1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to elections; changing certain voter registration procedures and 
1.3 	requirements, filing requirements, voting procedures, election day prohibitions, 
1.4 	and ballot preparation requirements; establishing a complaint and resolution 
1.5 	process; requiring challengers to prove residence in this state; requiring certain 
1.6 	notices; changing a petition requirement; imposing penalties; amending 
1.7 	Minnesota Statutes 2006, sections 201.016, subdivision 1a; 201.056; 201.061, 
1.8 	subdivisions 1, 3, by adding a subdivision; 201.071, subdivision 1; 201.171; 
1.9 	203B.07, subdivision 2; 203B.081; 203B.12, subdivision 4; 203B.13, 
1.10 	subdivisions 1, 2; 204B.09, subdivisions 1, 1a, 3; 204B.11, subdivision 2; 
1.11 	204B.16, subdivision 1; 204B.45, subdivisions 1, 2; 204C.06, subdivisions 1, 
1.12 	8; 204C.07, subdivision 3a, by adding a subdivision; 204D.09, subdivision 2; 
1.13 	204D.16; 205.10, by adding a subdivision; 205.13, by adding a subdivision; 
1.14 	205.16, subdivisions 2, 3, 4; 205A.05, by adding a subdivision; 205A.07, 
1.15 	subdivisions 3, 3a; 206.57, subdivision 5; 206.89, subdivisions 1, 5; 211A.02, 
1.16 	subdivision 2; 211A.05, subdivision 1; 211B.11, subdivision 1; 410.12, 
1.17 	subdivision 1; 447.32, subdivision 4; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota 
1.18 	Statutes, chapter 204B; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2006, sections 200.04; 
1.19 	201.061, subdivision 7; 201.096; 203B.02, subdivision 1a; 203B.13, subdivision 
1.20 	3a.
1.21 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.22 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 201.016, subdivision 1a, is amended to 
1.23 	read:
1.24 		Subd. 1a.Violations; penalty. (a) The county auditor shall mail a violation notice 
1.25 	to any voter who the county auditor can determine has voted in a precinct other than the 
1.26 	precinct inusing an address at which the voter maintainsdoes not maintain residence on 
1.27 	election day. The notice must be in the form provided by the secretary of state. The 
1.28 	county auditor shall also change the status of the voter in the statewide registration system 
1.29 	to "challenged" and the voter shall be required to provide proof of residence to either the 
1.30 	county auditor or to the election judges in the voter's precinct before voting in the next 
2.1 	election. Any of the forms authorized by section 201.061 for registration at the polling 
2.2 	place may be used for this purpose. 
2.3 	(b) A voter who votes in a precinct other than the precinct in which the voter 
2.4 	maintains residence after receiving an initial violation notice as provided in this 
2.5 	subdivision is guilty of a petty misdemeanor.
2.6 	(c) A voter who votes in a precinct other than the precinct in which the voter 
2.7 	maintains residence after having been found to have committed a petty misdemeanor 
2.8 	under paragraph (b) is guilty of a misdemeanor.
2.9 	(d) Reliance by the voter on inaccurate information regarding the location of the 
2.10 	voter's polling place provided by the state, county, or municipality is an affirmative 
2.11 	defense to a prosecution under this subdivision.

2.12 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 201.056, is amended to read:
2.13 	201.056 SIGNATURE OF REGISTERED VOTER; MARKS ALLOWED.
2.14 	An individual who is unable to write the individual's name shall be required to sign a 
2.15 	registration card by making the individual's mark application in the manner provided by 
2.16 	section 645.44, subdivision 14. If the individual registers in person and signs by making 
2.17 	a mark, the clerk or election judge accepting the registration shall certify the mark by 
2.18 	signing the individual's name. If the individual registers by mail and signs by making a 
2.19 	mark, the mark shall be certified by having a voter registered in the individual's precinct 
2.20 	sign the individual's name and the voter's own name and give the voter's own address.

2.21 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 201.061, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
2.22 		Subdivision 1.Prior to election day. At any time except during the 20 days 
2.23 	immediately preceding any regularly scheduled election, an eligible voter or any 
2.24 	individual who will be an eligible voter at the time of the next election may register to 
2.25 	vote in the precinct in which the voter maintains residence by completing a paper voter 
2.26 	registration application as described in section 201.071, subdivision 1, and submitting it in 
2.27 	person or by mail to the county auditor of that county or to the Secretary of State's Office. 
2.28 	The secretary of state may maintain a Web site function that enables an individual who 
2.29 	has a Minnesota driver's license, identification card, or learner's permit to register online. 
2.30 	A registration that is received no later than 5:00 p.m. on the 21st day preceding any 
2.31 	election shall be accepted. An improperly addressed or delivered registration application 
2.32 	shall be forwarded within two working days after receipt to the county auditor of the 
2.33 	county where the voter maintains residence. A state or local agency or an individual that 
2.34 	accepts completed voter registration applications from a voter must submit the completed 
3.1 	applications to the secretary of state or the appropriate county auditor within ten business 
3.2 	days after the applications are dated by the voter. 
3.3 	For purposes of this section, mail registration is defined as a voter registration 
3.4 	application delivered to the secretary of state, county auditor, or municipal clerk by the 
3.5 	United States Postal Service or a commercial carrier.

3.6 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 201.061, is amended by adding a subdivision 
3.7 	to read:
3.8 		Subd. 1b.Prohibited methods of compensation; penalty. (a) No individual 
3.9 	may be compensated for the solicitation, collection, or acceptance of voter registration 
3.10 	applications from voters for submission to the secretary of state, a county auditor, or other 
3.11 	local election official in a manner in which payment is calculated by multiplying (1) 
3.12 	either a set or variable payment rate, by (2) the number of voter registration applications 
3.13 	solicited, collected, or accepted.
3.14 	(b) No individual may be deprived of compensation or have compensation 
3.15 	automatically reduced exclusively for failure to solicit, collect, or accept a minimum 
3.16 	number of voter registration applications and no individual may receive additional 
3.17 	compensation for reaching or exceeding a minimum number of voter registration 
3.18 	applications.
3.19 	(c) A person who violates this subdivision is guilty of a petty misdemeanor.

