1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to elections; modifying provisions related to election administration; 
1.3 	making changes to election provisions related to voting, voter registration, 
1.4 	absentee ballots, ballots, soil and water conservation districts, candidates, 
1.5 	municipal elections, school district elections, the recall of elected officials, and 
1.6 	other election-related provisions; making technical and clarifying changes; 
1.7 	providing for dissolution of certain election districts;amending Minnesota 
1.8 	Statutes 2012, sections 201.061, subdivision 8, as added; 201.081, as amended; 
1.9 	201.091, subdivision 2; 201.13, subdivision 4; 203B.04, subdivision 7, as added; 
1.10 	203B.12, subdivision 7, by adding a subdivision; 203B.17, subdivision 3, as 
1.11 	amended; 203B.22; 204B.09, subdivision 3; 204B.19, subdivision 2; 204C.08, 
1.12 	subdivision 1d; 204C.26, subdivision 1; 204D.13, subdivisions 1, 2; 204D.15, 
1.13 	subdivision 1; 205.07, subdivision 1a; 205.13, subdivision 1; 370.05; 375A.12, 
1.14 	subdivision 5; 412.091; Minnesota Statutes 2013 Supplement, sections 5B.06; 
1.15 	103C.311, subdivision 2; 201.061, subdivision 3; 203B.04, subdivision 1, as 
1.16 	amended; 204B.46; 205A.05, subdivision 1; 368.47; proposing coding for new 
1.17 	law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 211C; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2012, 
1.18 	section 201.016, subdivision 2.
1.19 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.20 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2013 Supplement, section 5B.06, is amended to read:
1.21 	5B.06 VOTING BY PROGRAM PARTICIPANT; ABSENTEE BALLOT.
1.22 	A program participant who is otherwise eligible to vote may register with the 
1.23 	secretary of state as a permanent absentee voter. Notwithstanding section 203B.04, 
1.24 	subdivision 5, the secretary of state is not required to send an absentee ballot application 
1.25 	prior to each election to a program participant registered as a permanent absentee voter 
1.26 	under this section. As soon as practicable before each election, the secretary of state 
1.27 	shall determine the precinct in which the residential address of the program participant 
1.28 	is located and shall request from and receive from the county auditor or other election 
1.29 	official the ballot for that precinct and shall forward the absentee ballot to the program 
2.1 	participant with the other materials for absentee balloting as required by Minnesota 
2.2 	law. The program participant shall complete the ballot and return it to the secretary of 
2.3 	state, who shall review the ballot in the manner provided by section 203B.24 203B.121, 
2.4 	subdivision 2. If the ballot and ballot materials comply with the requirements of that 
2.5 	section, the ballot must be certified by the secretary of state as the ballot of a program 
2.6 	participant, and must be forwarded to the appropriate electoral jurisdiction for tabulation 
2.7 	along with all other ballots. The name and address of a program participant must not be 
2.8 	listed in the statewide voter registration system.

2.9 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2013 Supplement, section 103C.311, subdivision 2, is 
2.10 	amended to read:
2.11 		Subd. 2.Supervisors elected by districts. (a) A district board in the seven-county 
2.12 	metropolitan area shall by resolution provide that supervisors will be elected by supervisor 
2.13 	districts as provided in this subdivision.
2.14 	(a) The (b) A district board outside of the seven-county metropolitan area, with the 
2.15 	approval of the state board, may by resolution provide that supervisors will be elected by 
2.16 	supervisor districts as provided in this subdivision.
2.17 	(b) (c) The supervisor districts must be composed of precincts established by 
2.18 	county and municipal governing bodies under section 204B.14. The districts must be 
2.19 	compact, include only contiguous territory, and be substantially equal in population. 
2.20 	The districts must be numbered in a regular series. The districts must be drawn by the 
2.21 	county board of the county containing the largest area of the soil and water conservation 
2.22 	district, in consultation with the district board and with the approval of the state board. 
2.23 	The boundaries of the districts must be redrawn after each decennial federal census as 
2.24 	provided in section 204B.135. A certified copy of the resolution establishing supervisor 
2.25 	districts must be filed by the chair of the district board with the county auditor of the 
2.26 	counties where the soil and water conservation district is located, with the state board, and 
2.27 	with the secretary of state, and the filings must occur within 80 days of the time when the 
2.28 	legislature has been redistricted or at least 15 weeks before the state primary election in a 
2.29 	year ending in two, whichever comes first.
2.30 	(c) (d) Each supervisor district is entitled to elect one supervisor. A supervisor must 
2.31 	be a resident of the district from which elected.
2.32 	(d) (e) The district board shall provide staggered terms for supervisors elected by 
2.33 	district. After each redistricting, there shall be a new election of supervisors in all the 
2.34 	districts at the next general election, except that if the change made in the boundaries of a 
2.35 	district is less than five percent of the average population of all the districts, the supervisor 
3.1 	in office at the time of the redistricting shall serve for the full term for which elected. The 
3.2 	district board shall determine by lot the seats to be filled for a two-year term, a four-year 
3.3 	term, and a six-year term.

3.4 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2015, and applies to 
3.5 	elections conducted on or after that date.

