1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to elections; extending the distance a 
  1.3             polling place may be located outside a precinct in the 
  1.4             metropolitan area; authorizing the appointment of 
  1.5             election judges who are not affiliated with a major 
  1.6             political party; amending Minnesota Statutes 2000, 
  1.7             sections 204B.16, subdivision 1; 204B.21, subdivision 
  1.8             2. 
  1.9   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.10     Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 204B.16, 
  1.11  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  1.12     Subdivision 1.  [AUTHORITY; LOCATION.] The governing body 
  1.13  of each municipality and of each county with precincts in 
  1.14  unorganized territory shall designate by ordinance or resolution 
  1.15  a polling place for each election precinct.  Polling places must 
  1.16  be designated and ballots must be distributed so that no one is 
  1.17  required to go to more than one polling place to vote in a 
  1.18  school district and municipal election held on the same day.  
  1.19  The polling place for a precinct in a city or in a school 
  1.20  district located in whole or in part in the metropolitan area 
  1.21  defined by section 473.121 shall be located within the 
  1.22  boundaries of the precinct or within 3,000 3,500 feet of one of 
  1.23  those boundaries unless a single polling place is designated for 
  1.24  a city pursuant to section 204B.14, subdivision 2, or a school 
  1.25  district pursuant to section 205A.11.  The polling place for a 
  1.26  precinct in unorganized territory may be located outside the 
  1.27  precinct at a place which is convenient to the voters of the 
  2.1   precinct.  If no suitable place is available within a town or 
  2.2   within a school district located outside the metropolitan area 
  2.3   defined by section 473.121, then the polling place for a town or 
  2.4   school district may be located outside the town or school 
  2.5   district within five miles of one of the boundaries of the town 
  2.6   or school district. 
  2.7      Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 204B.21, 
  2.8   subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  2.9      Subd. 2.  [APPOINTING AUTHORITY; POWERS AND DUTIES.] 
  2.10  Election judges for precincts in a municipality shall be 
  2.11  appointed by the governing body of the municipality.  Election 
  2.12  judges for precincts in unorganized territory and for performing 
  2.13  election-related duties assigned by the county auditor shall be 
  2.14  appointed by the county board.  Election judges for a precinct 
  2.15  composed of two or more municipalities must be appointed by the 
  2.16  governing body of the municipality or municipalities responsible 
  2.17  for appointing election judges as provided in the agreement to 
  2.18  combine for election purposes.  Appointments shall be made from 
  2.19  lists furnished pursuant to subdivision 1 subject to the 
  2.20  eligibility requirements and other qualifications established or 
  2.21  authorized under section 204B.19.  If no lists have been 
  2.22  furnished or if additional election judges are required after 
  2.23  all listed names have been exhausted, the appointing authority 
  2.24  may appoint any other individual who is not affiliated with a 
  2.25  major political party to serve as an election judge subject to 
  2.26  the same requirements and qualifications.  The appointments 
  2.27  shall be made at least 25 days before the election at which the 
  2.28  election judges will serve.  
  2.29     Sec. 3.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.30     This act is effective the day after its final enactment.