3.20 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 201.061, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
3.21 		Subd. 3.Election day registration. (a) The definitions in this paragraph apply 
3.22 	to this subdivision:
3.23 	(1) "current" means dated within 30 days before the election day or due within 30 
3.24 	days before or after the election;
3.25 	(2) "photo identification" means identification that displays the name and photo 
3.26 	of an individual and that was issued by:
3.27 	(i) another state for use as a driver's license or identification card; or
3.28 	(ii) a Minnesota college, university, or other postsecondary educational institution or 
3.29 	high school as a student identification card;
3.30 	(3) "residential facility" means transitional housing as defined in section 256E.33, 
3.31 	subdivision 1; a supervised living facility licensed by the commissioner of health under 
3.32 	section 144.50, subdivision 6; a nursing home as defined in section 144A.01, subdivision 
3.33 	5; a residence registered with the commissioner of health as a housing with services 
3.34 	establishment as defined in section 144D.01, subdivision 4; a veterans home operated by 
4.1 	the board of directors of the Minnesota Veterans Homes under chapter 198; a residence 
4.2 	licensed by the commissioner of human services to provide a residential program as 
4.3 	defined in section 245A.02, subdivision 14; a residential facility for persons with a 
4.4 	developmental disability licensed by the commissioner of human services under section 
4.5 	252.28; group residential housing as defined in section 256I.03, subdivision 3; a shelter 
4.6 	for battered women as defined in section 611A.37, subdivision 4; or a supervised 
4.7 	publicly or privately operated shelter or dwelling designed to provide temporary living 
4.8 	accommodations for the homeless; and
4.9 	(4) "utility bill" means a written or electronic bill for gas, electricity, telephone, 
4.10 	wireless telephone, cable television, satellite television, solid waste, water, sewer services, 
4.11 	or an itemized rent statement.
4.12 	(b) An individual who is eligible to vote may register on election day by appearing 
4.13 	in person at the polling place for the precinct in which the individual maintains residence, 
4.14 	by completing a registration application, making an oath in the form prescribed by the 
4.15 	secretary of state and providing proof of residence. An individual may prove residence for 
4.16 	purposes of registering by:
4.17 	(1) presenting a driver's license or Minnesota identification card issued pursuant 
4.18 	to section 171.07;
4.19 	(2) presenting a photo identification along with a current utility bill or lease that 
4.20 	shows the individual's name and valid residential address in the precinct;
4.21 	(3) presenting any document approved by the secretary of state as proper 
4.22 	identification;
4.23 	(3) (4) presenting one of the following:
4.24 	(i) a current valid student identification card from a postsecondary educational 
4.25 	institution in Minnesota, if a list of students from that institution has been prepared under 
4.26 	section 135A.17 and certified to the county auditor in the manner provided in rules of 
4.27 	the secretary of state; or
4.28 	(ii) a current student fee statement that contains the student's valid address in the 
4.29 	precinct together with a picture identification card; or
4.30 	(4) (5) having a voter who is registered to vote in the precinct, or who is an employee 
4.31 	employed by and working in a residential facility in the precinct and vouching for a 
4.32 	resident in the facility, sign an oath in the presence of the election judge vouching that the 
4.33 	voter or employee personally knows that the individual is a resident of the precinct. 
4.34 	A voter who has been vouched for on election day may not sign a proof of residence 
4.35 	oath vouching for any other individual on that election day. A voter who is registered to 
5.1 	vote in the precinct may sign up to 15 proof-of-residence oaths on any election day. This 
5.2 	limitation does not apply to an employee of a residential facility described in this clause. 
5.3 	The secretary of state shall provide a form for election judges to use in recording 
5.4 	the number of individuals for whom a voter signs proof-of-residence oaths on election 
5.5 	day. The form must include space for the maximum number of individuals for whom a 
5.6 	voter may sign proof-of-residence oaths. For each proof-of-residence oath, the form 
5.7 	must include a statement that the voter is registered to vote in the precinct, personally 
5.8 	knows that the individual is a resident of the precinct, and is making the statement on 
5.9 	oath. The form must include a space for the voter's printed name, signature, telephone 
5.10 	number, and address.
5.11 	The oath required by this subdivision and Minnesota Rules, part 8200.9939, must 
5.12 	be attached to the voter registration application and the information on the oath must be 
5.13 	recorded on the records of both the voter registering on election day and the voter who 
5.14 	is vouching for the person's residence, and entered into the statewide voter registration 
5.15 	system by the county auditor when the voter registration application is entered into that 
5.16 	system.
5.17 	(b) The operator of a residential facility shall prepare a list of the names of its 
5.18 	employees currently working in the residential facility and the address of the residential 
5.19 	facility. The operator shall certify the list and provide it to the appropriate county auditor 
5.20 	no less than 20 days before each election for use in election day registration.
5.21 	(c) "Residential facility" means transitional housing as defined in section 256E.33, 
5.22 	subdivision 1; a supervised living facility licensed by the commissioner of health under 
5.23 	section 144.50, subdivision 6; a nursing home as defined in section 144A.01, subdivision 
5.24 	5; a residence registered with the commissioner of health as a housing with services 
5.25 	establishment as defined in section 144D.01, subdivision 4; a veterans home operated by 
5.26 	the board of directors of the Minnesota Veterans Homes under chapter 198; a residence 
5.27 	licensed by the commissioner of human services to provide a residential program as 
5.28 	defined in section 245A.02, subdivision 14; a residential facility for persons with a 
5.29 	developmental disability licensed by the commissioner of human services under section 
5.30 	252.28; group residential housing as defined in section 256I.03, subdivision 3; a shelter 
5.31 	for battered women as defined in section 611A.37, subdivision 4; or a supervised 
5.32 	publicly or privately operated shelter or dwelling designed to provide temporary living 
5.33 	accommodations for the homeless.
5.34 	(c) An employee of a residential facility must prove employment with that 
5.35 	facility by presenting a current identification card issued by the facility or other official 
6.1 	documentation verifying the employee's current status with the facility on election day to 
6.2 	be eligible to vouch for individuals residing in that facility.
6.3 	(d) For tribal band members, an individual may prove residence for purposes of 
6.4 	registering by:
6.5 	(1) presenting an identification card issued by the tribal government of a tribe 
6.6 	recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, United States Department of the Interior, that 
6.7 	contains the name, address, signature, and picture of the individual; or
6.8 	(2) presenting an identification card issued by the tribal government of a tribe 
6.9 	recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, United States Department of the Interior, that 
6.10 	contains the name, signature, and picture of the individual and also presenting one of the 
6.11 	documents listed in Minnesota Rules, part 8200.5100, subpart 2, item B.
6.12 	(e) A county, school district, or municipality may require that an election judge 
6.13 	responsible for election day registration initial each completed registration application.