3.6 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2013 Supplement, section 201.061, subdivision 3, is 
3.7 	amended to read:
3.8 		Subd. 3.Election day registration. (a) An individual who is eligible to vote may 
3.9 	register on election day by appearing in person at the polling place for the precinct in 
3.10 	which the individual maintains residence, by completing a registration application, making 
3.11 	an oath in the form prescribed by the secretary of state and providing proof of residence. 
3.12 	An individual may prove residence for purposes of registering by:
3.13 	(1) presenting a driver's license or Minnesota identification card issued pursuant 
3.14 	to section 171.07;
3.15 	(2) presenting any document approved by the secretary of state as proper 
3.16 	identification;
3.17 	(3) presenting one of the following:
3.18 	(i) a current valid student identification card from a postsecondary educational 
3.19 	institution in Minnesota, if a list of students from that institution has been prepared under 
3.20 	section 135A.17 and certified to the county auditor in the manner provided in rules of 
3.21 	the secretary of state; or
3.22 	(ii) a current student fee statement that contains the student's valid address in the 
3.23 	precinct together with a picture identification card; or
3.24 	(4) having a voter who is registered to vote in the precinct, or who is an employee 
3.25 	employed by and working in a residential facility in the precinct and vouching for a 
3.26 	resident in the facility, sign an oath in the presence of the election judge vouching that 
3.27 	the voter or employee personally knows that the individual is a resident of the precinct. 
3.28 	A voter who has been vouched for on election day may not sign a proof of residence 
3.29 	oath vouching for any other individual on that election day. A voter who is registered to 
3.30 	vote in the precinct may sign up to eight proof-of-residence oaths on any election day. 
3.31 	This limitation does not apply to an employee of a residential facility described in this 
3.32 	clause. The secretary of state shall provide a form for election judges to use in recording 
3.33 	the number of individuals for whom a voter signs proof-of-residence oaths on election 
3.34 	day. The form must include space for the maximum number of individuals for whom a 
3.35 	voter may sign proof-of-residence oaths. For each proof-of-residence oath, the form must 
4.1 	include a statement that the voter individual: (i) is registered to vote in the precinct or is an 
4.2 	employee of a residential facility in the precinct, (ii) personally knows that the individual
4.3 	 voter is a resident of the precinct, and (iii) is making the statement on oath. The form must 
4.4 	include a space for the voter's printed name, signature, telephone number, and address.
4.5 	The oath required by this subdivision and Minnesota Rules, part 8200.9939, must be 
4.6 	attached to the voter registration application.
4.7 	(b) The operator of a residential facility shall prepare a list of the names of its 
4.8 	employees currently working in the residential facility and the address of the residential 
4.9 	facility. The operator shall certify the list and provide it to the appropriate county auditor 
4.10 	no less than 20 days before each election for use in election day registration.
4.11 	(c) "Residential facility" means transitional housing as defined in section 256E.33, 
4.12 	subdivision 1; a supervised living facility licensed by the commissioner of health under 
4.13 	section 144.50, subdivision 6; a nursing home as defined in section 144A.01, subdivision 
4.14 	5; a residence registered with the commissioner of health as a housing with services 
4.15 	establishment as defined in section 144D.01, subdivision 4; a veterans home operated by 
4.16 	the board of directors of the Minnesota Veterans Homes under chapter 198; a residence 
4.17 	licensed by the commissioner of human services to provide a residential program as 
4.18 	defined in section 245A.02, subdivision 14; a residential facility for persons with a 
4.19 	developmental disability licensed by the commissioner of human services under section 
4.20 	252.28; group residential housing as defined in section 256I.03, subdivision 3; a shelter 
4.21 	for battered women as defined in section 611A.37, subdivision 4; or a supervised 
4.22 	publicly or privately operated shelter or dwelling designed to provide temporary living 
4.23 	accommodations for the homeless.
4.24 	(d) For tribal band members, an individual may prove residence for purposes of 
4.25 	registering by:
4.26 	(1) presenting an identification card issued by the tribal government of a tribe 
4.27 	recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, United States Department of the Interior, that 
4.28 	contains the name, address, signature, and picture of the individual; or
4.29 	(2) presenting an identification card issued by the tribal government of a tribe 
4.30 	recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, United States Department of the Interior, that 
4.31 	contains the name, signature, and picture of the individual and also presenting one of the 
4.32 	documents listed in Minnesota Rules, part 8200.5100, subpart 2, item B.
4.33 	(e) A county, school district, or municipality may require that an election judge 
4.34 	responsible for election day registration initial each completed registration application.

5.1 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 201.061, subdivision 8, as added by Laws 
5.2 	2014, chapter 185, section 3, is amended to read:
5.3 		Subd. 8.Web site security. (a) The secretary of state shall maintain a log of each 
5.4 	Internet Protocol address used to submit a voter registration application electronically 
5.5 	under subdivision 1, paragraph (a), clause (2), and must monitor the log, volume of 
5.6 	Web site use, and other appropriate indicators for suspicious activity. Evidence of 
5.7 	suspicious activity that cannot be resolved by the secretary of state must be forwarded to 
5.8 	an appropriate law enforcement agency for investigation.
5.9 	(b) The electronic registration system must be secure. The Web site shall maintain 
5.10 	the confidentiality of all users and preserve the integrity of the data submitted. The 
5.11 	secretary of state shall employ security measures to ensure the accuracy and integrity of 
5.12 	voter registration applications submitted electronically pursuant to this section. All data 
5.13 	sent and received through the Web site must be encrypted.
5.14 	(c) The secretary of state must provide ongoing testing and monitoring to ensure 
5.15 	continued security. The secretary of state must work with the chief information officer 
5.16 	as defined in section 16E.01, subdivision 1, or another security expert to annually assess 
5.17 	the security of the system. The security assessment must include a certification signed 
5.18 	by the secretary of state that states that adequate security measures are in place. The 
5.19 	certification must also be signed by the chief information officer or another security expert 
5.20 	affirming that the assessment is accurate. The secretary of state must submit the security 
5.21 	assessment to the legislative auditor and to the chairs and ranking minority members of 
5.22 	the committees in the senate and house of representatives with primary jurisdiction over 
5.23 	elections by January 1 of each year, except that the first annual security assessment must 
5.24 	be submitted by September 30, 2014, and no report is required for January 1, 2015.
5.25 	(d) In developing the electronic voter registration system, the secretary of state must 
5.26 	consult with the chief information officer or the chief's designee to ensure the site is secure.

