Minnesota Legislature
HF 978
2nd Engrossment - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 04/11/2011 03:08pm
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A bill for an act
relating to elections; modifying certain election administration and districting
procedures; amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, sections 204B.135, subdivision
1; 204B.14, subdivisions 2, 3; 204B.45, subdivision 2; 204B.46; 204C.06,
subdivision 2; 206.57, subdivision 6; 375.025, subdivisions 2, 4.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 204B.135, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:
Subdivision 1.
Cities with wards.
Except as provided in this subdivision, a city that
elects its council members by wards may not redistrict those wards before the legislature
has been redistricted deleted text begin in a year ending in one or twodeleted text end . The wards must be redistricted within
60 days after the legislature has been redistricted or at least 19 weeks before the state
primary election in the year ending in two, whichever is first.
In a citynew text begin of the first classnew text end electing council members by wards in a year ending in
one, the ward boundaries deleted text begin mustdeleted text end new text begin maynew text end be reestablished no later than 14 days before the first
day to file affidavits of candidacy for city council members. The ward boundaries may
be modified after the legislature has been redistricted for the purpose of establishing
precinct boundaries as provided in section 204B.14, subdivision 3deleted text begin , but no modification
in ward boundaries may result in a change of the population of any ward of more than
five percent, plus or minusdeleted text end .
Sec. 2.
Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 204B.14, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2.
Separate precincts; combined polling place.
(a) The following shall
constitute at least one election precinct:
(1) each city ward; and
(2) each town and each statutory city.
(b) A single, accessible, combined polling place may be established no later than
May 1 of any year:
(1) for any city of the third or fourth class, any town, or any city having territory in
more than one county, in which all the voters of the city or town shall cast their ballots;
(2) for deleted text begin twodeleted text end contiguous precincts in the same municipality deleted text begin that have a combined
total of fewer than 500 registered votersdeleted text end ;
(3) for up to four contiguous municipalities located entirely outside the metropolitan
area, as defined by section 200.02, subdivision 24, that are contained in the same county; or
(4) for noncontiguous precincts located in one or more counties.
A copy of the ordinance or resolution establishing a combined polling place must
be filed with the county auditor within 30 days after approval by the governing body. A
polling place combined under clause (3) must be approved by the governing body of each
participating municipality. A polling place combined under clause (4) must be approved
by the governing body of each participating municipality and the secretary of state and
may be located outside any of the noncontiguous precincts. A municipality withdrawing
from participation in a combined polling place must do so by filing a resolution of
withdrawal with the county auditor no later than April 1 of any year.
The secretary of state shall provide a separate polling place roster for each precinct
served by the combined polling place. A single set of election judges may be appointed
to serve at a combined polling place. The number of election judges required must be
based on the total number of persons voting at the last similar election in all precincts to
be voting at the combined polling place. Separate ballot boxes must be provided for the
ballots from each precinct. The results of the election must be reported separately for each
precinct served by the combined polling place, except in a polling place established under
clause (2) where one of the precincts has fewer than ten registered voters, in which case the
results of that precinct must be reported in the manner specified by the secretary of state.
Sec. 3.
Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 204B.14, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd. 3.
Boundary changes; prohibitions; exception.
Notwithstanding other
law or charter provisions to the contrary, during the period from January 1 in any year
ending in zero to the time when the legislature has been redistricted in a year ending in
one or two, no changes may be made in the boundaries of any election precinct except
as provided in this subdivision.
(a) If a city annexes an unincorporated area located in the same county as the city
and adjacent to the corporate boundary, the annexed area may be included in an election
precinct immediately adjacent to it.
(b) A municipality or county may establish new election precincts lying entirely
within the boundaries of any existing precinct and shall assign names to the new precincts
which include the name of the former precinct.
(c) Precinct boundaries in a citynew text begin of the first classnew text end electing council members by wards
may be reestablished within four weeks of the adoption of ward boundaries in a year
ending in one, as provided in section 204B.135, subdivision 1.
(d) Precinct boundaries must be reestablished within 60 days of the time when the
legislature has been redistricted, or at least 19 weeks before the state primary election
in a year ending in two, whichever comes first. The adoption of reestablished precinct
boundaries becomes effective on the date of the state primary election in the year ending
in two.
Precincts must be arranged so that no precinct lies in more than one legislative
or congressional district.
Sec. 4.
Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 204B.45, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2.
Procedure.
