1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to elections; permitting local governments to redraw election districts 
1.3 	before the legislature has been redistricted; requiring new election for all 
1.4 	members of a city council or county board following redistricting; permitting 
1.5 	appointment of election judges not affiliated with a major political party; 
1.6 	eliminating a requirement concerning major political party primary results; 
1.7 	increasing disclosure of contributions and expenditures for local political 
1.8 	campaigns; amending Minnesota Statutes 2004, sections 204B.135, subdivision 
1.9 	1; 204B.14, subdivisions 1a, 3; 204B.21, subdivision 2; 204D.10, subdivision 
1.10 	1; 205.84, subdivision 2; 211A.02, subdivisions 1, 2; 375.025, subdivision 4; 
1.11 	Minnesota Statutes 2005 Supplement, section 204C.08, subdivision 1a; repealing 
1.12 	Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 204D.10, subdivision 2.
1.13 	 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.14 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 204B.135, subdivision 1, is amended to 
1.15 	read:
1.16 		 Subdivision 1.Cities with wards.  A city that elects its council members by wards 
1.17 	may not redistrict those wards before the legislature has been redistricted in a year ending 
1.18 	in one or two.  The wards must be redistricted within must redraw the ward boundaries, if 
1.19 	necessary, no later than 60 days after the legislature has been redistricted or at least 19 
1.20 	weeks before the state primary election in the year ending in two, whichever is first.

1.21 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 204B.14, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:
1.22 		 Subd. 1a.Legislative policy.  It is the intention of the legislature to complete 
1.23 	congressional and legislative redistricting activities in time to permit counties and 
1.24 	municipalities to begin the process of reestablishing precinct boundaries as soon as 
1.25 	possible after the adoption of the congressional and legislative redistricting plans but 
2.1 	in no case  later than 25 weeks before the state primary election January 31  in the year 
2.2 	ending in two.

2.3 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 204B.14, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
2.4 		 Subd. 3.Boundary changes; prohibitions; exception.  Notwithstanding other law 
2.5 	or charter provisions to the contrary, during the period from January 1 in any year ending 
2.6 	in zero to the time when the legislature has been redistricted April 1 in a the next year 
2.7 	ending in one or two, no changes may be made in the boundaries of any election precinct 
2.8 	except as provided in this subdivision.
2.9 	 (a) If a city annexes an unincorporated area located in the same county as the city 
2.10 	and adjacent to the corporate boundary, the annexed area may be included in an election 
2.11 	precinct immediately adjacent to it.
2.12 	 (b) A municipality or county may establish new election precincts lying entirely 
2.13 	within the boundaries of any existing precinct and shall assign names to the new precincts 
2.14 	which include the name of the former precinct.
2.15 	 (c) Precinct boundaries must be reestablished within 60 days of the time when 
2.16 	after the legislature has been redistricted, or at least 19 weeks before the state primary 
2.17 	election in a year ending in two, whichever comes first.  The adoption of reestablished 
2.18 	precinct boundaries becomes effective on the date of the state primary election in the 
2.19 	year ending in two.
2.20 	 Precincts must be arranged so that no precinct lies in more than one legislative 
2.21 	or congressional district.

2.22 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 204B.21, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
2.23 		 Subd. 2.Appointing authority; powers and duties.  Election judges for precincts 
2.24 	in a municipality shall be appointed by the governing body of the municipality.  Election 
2.25 	judges for precincts in unorganized territory and for performing election-related duties 
2.26 	assigned by the county auditor shall be appointed by the county board.  Election judges for 
2.27 	a precinct composed of two or more municipalities must be appointed by the governing 
2.28 	body of the municipality or municipalities responsible for appointing election judges as 
2.29 	provided in the agreement to combine for election purposes.  Appointments shall be made 
2.30 	from lists furnished pursuant to subdivision 1 subject to the eligibility requirements and 
2.31 	other qualifications established or authorized under section 204B.19.  If no lists have been 
2.32 	furnished or if additional election judges are required after all listed names have been 
2.33 	exhausted, the appointing authority may appoint any other individual, whether or not 
2.34 	affiliated with a major political party, to serve as an election judge subject to the same 
3.1 	requirements and qualifications.  The appointments shall be made at least 25 days before 
3.2 	the election at which the election judges will serve.

3.3 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2005 Supplement, section 204C.08, subdivision 1a, is 
3.4 	amended to read:
3.5 		Subd. 1a.Voter's Bill of Rights. The county auditor shall prepare and provide to 
3.6 	each polling place sufficient copies of a poster setting forth the Voter's Bill of Rights as set 
3.7 	forth in this section. Before the hours of voting are scheduled to begin, the election judges 
3.8 	shall post it in a conspicuous location or locations in the polling place. The Voter's Bill 
3.9 	of Rights is as follows:
3.10 	"VOTER'S BILL OF RIGHTS
3.11 	For all persons residing in this state who meet federal voting eligibility requirements:
3.12 	(1) You have the right to be absent from work for the purpose of voting during the 
3.13 	morning of election day.
3.14 	(2) If you are in line at your polling place any time between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 
3.15 	p.m., you have the right to vote.
3.16 	(3) If you can provide the required proof of residence, you have the right to register 
3.17 	to vote and to vote on election day.
3.18 	(4) If you are unable to sign your name, you have the right to orally confirm your 
3.19 	identity with an election judge and to direct another person to sign your name for you.
3.20 	(5) You have the right to request special assistance when voting.
3.21 	(6) If you are unable to enter the polling place, you have the right to request 
3.22 	assistance and to vote at the polling place without leaving your vehicle.
3.23 	(7) If you need assistance, you may be accompanied into the voting booth by a 
3.24 	person of your choice, except by an agent of your employer or union or a candidate.
3.25 	(7)(8) You have the right to bring your minor children into the polling place and 
3.26 	into the voting booth with you.
3.27 	(8)(9) If you have been convicted of a felony but your felony sentence has expired 
3.28 	(been completed) or you have been discharged from your sentence, you have the right to 
3.29 	vote.
3.30 	(9)(10) If you are under a guardianship, you have the right to vote, unless the court 
3.31 	order revokes your right to vote.
3.32 	(10)(11) You have the right to vote without anyone in the polling place trying to 
3.33 	influence your vote.
3.34 	(11)(12) If you make a mistake or spoil your ballot before it is submitted, you have 
3.35 	the right to receive a replacement ballot and vote.
4.1 	(12)(13) You have the right to file a written complaint at your polling place if you 
4.2 	are dissatisfied with the way an election is being run.
4.3 	(13)(14) You have the right to take a sample ballot into the voting booth with you.
4.4 	(14)(15) You have the right to take a copy of this Voter's Bill of Rights into the 
4.5 	voting booth with you."