5.27 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 201.081, as amended by Laws 2014, chapter 
5.28 	185, section 6, is amended to read:
5.29 	201.081 REGISTRATION FILES.
5.30 		Subdivision 1.Statewide registration system. (a) The statewide registration system 
5.31 	is the official record of registered voters. The voter registration applications and the 
5.32 	terminal providing access to the statewide registration system must be under the control 
5.33 	of the county auditor or the public official to whom the county auditor has delegated 
5.34 	the responsibility for maintaining voter registration records. The voter registration 
5.35 	applications and terminals providing access to the statewide registration system must not 
6.1 	be removed from the control of the county auditor except as provided in this section. 
6.2 	The county auditor may make photographic copies of voter registration applications in 
6.3 	the manner provided by section 138.17.
6.4 	(b) A properly completed voter registration application that has been submitted 
6.5 	electronically or in paper form to the secretary of state or a county auditor must be 
6.6 	maintained by the secretary of state or the county auditor for at least 22 months after the 
6.7 	date that the information on the application is entered into the database of the statewide 
6.8 	registration system. The secretary of state or the county auditor may dispose of the 
6.9 	applications after retention for 22 months in the manner provided by section 138.17.
6.10 	(c) Data contained on a voter registration application submitted electronically 
6.11 	through the secure Web site established in section 201.061, subdivision 1, must be 
6.12 	maintained in its original form, in a manner suitable for printing, for the period required 
6.13 	by this section. The Internet Protocol address used to submit an application electronically 
6.14 	must be maintained with the voter registration application data.
6.15 		Subd. 2.Exception. The secretary of state may maintain voter records of 
6.16 	participants of the Safe at Home program for the purposes of chapter 5B.

6.17 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 201.091, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
6.18 		Subd. 2.Corrected list. By February 15 of each year, the secretary of state shall 
6.19 	prepare the master list for each county auditor. The records in the statewide registration 
6.20 	system must be periodically corrected and updated by the county auditor. An updated 
6.21 	master list for each precinct must be available for absentee voting at least 32 46 days 
6.22 	before each election. A final corrected master list must be available seven days before 
6.23 	each election.

6.24 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 201.13, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
6.25 		Subd. 4.Request for removal of voter record. If a voter makes a written request 
6.26 	for removal of the voter's record, the county auditor shall remove inactivate the record of 
6.27 	the voter from in the statewide voter registration system.

6.28 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2013 Supplement, section 203B.04, subdivision 1, as 
6.29 	amended by Laws 2014, chapter 185, section 8, is amended to read:
6.30 		Subdivision 1.Application procedures. (a) Except as otherwise allowed by 
6.31 	subdivision 2 or by section 203B.11, subdivision 4, an application for absentee ballots for 
6.32 	any election may be submitted at any time not less than one day before the day of that 
6.33 	election. The county auditor shall prepare absentee ballot application forms in the format 
7.1 	provided by the secretary of state and shall furnish them to any person on request. By 
7.2 	January 1 of each even-numbered year, the secretary of state shall make the forms to be 
7.3 	used available to auditors through electronic means. An application submitted pursuant 
7.4 	to this subdivision shall be in writing. An application may be submitted in person by 
7.5 	electronic facsimile device, by electronic mail,  or by mail to:
7.6 	(1) the county auditor of the county where the applicant maintains residence; or
7.7 	(2) the municipal clerk of the municipality, or school district if applicable, where 
7.8 	the applicant maintains residence.
7.9 	For a federal, state, or county election, an absentee ballot application may alternatively 
7.10 	be submitted electronically through a secure Web site that shall be maintained by the 
7.11 	secretary of state for this purpose. Notwithstanding paragraph (b), the secretary of state 
7.12 	must require applicants using the Web site to submit the applicant's e-mail address and 
7.13 	verifiable Minnesota driver's license number, Minnesota state identification card number, 
7.14 	or the last four digits of the applicant's Social Security number.
7.15 	An application submitted electronically under this paragraph may only be transmitted to 
7.16 	the county auditor for processing if the secretary of state has verified the application 
7.17 	information matches the information in a government database associated with the 
7.18 	applicant's driver's license number, state identification card number, or Social Security 
7.19 	number. The secretary of state must review all unverifiable applications for evidence 
7.20 	of suspicious activity and must forward any such application to an appropriate law 
7.21 	enforcement agency for investigation.
7.22 	(b) An application shall be approved if it is timely received, signed and dated by 
7.23 	the applicant, contains the applicant's name and residence and mailing addresses, date 
7.24 	of birth, and at least one of the following:
7.25 	(1) the applicant's Minnesota driver's license number;
7.26 	(2) Minnesota state identification card number;
7.27 	(3) the last four digits of the applicant's Social Security number; or
7.28 	(4) a statement that the applicant does not have any of these numbers.
7.29 	(c) To be approved, the application must contain an oath that the information 
7.30 	contained on the form is accurate, that the applicant is applying on the applicant's own 
7.31 	behalf, and that the applicant is signing the form under penalty of perjury.
7.32 	(d) An applicant's full date of birth, Minnesota driver's license or state identification 
7.33 	number, and the last four digits of the applicant's Social Security number must not be made 
7.34 	available for public inspection. An application may be submitted to the county auditor 
7.35 	or municipal clerk by an electronic facsimile device. An application mailed or returned 
7.36 	in person to the county auditor or municipal clerk on behalf of a voter by a person other 
8.1 	than the voter must be deposited in the mail or returned in person to the county auditor or 
8.2 	municipal clerk within ten days after it has been dated by the voter and no later than six 
8.3 	days before the election. The absentee ballot applications or a list of persons applying 
8.4 	for an absentee ballot may not be made available for public inspection until the close of 
8.5 	voting on election day, except as authorized in section 203B.12.
8.6 	(e) An application under this subdivision may contain an application under 
8.7 	subdivision 5 to automatically receive an absentee ballot application.