6.14 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 201.071, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
6.15 		Subdivision 1.Form. A voter registration application must be of suitable size and 
6.16 	weight for mailing and contain spaces for the following required information: voter's first 
6.17 	name, middle name, and last name; voter's previous name, if any; voter's current address; 
6.18 	voter's previous address, if any; voter's date of birth; voter's municipality and county of 
6.19 	residence; voter's telephone number, if provided by the voter; date of registration; current 
6.20 	and valid Minnesota driver's license number or Minnesota state identification number, 
6.21 	or if the voter has no current and valid Minnesota driver's license or Minnesota state 
6.22 	identification, and the last four digits of the voter's Social Security number; and voter's 
6.23 	signature. The registration application may include the voter's e-mail address, if provided 
6.24 	by the voter, and the voter's interest in serving as an election judge, if indicated by the 
6.25 	voter. The application must also contain the following certification of voter eligibility:
6.26 	"I certify that I:
6.27 	(1) will be at least 18 years old on election day;
6.28 	(2) am a citizen of the United States;
6.29 	(3) will have resided in Minnesota for 20 days immediately preceding election day;
6.30 	(4) maintain residence at the address given on the registration form;
6.31 	(5) am not under court-ordered guardianship in which the court order revokes my 
6.32 	right to vote;
6.33 	(6) have not been found by a court to be legally incompetent to vote;
6.34 	(7) have the right to vote because, if I have been convicted of a felony, my felony 
6.35 	sentence has expired (been completed) or I have been discharged from my sentence; and
7.1 	(8) have read and understand the following statement: that giving false information 
7.2 	is a felony punishable by not more than five years imprisonment or a fine of not more 
7.3 	than $10,000, or both."
7.4 	The certification must include boxes for the voter to respond to the following 
7.5 	questions:
7.6 	"(1) Are you a citizen of the United States?" and
7.7 	"(2) Will you be 18 years old on or before election day?"
7.8 	And the instruction:
7.9 	"If you checked 'no' to either of these questions, do not complete this form."
7.10 	The form of the voter registration application and the certification of voter eligibility 
7.11 	must be as provided in this subdivision and approved by the secretary of state. Voter 
7.12 	registration forms authorized by the National Voter Registration Act must also be accepted 
7.13 	as valid. The federal postcard application form must also be accepted as valid if it is not 
7.14 	deficient and the voter is eligible to register in Minnesota.
7.15 	An individual may use a voter registration application to apply to register to vote in 
7.16 	Minnesota or to change information on an existing registration.
7.17 	A paper voter registration application must include space for the voter's signature 
7.18 	and be of suitable size and weight for mailing.

7.19 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 201.171, is amended to read:
7.20 	201.171 POSTING VOTING HISTORY; FAILURE TO VOTE; 
7.21 	REGISTRATION REMOVED.
7.22 	Within six weeks after every election, the county auditor shall post the voting 
7.23 	history for every person who voted in the election. After the close of the calendar year, the 
7.24 	secretary of state shall determine if any registrants have not voted during the preceding 
7.25 	foursix years. The secretary of state shall perform list maintenance by changing the status 
7.26 	of those registrants to "inactive" in the statewide registration system. The list maintenance 
7.27 	performed must be conducted in a manner that ensures that the name of each registered 
7.28 	voter appears in the official list of eligible voters in the statewide registration system. 
7.29 	A voter must not be removed from the official list of eligible voters unless the voter is 
7.30 	not eligible or is not registered to vote. List maintenance must include procedures for 
7.31 	eliminating duplicate names from the official list of eligible voters.
7.32 	The secretary of state shall also prepare a report to the county auditor containing the 
7.33 	names of all registrants whose status was changed to "inactive."
8.1 	Registrants whose status was changed to "inactive" must register in the manner 
8.2 	specified in section 201.054 before voting in any primary, special primary, general, school 
8.3 	district, or special election, as required by section 201.018. 
8.4 	Although not counted in an election, a late or rejected absentee or mail ballot must 
8.5 	be considered a vote for the purpose of continuing registration.

8.6 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 203B.07, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
8.7 		Subd. 2.Design of envelopes. The return envelope shall be of sufficient size 
8.8 	to conveniently enclose and contain the ballot envelope and a voter registration card
8.9 	application folded along its perforations. The return envelope shall be designed to open 
8.10 	on the left-hand end. Notwithstanding any rule to the contrary, the return envelope must 
8.11 	be designed in one of the following ways:
8.12 	(1) it must be of sufficient size to contain an additional envelope that when sealed, 
8.13 	conceals the signature, identification, and other information; or
8.14 	(2) it must provide an additional flap that when sealed, conceals the signature, 
8.15 	identification, and other information. Election officials may open the flap or the additional 
8.16 	envelope at any time after receiving the returned ballot to inspect the returned certificate 
8.17 	for completeness or to ascertain other information. A certificate of eligibility to vote by 
8.18 	absentee ballot shall be printed on the back of the envelope. The certificate shall contain a 
8.19 	statement to be signed and sworn by the voter indicating that the voter meets all of the 
8.20 	requirements established by law for voting by absentee ballot. The certificate shall also 
8.21 	contain a statement signed by a person who is registered to vote in Minnesota or by a 
8.22 	notary public or other individual authorized to administer oaths stating that:
8.23 	(a) the ballots were displayed to that individual unmarked;
8.24 	(b) the voter marked the ballots in that individual's presence without showing how 
8.25 	they were marked, or, if the voter was physically unable to mark them, that the voter 
8.26 	directed another individual to mark them; and
8.27 	(c) if the voter was not previously registered, the voter has provided proof of 
8.28 	residence as required by section 201.061, subdivision 3.
8.29 	The county auditor or municipal clerk shall affix first class postage to the return 
8.30 	envelopes.

8.31 	Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 203B.081, is amended to read:
8.32 	203B.081 LOCATIONS FOR ABSENTEE VOTING IN PERSON.
8.33 	An eligible voter may vote by absentee ballot during the 30 days before the election 
8.34 	in the office of the county auditor and at any other polling place designated by the county 
9.1 	auditor. The county auditor shall make such designations at least 90 days before the 
9.2 	election. At least one voting booth and at least one electronic ballot marker in each polling 
9.3 	place must be made available by the county auditor for this purpose.

9.4 	Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 203B.12, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
9.5 		Subd. 4.Placement in container; opening and counting of ballots. The ballot 
9.6 	envelopes from return envelopes marked "Accepted" shall be placed by the election 
9.7 	judges in a separate absentee ballot container. The container and each ballot envelope may 
9.8 	be opened only after the last regular mail delivery by the United States postal service
9.9 	noon on election day. The ballots shall then be initialed by the election judges in the 
9.10 	same manner as ballots delivered by them to voters in person and shall be deposited in 
9.11 	the appropriate ballot box.
9.12 	If more than one ballot of any kind is enclosed in the ballot envelope, none of the 
9.13 	ballots of that kind shall be counted but all ballots of that kind shall be returned in the 
9.14 	manner provided by section 204C.25 for return of spoiled ballots. 

