HF 2261

as introduced - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to elections; campaign finance; modifying the
definition of major political party for purposes of
the public subsidy program; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2004, section 10A.01, subdivision 23.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 10A.01,
subdivision 23, is amended to read:

Subd. 23.

Major political party.

"Major political party"
means new text begin :
new text end

new text begin (1) new text end a major political party as defined in section 200.02,
subdivision 7 new text begin ; or
new text end

new text begin (2) a political party that maintains a party organization
in the state, political subdivision, or precinct in question and
that has presented at least 45 candidates for election to the
office of state representative, 23 candidates for election to
the office of state senator, four candidates for the office of
representative in Congress, and one candidate for each of the
following offices: governor and lieutenant governor, attorney
general, secretary of state, and state auditor at the last
preceding state general election for those offices. A political
party that presents the required candidates at a state general
election described in this clause becomes a major political
party as of January 1 following that election and retains its
major party status notwithstanding that the party fails to
present the required candidates at the following state general
election. A major political party that fails to present the
required candidates at the following state general election
loses major party status as of December 31 following the most
recent state general election new text end .