8.8 	Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 203B.04, subdivision 7, as added by Laws 
8.9 	2014, chapter 185, section 9, is amended to read:
8.10 		Subd. 7.Web site security. (a) The secretary of state shall maintain a log of each 
8.11 	Internet Protocol address used to submit an absentee ballot application electronically under 
8.12 	this section, and must monitor the log, volume of Web site use, and other appropriate 
8.13 	indicators for suspicious activity. Evidence of suspicious activity that cannot be resolved 
8.14 	by the secretary of state must be forwarded to an appropriate law enforcement agency for 
8.15 	investigation.
8.16 	(b) The electronic absentee ballot application system must be secure. The Web 
8.17 	site shall maintain the confidentiality of all users and preserve the integrity of the data 
8.18 	submitted. The secretary of state shall employ security measures to ensure the accuracy 
8.19 	and integrity of absentee ballot applications submitted electronically pursuant to this 
8.20 	section. All data sent and received through the Web site must be encrypted.
8.21 	(c) The secretary of state must provide ongoing testing and monitoring to ensure 
8.22 	continued security. The secretary of state must work with the chief information officer 
8.23 	as defined in section 16E.01, subdivision 1, or another security expert to annually assess 
8.24 	the security of the system. The security assessment must include a certification signed 
8.25 	by the secretary of state that states that adequate security measures are in place. The 
8.26 	certification must also be signed by the chief information officer or another security expert 
8.27 	affirming that the assessment is accurate. The secretary of state must submit the security 
8.28 	assessment to the legislative auditor and to the chairs and ranking minority members of 
8.29 	the committees in the senate and house of representatives with primary jurisdiction over 
8.30 	elections by January 1 of each year, except that the first annual security assessment must 
8.31 	be submitted by September 30, 2014, and no report is required for January 1, 2015.
8.32 	(d) In developing the electronic absentee ballot application system, the secretary of 
8.33 	state must consult with the chief information officer or the chief's designee to ensure the 
8.34 	site is secure.

9.1 	Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 203B.12, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
9.2 		Subd. 7.Names of persons submitting; rejected absentee ballots. The names 
9.3 	of voters who have submitted an absentee ballot return envelope to the county auditor 
9.4 	or municipal clerk that has not been accepted may not be made available for public 
9.5 	inspection until the close of voting on election day.

9.6 	Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 203B.12, is amended by adding a subdivision 
9.7 	to read:
9.8 		Subd. 8.Names of persons; accepted absentee ballots. For all elections where use 
9.9 	of the statewide voter registration system is required, the secretary of state must maintain 
9.10 	a list of voters who have submitted absentee ballots that have been accepted. For all other 
9.11 	elections, the county auditor or municipal clerk must maintain a list of voters who have 
9.12 	submitted absentee ballots that have been accepted. The lists must be available to the public 
9.13 	in the same manner as public information lists in section 201.091, subdivisions 4, 5, and 9.

9.14 	Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 203B.17, subdivision 3, as amended by 
9.15 	Laws 2014, chapter 185, section 10, is amended to read:
9.16 		Subd. 3.Web site security. (a) The secretary of state shall maintain a log of each 
9.17 	Internet Protocol address used to submit an absentee ballot application electronically under 
9.18 	this section, and must monitor the log, volume of Web site use, and other appropriate 
9.19 	indicators for suspicious activity. Evidence of suspicious activity that cannot be resolved 
9.20 	by the secretary of state must be forwarded to an appropriate law enforcement agency for 
9.21 	investigation.
9.22 	(b) The electronic absentee ballot application system must be secure. The Web 
9.23 	site shall maintain the confidentiality of all users and preserve the integrity of the data 
9.24 	submitted. The secretary of state shall employ security measures to ensure the accuracy 
9.25 	and integrity of absentee ballot applications submitted electronically pursuant to this 
9.26 	section. All data sent and received through the Web site must be encrypted.
9.27 	(c) The secretary of state must provide ongoing testing and monitoring to ensure 
9.28 	continued security. The secretary of state must work with the chief information officer 
9.29 	as defined in section 16E.01, subdivision 1, or another security expert to annually assess 
9.30 	the security of the system. The security assessment must include a certification signed 
9.31 	by the secretary of state that states that adequate security measures are in place. The 
9.32 	certification must also be signed by the chief information officer or another security expert 
9.33 	affirming that the assessment is accurate. The secretary of state must submit the security 
9.34 	assessment to the legislative auditor and to the chairs and ranking minority members of 
10.1 	the committees in the senate and house of representatives with primary jurisdiction over 
10.2 	elections by January 1 of each year, except that the first annual security assessment must 
10.3 	be submitted by September 30, 2014, and no report is required for January 1, 2015.
10.4 	(d) In developing the electronic absentee ballot application system, the secretary of 
10.5 	state must consult with the chief information officer or the chief's designee to ensure the 
10.6 	site is secure.