9.15 	Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 203B.13, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
9.16 		Subdivision 1.Establishment. The governing body of any county that has 
9.17 	established a counting center as provided in section 206.85, subdivision 2, any 
9.18 	municipality, or any school district may by ordinance or resolution, authorize an absentee 
9.19 	ballot board. The board shall consist of a sufficient number of election judges appointed as 
9.20 	provided in sections 204B.19 to 204B.22. 

9.21 	Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 203B.13, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
9.22 		Subd. 2.Duties. The absentee ballot board may do any of the following:
9.23 	(a) receive from each precinct in the municipality or school district all ballot 
9.24 	envelopes marked "Accepted" by the election judges; provided that the governing body of 
9.25 	a municipality or the school board of a school district may authorize the board to examine 
9.26 	all return absentee ballot envelopes and receiveaccept or reject absentee ballots in the 
9.27 	manner provided in section 203B.12;
9.28 	(b) open and count the absentee ballots, tabulating the vote in a manner that indicates 
9.29 	each vote of the absentee voter and the total absentee vote cast for each candidate or 
9.30 	question in each precinct; or
9.31 	(c) report the vote totals tabulated for each precinct.
9.32 	The absentee ballot board may begin the process of examining the return envelopes 
9.33 	and marking them "accepted" or "rejected" at any time during the 30 days before the 
10.1 	election. If an envelope has been rejected at least five days before the election, the 
10.2 	ballots in the envelope must be considered spoiled ballots and the official in charge of the 
10.3 	absentee ballot board shall provide the voter with a replacement absentee ballot and return 
10.4 	envelope in place of the spoiled ballot. The secretary of state shall provide samples of the 
10.5 	replacement ballot and return envelope for use by the county auditor.

10.6 	Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 204B.09, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
10.7 		Subdivision 1.Candidates in state and county general elections. (a) Except as 
10.8 	otherwise provided by this subdivision, affidavits of candidacy and nominating petitions 
10.9 	for county, state, and federal offices filled at the state general election shall be filed not 
10.10 	more than 70 days nor less than 56 days before the state primary. The affidavit may 
10.11 	be prepared and signed at any time between 60 days before the filing period opens and 
10.12 	the last day of the filing period.
10.13 	(b) Notwithstanding other law to the contrary, the affidavit of candidacy must be 
10.14 	signed in the presence of a notarial officer or an individual authorized to administer oaths 
10.15 	under section 358.10. 
10.16 	(c) This provision does not apply to candidates for presidential elector nominated 
10.17 	by major political parties. Major party candidates for presidential elector are certified 
10.18 	under section 208.03. Other candidates for presidential electors may file petitions on or 
10.19 	before the state primary day pursuant to section 204B.07, but no earlier than 70 days 
10.20 	before the state primary. Nominating petitions to fill vacancies in nominations shall be 
10.21 	filed as provided in section 204B.13. No affidavit or petition shall be accepted later than 
10.22 	5:00 p.m. on the last day for filing. 
10.23 	(d) Affidavits and petitions for county offices to be voted on in only one county shall
10.24 	must be filed with the county auditor of that county. Affidavits and petitions for federal 
10.25 	offices to be voted on in more than one county shallmust be filed with the secretary of 
10.26 	state. Affidavits and petitions for state offices must be filed with the secretary of state or 
10.27 	with the county auditor of the county in which the candidate resides.

10.28 	Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 204B.09, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:
10.29 		Subd. 1a.Absent candidates. (a) A candidate for special district, county, state, 
10.30 	or federal office who will be absent from the state during the filing period may submit 
10.31 	a properly executed affidavit of candidacy, the appropriate filing fee, and any necessary 
10.32 	petitions in person to the filing officer. The candidate shall state in writing the reason for 
10.33 	being unable to submit the affidavit during the filing period. The affidavit, filing fee, 
10.34 	and petitions must be submitted to the filing officer during the seven days immediately 
11.1 	preceding the candidate's absence from the state. Nominating petitions may be signed 
11.2 	during the 14 days immediately preceding the date when the affidavit of candidacy is filed.
11.3 	(b) In extraordinary circumstances beyond the candidate's control that prevent 
11.4 	the candidate from filing an affidavit of candidacy authenticated by the candidate's 
11.5 	handwritten or other signature meeting the requirements of section 645.44, subdivision 14, 
11.6 	the affidavit of candidacy may be filed electronically with the secretary of state along with 
11.7 	a written statement of the extraordinary circumstances. The affidavit and statement may be 
11.8 	authenticated either by the electronic facsimile signature of the candidate, by an electronic 
11.9 	signature consisting of a password assigned by the secretary of state, or by another form of 
11.10 	electronic signature approved by the secretary of state. The secretary of state may adopt 
11.11 	rules governing the electronic filing of an affidavit of candidacy under this paragraph.

11.12 	Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 204B.09, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
11.13 		Subd. 3.Write-in candidates. (a) A candidate for county, state, or federal office 
11.14 	who wants write-in votes for the candidate to be counted must file a written request with 
11.15 	the filing office for the office sought no later than the fifthseventh day before the general 
11.16 	election. The filing officer shall provide copies of the form to make the request.
11.17 	(b) A candidate for president of the United States who files a request under this 
11.18 	subdivision must include the name of a candidate for vice-president of the United States. 
11.19 	The request must also include the name of at least one candidate for presidential elector. 
11.20 	The total number of names of candidates for presidential elector on the request may not 
11.21 	exceed the total number of electoral votes to be cast by Minnesota in the presidential 
11.22 	election.
11.23 	(c) A candidate for governor who files a request under this subdivision must include 
11.24 	the name of a candidate for lieutenant governor.

11.25 	Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 204B.11, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
11.26 		Subd. 2.Petition in place of filing fee. At the time of filing an affidavit of 
11.27 	candidacy, a candidate may present a petition in place of the filing fee. The petition may be 
11.28 	circulated from the date of precinct caucuses to the end of the period for filing affidavits of 
11.29 	candidacy. The petition may be signed by any individual eligible to vote for the candidate. 
11.30 	A nominating petition filed pursuant to section 204B.07 or 204B.13, subdivision 4, is 
11.31 	effective as a petition in place of a filing fee if the nominating petition includes a prominent 
11.32 	statement informing the signers of the petition that it will be used for that purpose. 
11.33 	The number of signatures on a petition in place of a filing fee shall be as follows:
12.1 	(a) for a state office voted on statewide, or for president of the United States, or 
12.2 	United States senator, 2,000;
12.3 	(b) for a congressional office, 1,000;
12.4 	(c) for a county or legislative office, or for the office of district judge, 500; and
12.5 	(d) for any other office which requires a filing fee as prescribed by law, municipal 
12.6 	charter, or ordinance, the lesser of 500 signatures or five percent of the total number of 
12.7 	votes cast in the municipality, ward, or other election district at the preceding general 
12.8 	election at which that office was on the ballot.
12.9 	An official with whom petitions are filed shall make sample forms for petitions in 
12.10 	place of filing fees available upon request.