4.6 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 204D.10, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
4.7 		 Subdivision 1.Partisan offices; nominees.  The candidate for nomination of a 
4.8 	major political party for a partisan office on the state partisan primary ballot who receives 
4.9 	the highest number of votes shall be the nominee of that political party for that office , 
4.10 	except as otherwise provided in subdivision 2.

4.11 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 205.84, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
4.12 		 Subd. 2.Effective date.  After the official certification of the federal decennial 
4.13 	or special census, the governing body of the city shall either confirm the existing ward 
4.14 	boundaries as conforming to the standards of subdivision 1 or redefine ward boundaries 
4.15 	to conform to those standards as provided in section 204B.135, subdivision 1.  If the 
4.16 	governing body of the city fails to take either action within the time required, no further 
4.17 	compensation shall be paid to the mayor or council member until the wards of the city 
4.18 	are either reconfirmed or redefined as required by this section.  An ordinance establishing 
4.19 	new ward boundaries pursuant to section 204B.135, subdivision 1, becomes effective 
4.20 	on the date of the state primary election in the year ending in two for the first municipal 
4.21 	general election after it has been adopted, but no later than the year ending in three, and all 
4.22 	members of the council must be elected at that election.  In a city where council members 
4.23 	are elected by ward to serve for staggered terms of four years, the council shall provide 
4.24 	by ordinance for the manner in which some members will be elected initially to terms of 
4.25 	four years and some to terms of two years.

4.26 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 211A.02, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
4.27 		 Subdivision 1.When and where filed by committees.  (a) A committee or a 
4.28 	candidate who receives contributions or makes disbursements of more than $750 $100 
4.29 	in a calendar year shall submit an initial report to the filing officer within 14 days after 
4.30 	the candidate or committee receives or makes disbursements of more than $750 $100 and 
4.31 	shall continue to make the reports listed in paragraph (b) until a final report is filed.
5.1 	 (b) The committee or candidate must file a report by January 31 of each year 
5.2 	following the year when the initial report was filed and in a year when the candidate's name 
5.3 	or a ballot question appears on the ballot, the candidate or committee shall file a report:
5.4 	 (1) ten days before the primary or special primary;
5.5 	 (2) ten days before the general election or special election; and
5.6 	 (3) 30 days after a general or special election.

5.7 	Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 211A.02, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
5.8 		 Subd. 2.Information required.  The report to be filed by a candidate or committee 
5.9 	must include:
5.10 	 (1) the name of the candidate or ballot question;
5.11 	 (2) the name and address of the person responsible for filing the report;
5.12 	 (3) the total amount of receipts and expenditures for the period from the last previous 
5.13 	report to five days before the current report is due;
5.14 	 (4) the amount, date, and purpose for each expenditure; and
5.15 	 (5) the name, address, and employer, or occupation if self-employed, of any 
5.16 	individual or committee that during the year has made one or more contributions that in 
5.17 	the aggregate are equal to or greater than $500 $100, and the amount and date of each 
5.18 	contribution.

5.19 	Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 375.025, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
5.20 		 Subd. 4.Redistricting plan; election following redistricting.  A redistricting plan 
5.21 	whether prepared by the county board or the redistricting commission shall be filed in the 
5.22 	office of the county auditor.  A redistricting plan shall be effective on the 31st day after 
5.23 	filing unless a later effective date is specified but no plan shall be effective for the next 
5.24 	election of county commissioners unless the plan is filed with the county auditor not less 
5.25 	than 30 days before the first date candidates may file for the office of county commissioner.  
5.26 	One commissioner shall be elected in each district who, at the time of the election, is a 
5.27 	resident of the district.  A person elected may hold the office only while remaining a 
5.28 	resident of the commissioner district or, after June 15 during a year ending in "2", while 
5.29 	remaining a resident of the county.  The county board or the redistricting commission shall 
5.30 	determine the number of members of the county board who shall be elected for two-year 
5.31 	terms and for four-year terms to provide staggered terms on the county board.  Thereafter, 
5.32 	all commissioners shall be elected for four years.  When a county is redistricted, there 
5.33 	shall be a new election of commissioners in all the districts at the next general election 
5.34 	except that if the change made in the boundaries of a district is less than five percent of 
6.1 	the average of all districts of the county, the commissioner in office at the time of the 
6.2 	redistricting shall serve for the full period for which elected.

6.3 	Sec. 11.  REPEALER.
 6.4 	Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 204D.10, subdivision 2, is repealed.

6.5 	Sec. 12. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 6.6 	Sections 1 to 3 and 7 to 10 are effective January 1, 2007.