10.7 	Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 203B.22, is amended to read:
10.8 	203B.22 TRANSMITTING BALLOTS.
10.9 	(a) The county auditor shall transmit the appropriate ballots, as promptly as possible, 
10.10 	to an absent voter whose application has been recorded under section 203B.19. If the 
10.11 	county auditor determines that a voter is not eligible to vote at the primary but will be 
10.12 	eligible to vote at the general election, only general election ballots shall be transmitted. 
10.13 	Only one set of ballots shall be transmitted to any applicant for any election, except that 
10.14 	the county auditor may transmit a replacement ballot to a voter whose ballot has been 
10.15 	spoiled or lost in transit or whose mailing address has changed after the date on which 
10.16 	the original application was submitted as confirmed by the county auditor. Ballots to be 
10.17 	sent outside the United States shall be given priority in transmission. A county auditor 
10.18 	may make use of any special service provided by the United States government for the 
10.19 	transmission of voting materials under sections 203B.16 to 203B.27.
10.20 	(b) The county auditor must transmit the appropriate ballots by express mail 
10.21 	immediately upon discovery that the ballots were not properly transmitted to the voter as 
10.22 	a result of the following circumstances: (1) an application was received by the county 
10.23 	auditor by the close of business at least 46 days before the election; (2) the county auditor 
10.24 	failed to transmit the appropriate ballots by the 46th day before the election; and (3) 
10.25 	the voter did not request that the ballots be electronically transmitted to the voter under 
10.26 	section 203B.225, subdivision 1.

10.27 	Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204B.09, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
10.28 		Subd. 3.Write-in candidates. (a) A candidate for county, state, or federal office 
10.29 	who wants write-in votes for the candidate to be counted must file a written request with 
10.30 	the filing office for the office sought not more than 84 days before the primary and no later 
10.31 	than the seventh day before the general election. The filing officer shall provide copies 
10.32 	of the form to make the request.
10.33 	(b) A candidate for president of the United States who files a request under this 
10.34 	subdivision must include the name of a candidate for vice-president of the United States. 
11.1 	The request must also include the name of at least one candidate for presidential elector. The 
11.2 	total number of names of candidates for presidential elector on the request may not exceed 
11.3 	the total number of electoral votes to be cast by Minnesota in the presidential election.
11.4 	(c) A candidate for governor who files a request under this subdivision must include 
11.5 	the name of a candidate for lieutenant governor.

11.6 	Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204B.19, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
11.7 		Subd. 2.Individuals not qualified to be election judges. (a) Except as provided in 
11.8 	paragraph (b), no individual shall be appointed as an election judge for any precinct if 
11.9 	that individual:
11.10 	(1) is unable to read, write, or speak the English language;
11.11 	(2) is the spouse,; parent, including a stepparent; child, including a stepchild,; or 
11.12 	sibling, including a stepsibling,; of any election judge serving in the same precinct or of 
11.13 	any candidate at that election; or
11.14 	(3) is a candidate at that election.
11.15 	(b) Individuals who are related to each other as provided in paragraph (a), clause (2), 
11.16 	may serve as election judges in the same precinct, provided that they serve on separate 
11.17 	shifts that do not run concurrently.

11.18 	Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2013 Supplement, section 204B.46, is amended to read:
11.19 	204B.46 MAIL ELECTIONS; QUESTIONS.
11.20 	A county, municipality, or school district submitting questions to the voters at a 
11.21 	special election may conduct an election by mail with no polling place other than the 
11.22 	office of the auditor or clerk. No offices may be voted on at a mail election. Notice of the 
11.23 	election must be given to the county auditor at least 74 days prior to the election. This 
11.24 	notice shall also fulfill the requirements of Minnesota Rules, part 8210.3000. The special 
11.25 	mail ballot procedures must be posted at least six weeks prior to the election. Not more 
11.26 	than 46 nor later than 14 days prior to the election, the auditor or clerk shall mail ballots by 
11.27 	nonforwardable mail to all voters registered in the county, municipality, or school district. 
11.28 	No later than 14 days before the election, the auditor or clerk must make a subsequent 
11.29 	mailing of ballots to those voters who register to vote after the initial mailing but before the 
11.30 	20th day before the election. Eligible voters not registered at the time the ballots are mailed 
11.31 	may apply for ballots pursuant to chapter 203B. The auditor or clerk must appoint a ballot 
11.32 	board to examine the mail and absentee ballot return envelopes and mark them "Accepted" 
11.33 	or "Rejected" within three days of receipt if there are 14 or fewer days before election day, 
11.34 	or within five days of receipt if there are more than 14 days before election day. The board 
12.1 	may consist of deputy county auditors, deputy municipal clerks, or deputy school district 
12.2 	clerks who have received training in the processing and counting of mail ballots, who 
12.3 	need not be affiliated with a major political party. Election judges performing the duties in 
12.4 	this section must be of different major political parties, unless they are exempt from that 
12.5 	requirement under section 205.075, subdivision 4, or section 205A.10. If an envelope has 
12.6 	been rejected at least five days before the election, the ballots in the envelope must remain 
12.7 	sealed and the auditor or clerk must provide the voter with a replacement ballot and return 
12.8 	envelope in place of the spoiled ballot. If the ballot is rejected within five days of the 
12.9 	election, the envelope must remain sealed and the official in charge of the ballot board must 
12.10 	attempt to contact the voter by telephone or e-mail to notify the voter that the voter's ballot 
12.11 	has been rejected. The official must document the attempts made to contact the voter.
12.12 	If the ballot is accepted, the county auditor or municipal clerk must mark the roster to 
12.13 	indicate that the voter has already cast a ballot in that election. After the close of business 
12.14 	on the fourth seventh day before the election, the ballots from return envelopes marked 
12.15 	"Accepted" may be opened, duplicated as needed in the manner provided by section 206.86, 
12.16 	subdivision 5, initialed by the ballot board, and deposited in the appropriate ballot box.
12.17 	In all other respects, the provisions of the Minnesota Election Law governing 
12.18 	deposit and counting of ballots apply.
12.19 	The mail and absentee ballots for a precinct must be counted together and reported 
12.20 	as one vote total. No vote totals from ballots may be made public before the close of 
12.21 	voting on election day.