12.11 	Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 204B.16, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
12.12 		Subdivision 1.Authority; location. The governing body of each municipality and 
12.13 	of each county with precincts in unorganized territory shall designate by ordinance or 
12.14 	resolution a polling place for each election precinct. Polling places must be designated 
12.15 	and ballots must be distributed so that no one is required to go to more than one polling 
12.16 	place to vote in a school district and municipal election held on the same day. The polling 
12.17 	place for a precinct in a city or in a school district located in whole or in part in the 
12.18 	metropolitan area defined by section 200.02, subdivision 24, shall be located within the 
12.19 	boundaries of the precinct or within 3,000 feetone mile of one of those boundaries unless 
12.20 	a single polling place is designated for a city pursuant to section 204B.14, subdivision 
12.21 	2, or a school district pursuant to section 205A.11. The polling place for a precinct in 
12.22 	unorganized territory may be located outside the precinct at a place which is convenient to 
12.23 	the voters of the precinct. If no suitable place is available within a town or within a school 
12.24 	district located outside the metropolitan area defined by section 200.02, subdivision 24, 
12.25 	then the polling place for a town or school district may be located outside the town or 
12.26 	school district within five miles of one of the boundaries of the town or school district.

12.27 	Sec. 18. [204B.445] VOTER COMPLAINT AND RESOLUTION PROCESS.
12.28 		Subdivision 1.Scope. An eligible voter may file a complaint to seek the resolution 
12.29 	of any of the following conditions that have occurred or are about to occur:
12.30 	(1) voter records in the statewide registration system are not maintained by the 
12.31 	secretary of state or a county auditor in the manner provided in chapter 201;
12.32 	(2) voters are unable to register to vote in the manner provided by section 201.061; 
12.33 	(3) a voting system, including an electronic ballot marker, meeting the requirements 
12.34 	of section 206.80 is not available for use by voters either casting an absentee ballot in 
13.1 	person at the locations designated by the county auditor or local election official, or for 
13.2 	voting at any polling place on election day; or
13.3 	(4) the secretary of state, county auditor, or local election official has failed to carry 
13.4 	out a duty required by Title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002.
13.5 	A complaint against a municipal or school district clerk must be filed with the county 
13.6 	auditor of the county in which the action has occurred or is about to occur. A complaint 
13.7 	against a county auditor must be filed with the secretary of state. A complaint against the 
13.8 	secretary of state must be filed with the Office of Administrative Hearings. The secretary 
13.9 	of state shall provide a standard form for a complaint under this section. The form must 
13.10 	provide space for the complainant to specify the legal basis for the complaint. The 
13.11 	proceedings authorized by this section are not subject to the requirements of chapter 14.
13.12 		Subd. 2.Notice of complaint. The official with whom the complaint is filed must, 
13.13 	within seven days after the complaint was filed, provide written notice of the complaint, 
13.14 	including a copy of the complaint, to the official against whom the complaint has been 
13.15 	made.
13.16 		Subd. 3.Response. Within 14 days after the notice of complaint is received, the 
13.17 	official complained against must respond in writing to the complainant and state the 
13.18 	manner in which the respondent proposes to resolve the complaint.
13.19 		Subd. 4.Hearing. If the complainant believes the response does not resolve the 
13.20 	complaint, the complainant may file with the official with whom the complaint was 
13.21 	filed a request for a hearing. The request must state the objection to the response and 
13.22 	propose to resolve the complaint in a way that is consistent with the Minnesota Election 
13.23 	Law. The official with whom the complaint was filed must rule on the complaint within 
13.24 	14 days after the hearing.
13.25 		Subd. 5.Appeal. No later than 30 days after the ruling, the complainant may appeal 
13.26 	the ruling. If the complaint was filed against a municipal clerk, school district clerk, or 
13.27 	county auditor, the appeal must be filed with the secretary of state. If the complaint was 
13.28 	filed against the secretary of state, the appeal must be filed with the Ramsey County 
13.29 	District Court. The appeal must be heard within 14 days. Upon hearing the appeal, the 
13.30 	secretary of state or district court may affirm, reverse, or modify the ruling and give 
13.31 	appropriate instructions, as needed, to the secretary of state, county auditor, or local 
13.32 	election official to resolve the complaint.

13.33 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2008.

13.34 	Sec. 19. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 204B.45, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
14.1 		Subdivision 1.Authorization. A municipality having fewer than 4001,000 
14.2 	registered voters on June 1 of an election year and not located in a metropolitan county as 
14.3 	defined by section 473.121 may provide balloting by mail at any municipal, county, or 
14.4 	state election with no polling place other than the office of the auditor or clerk or other 
14.5 	locations designated by the auditor or clerk. The governing body may apply to the county 
14.6 	auditor for permission to conduct balloting by mail. The county board may provide for 
14.7 	balloting by mail in unorganized territory. The governing body of any municipality may 
14.8 	designate for mail balloting any precinct having fewer than 50 registered voters, subject to 
14.9 	the approval of the county auditor. 
14.10 	Voted ballots may be returned in person to any location designated by the county 
14.11 	auditor or municipal clerk.

14.12 	Sec. 20. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 204B.45, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
14.13 		Subd. 2.Procedure. Notice of the election and the special mail procedure must be 
14.14 	given at least six weeks prior to the election. No earlierNot more than 2030 days ornor 
14.15 	later than 14 days prior to the election, the auditor shall mail ballots by nonforwardable 
14.16 	mail to all voters registered in the townmunicipality or unorganized territory. No later 
14.17 	than 14 days before the election, the auditor must make a subsequent mailing of ballots to 
14.18 	those voters who register to vote after the initial mailing but before the 20th day before the 
14.19 	election. Eligible voters not registered at the time the ballots are mailed may apply for 
14.20 	ballots as provided in chapter 203B. Ballot return envelopes, with return postage provided, 
14.21 	must be preaddressed to the auditor or clerk and the voter may return the ballot by mail or 
14.22 	in person to the office of the auditor or clerk. The auditor or clerk may appoint election 
14.23 	judges to examine the return envelopes and mark them "accepted" or "rejected" during the 
14.24 	30 days before the election. If an envelope has been rejected at least five days before the 
14.25 	election, the ballots in the envelope must be considered spoiled ballots and the auditor 
14.26 	or clerk shall provide the voter with a replacement ballot and return envelope in place of 
14.27 	the spoiled ballot. The costs of the mailing shall be paid by the election jurisdiction in 
14.28 	which the voter resides. Any ballot received by 8:00 p.m. on the day of the election 
14.29 	must be counted.

