten members.  Three of the members must be appointed 
 18.35  by the senate rules committee, two must be appointed by the 
 18.36  senate minority leader, three must be appointed by the speaker 
 19.1   of the house of representatives, and two must be appointed by 
 19.2   the minority leader of the house of representatives.  The task 
 19.3   force shall report its findings to the legislature by February 
 19.4   1, 1996. 
 19.5      Sec. 25.  [REPEALER.] 
 19.6      Minnesota Statutes 1994, sections 203B.02, subdivision 1a; 
 19.7   and 211B.11, subdivision 2, are repealed.  
 19.8      Sec. 26.  [REVISOR'S INSTRUCTION.] 
 19.9      The revisor of statutes shall change the chapter heading of 
 19.10  Minnesota Statutes, chapter 203B, to "ABSENTEE AND EARLY VOTING."
 19.11                             ARTICLE 3
 19.12    OPENING SCHOOL DISTRICT ELECTIONS TO PERSONS AGED 16 AND 17
 19.13     Section 1.  [CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.] 
 19.14     An amendment to the Minnesota Constitution, article VII, 
 19.15  section 1, is proposed to the people.  If the amendment is 
 19.16  adopted, article VII, section 1, will read: 
 19.17     Section 1.  Every person 18 years of age or more who has 
 19.18  been a citizen of the United States for three months and who has 
 19.19  resided in the precinct for 30 days next preceding an election 
 19.20  shall be entitled to vote in that precinct.  Every person 16 
 19.21  years of age or more who has been a citizen of the United States 
 19.22  for three months and who has resided in the precinct for 30 days 
 19.23  next preceding an election shall be entitled to vote in that 
 19.24  precinct in a school district election.  The place of voting by 
 19.25  one otherwise qualified who has changed his residence within 30 
 19.26  days preceding the election shall be prescribed by law.  The 
 19.27  following persons shall not be entitled or permitted to vote at 
 19.28  any election in this state:  A person not meeting the above 
 19.29  requirements; a person who has been convicted of treason or 
 19.30  felony, unless restored to civil rights; a person under 
 19.31  guardianship, or a person who is insane or not mentally 
 19.32  competent. 
 19.33     Sec. 2.  [SCHEDULE AND QUESTION.] 
 19.34     The amendment shall be submitted to the people at the 1996 
 19.35  general election. 
 19.36     The question submitted to the people shall be:  "Shall the 
 20.1   Minnesota Constitution be amended to permit persons aged 16 and 
 20.2   17 to vote in school district elections? 
 20.3                                      Yes .......
 20.4                                      No ........"
 20.5      Election procedures shall be as provided by law. 
 20.6      Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 201.014, 
 20.7   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 20.8      Subdivision 1.  [REQUIREMENTS.] Except as provided in 
 20.9   subdivision 2, an individual who meets the following 
 20.10  requirements at the time of an election is eligible to vote.  
 20.11  The individual must:  
 20.12     (a) Be 18 years of age or older; 
 20.13     (b) Be a citizen of the United States; and 
 20.14     (c) Maintain residence in Minnesota for 20 days immediately 
 20.15  preceding the election. 
 20.16  An individual 16 years of age or older at the time of an 
 20.17  election who meets the requirements of clauses (b) and (c) is 
 20.18  eligible to vote in a school district election.  
 20.19     Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 201.071, 
 20.20  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 20.21     Subdivision 1.  [FORM.] A registration card must be of 
 20.22  suitable size and weight for mailing and contain spaces for the 
 20.23  following required information:  voter's first name, middle 
 20.24  name, and last name; voter's previous name, if any; voter's 
 20.25  current address; voter's previous address, if any; voter's date 
 20.26  of birth; voter's municipality and county of residence; voter's 
 20.27  telephone number; date of registration; and voter's signature.  
 20.28  The card must also contain the following certification:  I 
 20.29  certify that I will be at least 18 years old on election day or 
 20.30  at least 16 years old the day of a school district election and 
 20.31  am a citizen of the United States, that I reside at the address 
 20.32  shown and will have resided in Minnesota for 20 days immediately 
 20.33  preceding election day, and that I am not under guardianship of 
 20.34  the person, have not been found by a court to be legally 
 20.35  incompetent to vote, and have not been convicted of a felony 
 20.36  without having my civil rights restored.  I understand that 
 21.1   giving false information to procure a registration is a felony 
 21.2   punishable by not more than five years imprisonment and a fine 
 21.3   of not more than $10,000, or both. 
 21.4      The form of the voter registration card must be as provided 
 21.5   in the rules of the secretary of state. 
 21.6      Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 201.13, 
 21.7   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 21.8      Subdivision 1.  [COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH, REPORTS OF 
 21.9   DECEASED RESIDENTS.] The commissioner of health shall report 
 21.10  monthly to the secretary of state the name, address, date of 
 21.11  birth, and county of residence of each individual 18 16 years of 
 21.12  age or older who has died while maintaining residence in 
 21.13  Minnesota since the last previous report.  The secretary of 
 21.14  state shall determine if any of the persons listed in the report 
 21.15  are registered to vote and shall prepare a list of those 
 21.16  registrants for each county auditor.  Within 60 days after 
 21.17  receiving the list from the secretary of state, the county 
 21.18  auditor shall change the status of those registrants to 
 21.19  "deceased" in the statewide registration system and remove from 
 21.20  the files the registration cards of the voters reported to be 
 21.21  deceased. 
 21.22     Sec. 6.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 201.14, is 
 21.23  amended to read: 
 21.24     201.14 [COURT ADMINISTRATOR OF DISTRICT COURT, REPORT 
 21.25  CHANGES OF NAMES.] 
 21.26     The court administrator of district court in each county 
 21.27  shall report monthly to the county auditor the name and address 
 21.28  of each individual, 18 16 years of age or over, who maintains 
 21.29  residence in that county and whose name was changed during the 
 21.30  month preceding the date of the report, by marriage, divorce or 
 21.31  any order or decree of the court.  Upon receipt of the report, 
 21.32  the county auditor shall notify by mail each registered voter 
 21.33  whose name was changed that it will be necessary to reregister 
 21.34  under the changed name in order to vote. 
 21.35     Sec. 7.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 201.15, 
 21.36  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 22.1      Subdivision 1.  [GUARDIANSHIPS, INCOMPETENTS AND 
 22.2   PSYCHOPATHS.] The court administrator in each county shall 
 22.3   report monthly to the county auditor the name and address of 
 22.4   each individual 18 16 years of age or over, who maintains 
 22.5   residence in that county and who, during the month preceding the 
 22.6   date of the report:  
 22.7      (a) was placed under a guardianship of the person; 
 22.8      (b) adjudged legally incompetent by reason of mental 
 22.9   illness, mental deficiency, or inebriation; or 
 22.10     (c) was adjudged a sexually dangerous person or a person 
 22.11  with a sexual psychopathic personality.  
 22.12     The judge shall also report the same information for each 
 22.13  individual transferred to the jurisdiction of the court who 
 22.14  meets a condition specified in clause (a), (b) or (c).  Upon 
 22.15  receipt of the report, the county auditor shall determine 
 22.16  whether any individual named in the report is registered to 
 22.17  vote.  The county auditor shall change the status on the record 
 22.18  in the statewide registration system of any individual named in 
 22.19  the report to indicate that the individual is not eligible to 
 22.20  reregister or vote.  
 22.21     Sec. 8.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
 22.22     Sections 3 to 7 are effective January 1, 1997, if the 
 22.23  amendment proposed in sections 1 and 2 is adopted.