12.22 	Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204C.08, subdivision 1d, is amended to read:
12.23 		Subd. 1d.Voter's Bill of Rights. The county auditor shall prepare and provide to 
12.24 	each polling place sufficient copies of a poster setting forth the Voter's Bill of Rights as set 
12.25 	forth in this section. Before the hours of voting are scheduled to begin, the election judges 
12.26 	shall post it in a conspicuous location or locations in the polling place. The Voter's Bill 
12.27 	of Rights is as follows:
12.28 	"VOTER'S BILL OF RIGHTS
12.29 	For all persons residing in this state who meet federal voting eligibility requirements:
12.30 	(1) You have the right to be absent from work for the purpose of voting in a state or 
12.31 	federal election without reduction to your pay, personal leave, or vacation time on election 
12.32 	day for the time necessary to appear at your polling place, cast a ballot, and return to work.
12.33 	(2) If you are in line at your polling place any time before 8:00 p.m., you have the 
12.34 	right to vote.
13.1 	(3) If you can provide the required proof of residence, you have the right to register 
13.2 	to vote and to vote on election day.
13.3 	(4) If you are unable to sign your name, you have the right to orally confirm your 
13.4 	identity with an election judge and to direct another person to sign your name for you.
13.5 	(5) You have the right to request special assistance when voting.
13.6 	(6) If you need assistance, you may be accompanied into the voting booth by a 
13.7 	person of your choice, except by an agent of your employer or union or a candidate.
13.8 	(7) You have the right to bring your minor children into the polling place and into 
13.9 	the voting booth with you.
13.10 	(8) If you have been convicted of a felony but your felony sentence has expired (been 
13.11 	completed) or you have been discharged from your sentence, you have the right to vote.
13.12 	(9) If you are under a guardianship, you have the right to vote, unless the court 
13.13 	order revokes your right to vote.
13.14 	(10) You have the right to vote without anyone in the polling place trying to 
13.15 	influence your vote.
13.16 	(11) If you make a mistake or spoil your ballot before it is submitted, you have the 
13.17 	right to receive a replacement ballot and vote.
13.18 	(12) You have the right to file a written complaint at your polling place if you are 
13.19 	dissatisfied with the way an election is being run.
13.20 	(13) You have the right to take a sample ballot into the voting booth with you.
13.21 	(14) You have the right to take a copy of this Voter's Bill of Rights into the voting 
13.22 	booth with you."

13.23 	Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204C.26, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
13.24 		Subdivision 1.Summary statements. For state elections, each official responsible 
13.25 	for printing ballots shall furnish three or more blank summary statement forms for the 
13.26 	returns of those ballots for each precinct. At least two copies of the summary statement 
13.27 	must be prepared for elections not held on the same day as the state elections. The blank 
13.28 	summary statement forms shall be furnished at the same time and in the same manner as 
13.29 	the ballots. The county auditor shall furnish blank summary statement forms containing 
13.30 	separate space for the summary statement of the returns of the white state general election
13.31 	 ballot and the summary statement of the returns for the state pink ballot.

13.32 	Sec. 19. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204D.13, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
13.33 		Subdivision 1.Order of offices. The candidates for partisan offices shall be placed 
13.34 	on the white state general election ballot in the following order: senator in Congress shall 
14.1 	be first; representative in Congress, second; state senator, third; and state representative, 
14.2 	fourth. The candidates for state offices shall follow in the order specified by the secretary 
14.3 	of state. Candidates for governor and lieutenant governor shall appear so that a single 
14.4 	vote may be cast for both offices.

14.5 	Sec. 20. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204D.13, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
14.6 		Subd. 2.Order of political parties. The first name printed for each partisan office 
14.7 	on the white state general election ballot shall be that of the candidate of the major political 
14.8 	party that received the smallest average number of votes at the last state general election. 
14.9 	The succeeding names shall be those of the candidates of the other major political parties 
14.10 	that received a succeedingly higher average number of votes respectively. For the purposes 
14.11 	of this subdivision, the average number of votes of a major political party shall be computed 
14.12 	by dividing the total number of votes counted for all of the party's candidates for statewide 
14.13 	office at the state general election by the number of those candidates at the election.