Notice of the election and the special mail procedure must
be given at least six weeks prior to the election. Not more than 46 days nor later than 14
days before a regularly scheduled election for federal, state, county, city, or school board
office or a special election for federal office and not more than 30 days nor later than 14
days before any other election, the auditor shall mail ballots by nonforwardable mail to
all voters registered in the town or unorganized territory. No later than 14 days before
the election, the auditor must make a subsequent mailing of ballots to those voters who
register to vote after the initial mailing but before the 20th day before the election. Eligible
voters not registered at the time the ballots are mailed may apply for ballots as provided in
chapter 203B. Ballot return envelopes, with return postage provided, must be preaddressed
to the auditor or clerk and the voter may return the ballot by mail or in person to the office
of the auditor or clerk. The auditor or clerk must appoint a ballot board to examine the
new text begin mail and absentee ballotnew text end return envelopes and mark them "accepted" or "rejected" within
three days of receipt if there are 14 or fewer days before election day, or within five days
of receipt if there are more than 14 days before election day. The board may consist of
staff trained as election judges. Election judges performing the duties in this section must
be of different major political parties, unless they are exempt from that requirement under
section 205.075, subdivision 4, or section 205A.10. If an envelope has been rejected at
least five days before the election, the ballots in the envelope must remain sealed and the
auditor or clerk shall provide the voter with a replacement ballot and return envelope in
place of the spoiled ballot. If the ballot is rejected within five days of the election, the
envelope must remain sealed and the official in charge of the ballot board must attempt to
contact the voter by telephone or e-mail to notify the voter that the voter's ballot has been
rejected. The official must document the attempts made to contact the voter.
If the ballot is accepted, the county auditor or municipal clerk must mark the roster to
indicate that the voter has already cast a ballot in that election. After the close of business
on the fourth day before the election, the ballots from return envelopes marked "Accepted"
may be opened, duplicated as needed in the manner provided by section 206.86,
subdivision 5, initialed by the members of the ballot board, and deposited in the ballot box.
In all other respects, the provisions of the Minnesota Election Law governing
deposit and counting of ballots apply.
new text begin The mail and absentee ballots for a precinct must be counted together and reported
as one vote total. new text end No vote totals from mail or absentee ballots may be made public before
the close of voting on election day.
The costs of the mailing shall be paid by the election jurisdiction in which the voter
resides. Any ballot received by 8:00 p.m. on the day of the election must be counted.
Sec. 5.
Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 204B.46, is amended to read:
204B.46 MAIL ELECTIONS; QUESTIONS.
A county, municipality, or school district submitting questions to the voters at a
special election may conduct an election by mail with no polling place other than the
office of the auditor or clerk. No more than two questions may be submitted at a mail
election and no offices may be voted on. Notice of the election must be given to the county
auditor at least 53 days prior to the election. This notice shall also fulfill the requirements
of Minnesota Rules, part 8210.3000. The special mail ballot procedures must be posted
at least six weeks prior to the election. Not more than 30 nor later than 14 days prior to
the election, the auditor or clerk shall mail ballots by nonforwardable mail to all voters
registered in the county, municipality, or school district. No later than 14 days before the
election, the auditor or clerk must make a subsequent mailing of ballots to those voters
who register to vote after the initial mailing but before the 20th day before the election.
Eligible voters not registered at the time the ballots are mailed may apply for ballots
pursuant to chapter 203B. The auditor or clerk must appoint a ballot board to examine
thenew text begin mail and absentee ballotnew text end return envelopes and mark them "Accepted" or "Rejected"
within three days of receipt if there are 14 or fewer days before election day, or within five
days of receipt if there are more than 14 days before election day. The board may consist
of staff trained as election judges. Election judges performing the duties in this section
must be of different major political parties, unless they are exempt from that requirement
under section 205.075, subdivision 4, or section 205A.10. If an envelope has been rejected
at least five days before the election, the ballots in the envelope must remain sealed and
the auditor or clerk must provide the voter with a replacement ballot and return envelope
in place of the spoiled ballot. If the ballot is rejected within five days of the election, the
envelope must remain sealed and the official in charge of the ballot board must attempt to
contact the voter by telephone or e-mail to notify the voter that the voter's ballot has been
rejected. The official must document the attempts made to contact the voter.
If the ballot is accepted, the county auditor or municipal clerk must mark the roster to
indicate that the voter has already cast a ballot in that election. After the close of business
on the fourth day before the election, the ballots from return envelopes marked "Accepted"
may be opened, duplicated as needed in the manner provided by section 206.86,
subdivision 5, initialed by the ballot board, and deposited in the appropriate ballot box.