14.30 	Sec. 21. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 204C.06, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
14.31 		Subdivision 1.Lingering near polling place. An individual shall be allowed to go 
14.32 	to and from the polling place for the purpose of voting without unlawful interference. No 
14.33 	one except an election official or an individual who is waiting to register or to vote shall 
14.34 	stand within 100 feet of the entrance to a polling place. The entrance to a polling place 
15.1 	is the doorway or point of entry leading into the room or area where voting is occurring
15.2 	building in which a polling place is located.

15.3 	Sec. 22. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 204C.06, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
15.4 		Subd. 8.Access for news media. A news media representative may enter a polling 
15.5 	place during voting hours only to observe the voting process. A media representative must 
15.6 	present photo identification to the head election judge upon arrival at the polling place, 
15.7 	along with either a recognized media credential or written statement from a local election 
15.8 	official attesting to the media representative's credentials. A media representative must not:
15.9 	(1) approach within six feet of a voter;
15.10 	(2) converse with a voter while in the polling place;
15.11 	(3) make a list of persons voting or not voting; or
15.12 	(4) photograph a voter if the voter objects; or
15.13 	(5) interfere with the voting process.

15.14 	Sec. 23. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 204C.07, subdivision 3a, is amended to read:
15.15 		Subd. 3a.Residence requirement. A challenger must be a resident of this state.
15.16 	Appointed challengers seeking admission to a polling place to serve in that capacity must 
15.17 	prove their status as a resident of this state by presenting one of the documents listed in 
15.18 	section 201.061, subdivision 3, paragraph (b), clauses (1) to (4). Challengers need not 
15.19 	prove residence in the precinct in which they seek to act as a challenger.

15.20 	Sec. 24. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 204C.07, is amended by adding a 
15.21 	subdivision to read:
15.22 		Subd. 3b.Oath to obey the law. A challenger must state under oath that the 
15.23 	challenger understands and will abide by the laws and rules governing challengers as 
15.24 	described in this section and in section 204C.12 and governing challenges to voters as 
15.25 	described in section 204C.12.

15.26 	Sec. 25. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 204D.09, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
15.27 		Subd. 2.Sample ballot. At least two weeks before the state primary the county 
15.28 	auditor shall prepare a sample state partisan primary ballotballots and a sample state and 
15.29 	county nonpartisan primary ballotballots showing the offices and questions to be voted on 
15.30 	in each precinct in the county and make them available for public inspection in the county 
15.31 	auditor's office. The names of all of the candidates to be voted for in the county shall be 
15.32 	placed on the sample ballots, with the names of the candidates for each office arranged 
16.1 	alphabetically according to the surname. Only one sample state partisan primary ballot 
16.2 	and one sample state and county nonpartisan ballot shall be prepared for any county. The 
16.3 	county auditor shall post the sample ballots in a conspicuous place in the auditor's office 
16.4 	and shall cause them to be published at least one week before the state primary in at least 
16.5 	one newspaper of general circulation in the county. The county auditor must also either 
16.6 	publish the sample ballot for each precinct electronically on the county's Web site and on 
16.7 	the Web site of at least one newspaper of general circulation in the county at least two 
16.8 	weeks before the primary or publish a single sample ballot in at least one newspaper of 
16.9 	general circulation in the county at least one week before the primary. If the sample ballots 
16.10 	are posted on the Web sites, the county auditor must publish a notice in a newspaper of 
16.11 	general circulation in the county that the sample ballots for the election are posted and 
16.12 	the Web site addresses where they are posted. The published sample ballot must list the 
16.13 	candidates in base rotation order for every office on the ballot and include all questions 
16.14 	that will appear on the ballot.

16.15 	Sec. 26. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 204D.16, is amended to read:
16.16 	204D.16 SAMPLE GENERAL ELECTION BALLOTS; POSTING; 
16.17 	PUBLICATION.
16.18 	At least two weeks before the state general election the county auditor shall prepare 
16.19 	sample copies of the white and canary ballots and shall post copies of these sample ballots 
16.20 	and a sample of the pink ballot in the auditor's office for public inspection. No earlier than 
16.21 	15 days and no later than two days before the state general election for each precinct in 
16.22 	the county and make them available for public inspection in the county auditor's office.
16.23 	The county auditor shall cause the sample white and canary ballots to be publishedalso 
16.24 	either publish the sample ballot for each precinct electronically on the county's Web site 
16.25 	and on the Web site of at least one newspaper of general circulation in the county at 
16.26 	least two weeks before the general election or publish a single sample ballot in at least 
16.27 	one newspaper of general circulation in the county at least one week before the general 
16.28 	election. If the sample ballots are posted on the Web sites, the county auditor must publish 
16.29 	a notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the county that the sample ballots for 
16.30 	the election are posted and the Web site addresses where they are posted. The published 
16.31 	sample ballot must list the candidates in base rotation order for every office on the ballot 
16.32 	and include all questions that will appear on the ballot.

16.33 	Sec. 27. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 205.10, is amended by adding a subdivision 
16.34 	to read:
17.1 		Subd. 6.Cancellation. A special election ordered by the governing body of the 
17.2 	municipality on its own motion under subdivision 1 may be canceled by motion of the 
17.3 	governing body, but not less than 46 days before the election.

17.4 	Sec. 28. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 205.13, is amended by adding a subdivision 
17.5 	to read:
17.6 		Subd. 7.Write-in candidates. A candidate for a city office who wants write-in 
17.7 	votes for the candidate to be counted must file a written request with the filing officer for 
17.8 	the office sought no later than the seventh day before the general election. The filing 
17.9 	officer must provide copies of the form to make the request.

17.10 	Sec. 29. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 205.16, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
17.11 		Subd. 2.Sample ballot, publication. For every municipal election, the municipal 
17.12 	clerk shall, at least one week before the election,either publish the sample ballot for each 
17.13 	precinct electronically on the municipality's Web site and on the Web site of at least 
17.14 	one newspaper of general circulation in the municipality at least two weeks before the 
17.15 	election or publish a single sample ballot in the officialat least one newspaper of the 
17.16 	municipality, except thatgeneral circulation in the municipality at least one week before 
17.17 	the election. If the sample ballots are posted on the Web sites, the municipal clerk must 
17.18 	publish a notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality that the sample 
17.19 	ballots for the election are posted and the Web site addresses where they are posted. The 
17.20 	published sample ballot must list the candidates in base rotation order for every municipal 
17.21 	office on the ballot and include all municipal questions that will appear on the ballot. The 
17.22 	governing body of a fourth class city or a town not located within a metropolitan county as 
17.23 	defined in section 473.121 may dispense with publication. 