14.14 	Sec. 21. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204D.15, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
14.15 		Subdivision 1.Titles for constitutional amendments. The secretary of state shall 
14.16 	provide an appropriate title for each question printed on the pink state general election
14.17 	 ballot. The title shall be approved by the attorney general, and shall consist of not more 
14.18 	than one printed line above the question to which it refers. At the top of the ballot just 
14.19 	below the heading, a conspicuous notice shall be printed stating that a voter's failure to 
14.20 	vote on a constitutional amendment has the effect of a negative vote.

14.21 	Sec. 22. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 205.07, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:
14.22 		Subd. 1a.City council members; expiration of terms. The terms of all city 
14.23 	council members of charter cities expire on the first Monday in January of the year in 
14.24 	which they expire. All officers of charter cities chosen and qualified shall hold office until 
14.25 	their successors qualify.

14.26 	Sec. 23. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 205.13, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
14.27 		Subdivision 1.Affidavit of candidacy. An individual who is eligible and desires to 
14.28 	become a candidate for an office to be voted for at the municipal general election shall file 
14.29 	an affidavit of candidacy with the municipal clerk. Candidates for a special election to 
14.30 	fill a vacancy held as provided in section 412.02, subdivision 2a, must file an affidavit 
14.31 	of candidacy for the specific office to fill the unexpired portion of the term. Subject to 
14.32 	the approval of the county auditor, the town clerk may authorize candidates for township 
15.1 	offices to file affidavits of candidacy with the county auditor. The affidavit shall be in 
15.2 	substantially the same form as that in section 204B.06, subdivision 1. The municipal clerk 
15.3 	shall also accept an application signed by not less than five voters and filed on behalf of an 
15.4 	eligible voter in the municipality whom they desire to be a candidate, if service of a copy 
15.5 	of the application has been made on the candidate and proof of service is endorsed on the 
15.6 	application being filed. Upon receipt of the proper filing fee, the clerk shall place the name 
15.7 	of the candidate on the official ballot without partisan designation.

15.8 	Sec. 24. Minnesota Statutes 2013 Supplement, section 205A.05, subdivision 1, is 
15.9 	amended to read:
15.10 		Subdivision 1.Questions. (a) Special elections must be held for a school district on 
15.11 	a question on which the voters are authorized by law to pass judgment. The school board 
15.12 	may on its own motion call a special election to vote on any matter requiring approval of 
15.13 	the voters of a district. Upon petition filed with the school board of 50 or more voters of 
15.14 	the school district or five percent of the number of voters voting at the preceding school 
15.15 	district general election, whichever is greater, the school board shall by resolution call 
15.16 	a special election to vote on any matter requiring approval of the voters of a district. 
15.17 	A question is carried only with the majority in its favor required by law. The election 
15.18 	officials for a special election are the same as for the most recent school district general 
15.19 	election unless changed according to law. Otherwise, special elections must be conducted 
15.20 	and the returns made in the manner provided for the school district general election. 
15.21 	(b) A special election may not be held:
15.22 	(1) during the 56 days before and the 56 days after a regularly scheduled primary or 
15.23 	general election conducted wholly or partially within the school district.;
15.24 	(2) on the date of a regularly scheduled town election in March conducted wholly 
15.25 	or partially within the school district; or
15.26 	(3) during the 30 days before or the 30 days after a regularly scheduled town election 
15.27 	in March conducted wholly or partially within the school district.
15.28 	(c) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the time period in which a special 
15.29 	election must be conducted under any other law may be extended by the school board to 
15.30 	conform with the requirements of this subdivision.

15.31 	Sec. 25. [211C.071] REMOVAL ELECTION FORM OF QUESTION.
15.32 	The form of the question under this chapter must be:
15.33 	"Shall ....... (Name) elected (appointed) to the office of ....... (title) be removed 
15.34 	from that office?"

16.1 	Sec. 26. Minnesota Statutes 2013 Supplement, section 368.47, is amended to read:
16.2 	368.47 TOWNS MAY BE DISSOLVED.
16.3 	(1) When the voters residing within a town have failed to elect any town officials for 
16.4 	more than ten years continuously;
16.5 	(2) when a town has failed for a period of ten years to exercise any of the powers 
16.6 	and functions of a town;
16.7 	(3) when the estimated market value of a town drops to less than $165,000;
16.8 	(4) when the tax delinquency of a town, exclusive of taxes that are delinquent or 
16.9 	unpaid because they are contested in proceedings for the enforcement of taxes, amounts to 
16.10 	12 percent of its market value; or
16.11 	(5) when the state or federal government has acquired title to 50 percent of the 
16.12 	real estate of a town,
16.13 	which facts, or any of them, may be found and determined by the resolution of the county 
16.14 	board of the county in which the town is located, according to the official records in the 
16.15 	office of the county auditor, the county board by resolution may declare the town, naming 
16.16 	it, dissolved and no longer entitled to exercise any of the powers or functions of a town.
16.17 	In Cass, Itasca, and St. Louis Counties, before the dissolution is effective the voters 
16.18 	of the town shall express their approval or disapproval. The town clerk shall, upon a 
16.19 	petition signed by a majority of the registered voters of the town, filed with the clerk at 
16.20 	least 60 days before a regular or special town election, give notice at the same time and 
16.21 	in the same manner of the election that the question of dissolution of the town will be 
16.22 	submitted for determination at the election. At the election the question shall be voted 
16.23 	upon by a separate ballot, the terms of which shall be either "for dissolution" or "against 
16.24 	dissolution.". The form of the question under this chapter shall be substantially in the 
16.25 	following form: "Shall the town of ... be dissolved?" The ballot shall be deposited in a 
16.26 	separate ballot box and the result of the voting canvassed, certified, and returned in the 
16.27 	same manner and at the same time as other facts and returns of the election. If a majority of 
16.28 	the votes cast at the election are for dissolution, the town shall be dissolved. If a majority 
16.29 	of the votes cast at the election are against dissolution, the town shall not be dissolved.
16.30 	When a town is dissolved under sections 368.47 to 368.49 the county shall acquire 
16.31 	title to any telephone company or other business conducted by the town. The business 
16.32 	shall be operated by the board of county commissioners until it can be sold. The 
16.33 	subscribers or patrons of the business shall have the first opportunity of purchase. If the 
16.34 	town has any outstanding indebtedness chargeable to the business, the county auditor shall 
16.35 	levy a tax against the property situated in the dissolved town to pay the indebtedness 
16.36 	as it becomes due.