17.24 	Sec. 30. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 205.16, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
17.25 		Subd. 3.Sample ballot, posting. For every municipal election, the municipal clerk 
17.26 	shall at least four daystwo weeks before the election postprepare a sample ballot for each 
17.27 	precinct in the municipality, make them available for public inspection in the clerk's office 
17.28 	for public inspection, and post a sample ballot in each polling place on election day.

17.29 	Sec. 31. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 205.16, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
17.30 		Subd. 4.Notice to auditor. At least 53 days prior to every municipal election, the 
17.31 	municipal clerk shall provide a written notice to the county auditor, including the date of 
17.32 	the election, the offices to be voted on at the election, and the title and language for each 
18.1 	ballot question to be voted on at the election. Not less than 46 days before the election, the 
18.2 	municipal clerk must provide written notice to the county auditor of any special election 
18.3 	canceled under section 205.10, subdivision 6.

18.4 	Sec. 32. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 205A.05, is amended by adding a 
18.5 	subdivision to read:
18.6 		Subd. 3.Cancellation. A special election ordered by the school board on its own 
18.7 	motion under subdivision 1 may be canceled by motion of the school board, but not less 
18.8 	than 46 days before the election.

18.9 	Sec. 33. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 205A.07, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
18.10 		Subd. 3.Notice to auditor. At least 53 days prior to every school district election, 
18.11 	the school district clerk shall provide a written notice to the county auditor of each county 
18.12 	in which the school district is located. The notice must include the date of the election, the 
18.13 	offices to be voted on at the election, and the title and language for each ballot question to 
18.14 	be voted on at the election. For the purposes of meeting the timelines of this section, in 
18.15 	a bond election, a notice, including a proposed question, may be provided to the county 
18.16 	auditor prior to receipt of a review and comment from the commissioner of education and 
18.17 	prior to actual initiation of the election. Not less than 46 days before the election, the 
18.18 	school district clerk must provide written notice to the county auditor of any special 
18.19 	election canceled under section 205A.05, subdivision 3.

18.20 	Sec. 34. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 205A.07, subdivision 3a, is amended to read:
18.21 		Subd. 3a.Notice to commissioner of education. At least 49 days prior to every 
18.22 	school district election, under section 123B.62, 123B.63, 126C.17, 126C.69, or 475.58, 
18.23 	the school district clerk shall provide a written notice to the commissioner of education. 
18.24 	The notice must include the date of the election and the title and language for each ballot 
18.25 	question to be voted on at the election.  Not less than 46 days before the election, the 
18.26 	school district clerk must provide a written notice to the commissioner of education of 
18.27 	any special election canceled under section 205A.05, subdivision 3. The certified vote 
18.28 	totals for each ballot question shall be provided in a written notice to the commissioner 
18.29 	in a timely manner. 

18.30 	Sec. 35. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 206.57, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
18.31 		Subd. 5.Voting system for disabled voters. In federal and state elections held after 
18.32 	December 31, 2005, and in county, municipal city, and school district elections held after 
19.1 	December 31, 2007, and in township elections held after December 31, 2009, the voting 
19.2 	method used in each polling place must include a voting system that is accessible for 
19.3 	individuals with disabilities, including nonvisual accessibility for the blind and visually 
19.4 	impaired in a manner that provides the same opportunity for access and participation, 
19.5 	including privacy and independence, as for other voters.

19.6 	Sec. 36. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 206.89, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
19.7 		Subdivision 1. Definition.  For purposes of this section "postelection review official" 
19.8 	means the election administration official who is responsible for the conduct of elections 
19.9 	in a precinct selected for review under this section county auditor, unless the county 
19.10 	auditor designates the municipal clerk as the "postelection review official" within 24 hours 
19.11 	after the canvass of the state general election.

19.12 	Sec. 37. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 206.89, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
19.13 		Subd. 5. Additional review.   (a) If the postelection review in one of the reviewed 
19.14 	precincts reveals a difference greater than one-half of one percent, or greater than two 
19.15 	votes in a precinct where 400 or fewer voters cast ballots, the postelection review official 
19.16 	must, within two days, conduct an additional review of the races indicated in subdivision 3 
19.17 	in at least three precincts in the same jurisdiction where the discrepancy was discovered. If 
19.18 	all precincts in that jurisdiction have been reviewed, the county auditor must immediately 
19.19 	publicly select by lot at least three additional precincts for review. The postelection review 
19.20 	official must complete the additional review within two days after the precincts are 
19.21 	selected and report the results immediately to the county auditor. If the second review in 
19.22 	any of the reviewed precincts also indicates a difference in the vote totals compiled by the 
19.23 	voting system that is greater than one-half of one percent from the result indicated by the 
19.24 	postelection review, or greater than two votes in a precinct where 400 or fewer voters cast 
19.25 	ballots, the county auditor must conduct a review of the ballots from all the remaining 
19.26 	precincts in the county for the races indicated in subdivision 3. This review must be 
19.27 	completed no later than six weeks after the state general election.
19.28 	(b) If the results from the countywide reviews from one or more counties comprising 
19.29 	in the aggregate more than ten percent of the total number of persons voting in the election 
19.30 	clearly indicate that an error in vote counting has occurred, the postelection review official 
19.31 	must conduct a manual recount of all the ballots in the district for the affected office. The 
19.32 	recount must be completed and the results reported to the appropriate canvassing board no 
19.33 	later than ten weeks after the state general election.

20.1 	Sec. 38. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 211A.02, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
20.2 		Subd. 2.Information required. The report to be filed by a candidate or committee 
20.3 	must include:
20.4 	(1) the name of the candidate or ballot question;
20.5 	(2) the printed name and, address, phone number, signature, and e-mail address, if 
20.6 	available, of the person responsible for filing the report;
20.7 	(3) the total amount of receipts and expenditures for the period from the last previous 
20.8 	report to five days before the current report is due;
20.9 	(4) the amount, date, and purpose for each expenditure; and
20.10 	(5) the name, address, and employer, or occupation if self-employed,  of any 
20.11 	individual or committee that during the year has made one or more contributions that in the 
20.12 	aggregate are equal to or greater than $100, and the amount and date of each contribution.
20.13 	The filing officer must restrict public access to the address of any individual who has 
20.14 	made a contribution greater than $100 and who has filed with the filing officer a written 
20.15 	statement signed by the individual that withholding the individual's address from the 
20.16 	financial report is required for the safety of the individual or the individual's family.

20.17 	Sec. 39. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 211A.05, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
20.18 		Subdivision 1.Penalty. A candidate who intentionally fails to file a report required 
20.19 	by section 211A.02or a certification required by this section is guilty of a misdemeanor. 
20.20 	The treasurer of a committee formed to promote or defeat a ballot question who 
20.21 	intentionally fails to file a report required by section 211A.02or a certification required 
20.22 	by this section is guilty of a misdemeanor. Each candidate or treasurer of a committee 
20.23 	formed to promote or defeat a ballot question shall certify to the filing officer that all 
20.24 	reports required by section 211A.02 have been submitted to the filing officer or that the 
20.25 	candidate or committee has not received contributions or made disbursements exceeding 
20.26 	$750 in the calendar year. The certification shall be submitted to the filing officer no 
20.27 	later than seven days after the general or special election. The secretary of state shall 
20.28 	prepare blanks for this certification. An officer who issues a certificate of election to a 
20.29 	candidate who has not certified that all reports required by section 211A.02 have been 
20.30 	filed is guilty of a misdemeanor.

20.31 	Sec. 40. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 211B.11, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
20.32 		Subdivision 1.Soliciting near polling places. A person may not display campaign 
20.33 	material, post signs, ask, solicit, or in any manner try to induce or persuade a voter within 
20.34 	a polling place or within 100 feet of the building in which a polling place is situated, or 
21.1 	anywhere on the public property on which a polling place is situated located, on primary 
21.2 	or election day to vote for or refrain from voting for a candidate or ballot question. A 
21.3 	person may not provide political badges, political buttons, or other political insignia to be 
21.4 	worn at or about the polling place on the day of a primary or election. A political badge, 
21.5 	political button, or other political insignia may not be worn at or about the polling place on 
21.6 	primary or election day. This section applies to areas established by the county auditor or 
21.7 	municipal clerk for absentee voting as provided in chapter 203B.
21.8 	The secretary of state, county auditor, municipal clerk, or school district clerk may 
21.9 	provide stickers which contain the words "I VOTED" and nothing more. Election judges 
21.10 	may offer a sticker of this type to each voter who has signed the polling place roster.

21.11 	Sec. 41. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 410.12, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
21.12 		Subdivision 1.Proposals. The charter commission may propose amendments to 
21.13 	such charter and shall do so upon the petition of voters equal in number to five percent of 
21.14 	the total votes cast at the last previous state general election in the city. Proposed charter 
21.15 	amendments must be submitted at least 12 weeks before the general election. Petitions 
21.16 	may be signed no earlier than 26 weeks before the general election. Only registered 
21.17 	voters are eligible to sign the petition. All petitions circulated with respect to a charter 
21.18 	amendment shall be uniform in character and shall have attached thereto the text of the 
21.19 	proposed amendment in full; except that in the case of a proposed amendment containing 
21.20 	more than 1,000 words, a true and correct copy of the same may be filed with the city 
21.21 	clerk, and the petition shall then contain a summary of not less than 50 nor more than 300 
21.22 	words setting forth in substance the nature of the proposed amendment. Such summary 
21.23 	shall contain a statement of the objects and purposes of the amendment proposed and an 
21.24 	outline of any proposed new scheme or frame work of government and shall be sufficient 
21.25 	to inform the signers of the petition as to what change in government is sought to be 
21.26 	accomplished by the amendment. The summary, together with a copy of the proposed 
21.27 	amendment, shall first be submitted to the charter commission for its approval as to form 
21.28 	and substance. The commission shall within ten days after such submission to it, return 
21.29 	the same to the proposers of the amendment with such modifications in statement as it 
21.30 	may deem necessary in order that the summary may fairly comply with the requirements 
21.31 	above set forth.

21.32 	Sec. 42. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 447.32, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
21.33 		Subd. 4.Candidates; ballots; certifying election. A person who wants to be a 
21.34 	candidate for the hospital board shall file an affidavit of candidacy for the election either 
22.1 	as member at large or as a member representing the city or town where the candidate 
22.2 	resides. The affidavit of candidacy must be filed with the city or town clerk not more than 
22.3 	70 days nor less than 56 days before the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November 
22.4 	of the year in which the general election is held. The city or town clerk must forward the 
22.5 	affidavits of candidacy to the clerk of the hospital district or, for the first election, the clerk 
22.6 	of the most populous city or town immediately after the last day of the filing period. A 
22.7 	candidate may withdraw from the election by filing an affidavit of withdrawal with the 
22.8 	clerk of the district no later than 5:00 p.m. two days after the last day to file affidavits 
22.9 	of candidacy. A candidate for a hospital district office who wants write-in votes for the 
22.10 	candidate to be counted must file a written request with the filing officer for the office 
22.11 	sought no later than the seventh day before the general election. The filing officer must 
22.12 	provide copies of the form to make the request.
22.13 	Voting must be by secret ballot. The clerk shall prepare, at the expense of the 
22.14 	district, necessary ballots for the election of officers. Ballots must be printed on tan paper 
22.15 	and prepared as provided in the rules of the secretary of state. The ballots must be marked 
22.16 	and initialed by at least two judges as official ballots and used exclusively at the election. 
22.17 	Any proposition to be voted on may be printed on the ballot provided for the election 
22.18 	of officers. The hospital board may also authorize the use of voting systems subject to 
22.19 	chapter 206. Enough election judges may be appointed to receive the votes at each 
22.20 	polling place. The election judges shall act as clerks of election, count the ballots cast, 
22.21 	and submit them to the board for canvass.
22.22 	After canvassing the election, the board shall issue a certificate of election to the 
22.23 	candidate who received the largest number of votes cast for each office. The clerk shall 
22.24 	deliver the certificate to the person entitled to it in person or by certified mail. Each person 
22.25 	certified shall file an acceptance and oath of office in writing with the clerk within 30 
22.26 	days after the date of delivery or mailing of the certificate. The board may fill any office 
22.27 	as provided in subdivision 1 if the person elected fails to qualify within 30 days, but 
22.28 	qualification is effective if made before the board acts to fill the vacancy.

22.29 	Sec. 43. REPEALER.
 22.30 	Minnesota Statutes 2006, sections 200.04; 201.061, subdivision 7; 201.096; 
22.31 	203B.02, subdivision 1a; and 203B.13, subdivision 3a, are repealed.