17.1 	Sec. 27. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 370.05, is amended to read:
17.2 	370.05 NOTICE OF ELECTION; FORM OF BALLOT.
17.3 	The notice of the next general election of county officers must specify that the 
17.4 	question of forming the new county, or changing the boundaries of existing counties, as 
17.5 	the case may be, will be voted upon at the election, and must state substantially the facts 
17.6 	in the petition. If the proposition is for a change of boundaries, the ballots shall include 
17.7 	the words: "For changing county boundaries. Yes. No."the form of the question shall be 
17.8 	substantially in the following form: "Shall the county boundaries be changed as described 
17.9 	in the proclamation issued on (date)?" If the proposition is for the establishment of a new 
17.10 	county, the words: "For a new county. Yes. No." Each of the last two words, "yes" and 
17.11 	"no," shall be followed by a square in which the voter may make a cross to indicate a 
17.12 	choice. the form of the question shall be substantially in the following form: "Shall a new 
17.13 	county be established as described in the proclamation issued on (date)?"

17.14 	Sec. 28. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 375A.12, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
17.15 		Subd. 5.Form of ballot. In the submission of any proposal pursuant to subdivision 
17.16 	2 the ballot shall be substantially in the following form:
17.17 	(...) FOR the proposal (describe briefly the change proposed)
17.18 	(...) AGAINST the proposal (describe briefly the change proposed) "Shall the 
17.19 	office(s) of ....... be appointed rather than elected at the expiration of the(ir) current 
17.20 	term(s)?"

17.21 	Sec. 29. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 412.091, is amended to read:
17.22 	412.091 DISSOLUTION.
17.23 	Whenever a number of voters equal to one-third of those voting at the last 
17.24 	preceding city election petition the chief administrative law judge of the state Office of 
17.25 	Administrative Hearings to dissolve the city, a special election shall be called to vote upon 
17.26 	the question. Before the election, the chief administrative law judge shall designate a time 
17.27 	and place for a hearing in accordance with section 414.09. After the hearing, the chief 
17.28 	administrative law judge shall issue an order which shall include a date for the election, a 
17.29 	determination of what town or towns the territory of the city shall belong to if the voters 
17.30 	favor dissolution, and other necessary provisions. The ballots used at such election shall 
17.31 	bear the printed words, "For Dissolution" and "Against Dissolution," with a square before 
17.32 	each phrase in which the voter may express a preference by a cross. be substantially in 
17.33 	the following form: "Shall the city of ... be dissolved?" If a majority of those voting on 
17.34 	the question favor dissolution, the clerk shall file a certificate of the result with the chief 
18.1 	administrative law judge, the secretary of state, and the county auditor of the county in 
18.2 	which the city is situated. Six months after the date of such election, the city shall cease to 
18.3 	exist. Within such six months, the council shall audit all claims against the city, settle with 
18.4 	the treasurer, and other city officers, and apply the assets of the city to the payment of its 
18.5 	debts. If any debts remain unpaid, other than bonds, the city clerk shall file a schedule of 
18.6 	such debts with the county treasurer and the council shall levy a tax sufficient for their 
18.7 	payment, the proceeds of which, when collected, shall be paid by the county treasurer to 
18.8 	the creditors in proportion to their several claims until all are discharged. The principal 
18.9 	and interest on outstanding bonds shall be paid when due by the county treasurer from a 
18.10 	tax annually spread by the county auditor against property formerly included within the 
18.11 	city until the bonds are fully paid. All city property and all rights of the city shall, upon 
18.12 	dissolution, inure in the town or towns designated as the legal successor to the city. If the 
18.13 	city territory goes to more than one town, surplus cash assets and unsold city property 
18.14 	shall be distributed as provided by the order for the election.

18.15 	Sec. 30. DISSOLUTION OF ELECTION DISTRICTS IN SPECIAL SCHOOL 
18.16 	DISTRICT NO. 6, SOUTH ST. PAUL.
 18.17 	Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 205A.12, subdivision 7, or any special 
18.18 	law applicable to the district, Special School District No. 6, South St. Paul, may by 
18.19 	resolution dissolve election districts previously established. The resolution must include a 
18.20 	plan for the orderly transition to at-large elections of school board members.

18.21 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day after the governing body of 
18.22 	Special School District No. 6, South St. Paul, and its chief clerical officer timely complete 
18.23 	their compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021, subdivisions 2 and 3.

18.24 	Sec. 31.  REPEALER.
 18.25 	Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 201.016, subdivision 2, is repealed.

18.26 	Sec. 32. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 18.27 	Except where otherwise provided, this act is effective the day following final 
18.28 	enactment.