In all other respects, the provisions of the Minnesota Election Law governing
deposit and counting of ballots apply.
new text begin The mail and absentee ballots for a precinct must be counted together and reported
as one vote total. new text end No vote totals from ballots may be made public before the close of
voting on election day.
Sec. 6.
Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 204C.06, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2.
Individuals allowed in polling place; identification.
(a) Representatives
of the secretary of state's office, the county auditor's office, and the municipal or school
district clerk's office may be present at the polling place to observe election procedures.
Except for these representatives, election judges, sergeants-at-arms, and challengers, an
individual may remain inside the polling place during voting hours only while voting or
registering to vote, providing proof of residence for an individual who is registering to
vote, or assisting a disabled voter or a voter who is unable to read English. During voting
hours no one except individuals receiving, marking, or depositing ballots shall approach
within six feet of a voting boothnew text begin , ballot counter, or electronic voting equipmentnew text end , unless
lawfully authorized to do so by an election judgenew text begin or the individual is an election judge
monitoring the operation of the ballot counter or electronic voting equipmentnew text end .
(b) Teachers and elementary or secondary school students participating in an
educational activity authorized by section 204B.27, subdivision 7, may be present at the
polling place during voting hours.
(c) Each official on duty in the polling place must wear an identification badge that
shows their role in the election process. The badge must not show their party affiliation.
Sec. 7.
Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 206.57, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
Subd. 6.
Required certification.
In addition to the requirements in subdivision 1,
a voting system must be certified by an independent testing authority accredited by the
Election Assistance Commission new text begin or appropriate federal agency responsible for testing
and certification of compliance with the federal voting systems guidelines new text end at the time
of submission of the application required by subdivision 1 to be in conformity with
voluntary voting system guidelines issued by the Election Assistance Commissionnew text begin or other
previously referenced agencynew text end . The application must be accompanied by the certification
report of the voting systems test laboratory. A certification under this section from an
independent testing authority accredited by the Election Assistance Commissionnew text begin or other
previously referenced agencynew text end meets the requirement of Minnesota Rules, part 8220.0350,
item L. A vendor must provide a copy of the source code for the voting system to the
secretary of state. A chair of a major political party or the secretary of state may select, in
consultation with the vendor, an independent third-party evaluator to examine the source
code to ensure that it functions as represented by the vendor and that the code is free from
defects. A major political party that elects to have the source code examined must pay
for the examination. Except as provided by this subdivision, a source code that is trade
secret information must be treated as nonpublic information, according to section 13.37.
A third-party evaluator must not disclose the source code to anyone else.
Sec. 8.
Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 375.025, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2.
Voters rights.
Any qualified voter may apply to the district court of the
county for a writ of mandamus (a) requiring the county to be redistricted if the county
board has not redistricted the county within the time specified in subdivision 1, or (b) to
revise the redistricting plan. Any application for revision of a redistricting plan filed with
the county auditor deleted text begin more than 15 weeks before the state primary in a year ending in two
deleted text end that seeks to affect elections held in a year ending in two must be filed with the district
court deleted text begin within three weeks butdeleted text end no later than deleted text begin 14 weeksdeleted text end new text begin one weeknew text end before the deleted text begin state primarydeleted text end new text begin first
day to file for officenew text end in the year ending in deleted text begin twodeleted text end new text begin "2"new text end . deleted text begin If a plan for redistricting a county is
filed less than 14 weeks before the state primary in a year ending in two, any application
for revision of the plan that seeks to affect an election in the year ending in two shall be
filed with the district court within one week after the plan has been filed with the county
auditor.deleted text end The district court may direct the county board to show cause why it has not
redistricted the county or why the redistricting plan prepared by it should not be revised.
On hearing the matter it may allow the county board additional time in which to redistrict
the county or to correct errors in the redistricting plan. If it appears to the court that the
county board has not been sufficiently diligent in performing its redistricting duties, the
court may appoint a redistricting commission to redistrict the county in accordance with
the standards set forth in subdivision 1 and any other conditions the court shall deem
advisable and appropriate. If a redistricting commission is appointed, the county board
shall be without authority to redistrict the county.
Sec. 9.
Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 375.025, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
Subd. 4.
Redistricting plan; election following redistricting.
A redistricting
plan whether prepared by the county board or the redistricting commission shall be filed
in the office of the county auditor. A redistricting plan shall be effective on the 31st
day after filing unless a later effective date is specified but no plan shall be effective
for the next election of county commissioners unless the plan is filed with the county
auditor not less than deleted text begin 30 daysdeleted text end new text begin two weeksnew text end before the first date candidates may file for the
office of county commissioner. One commissioner shall be elected in each district who,
at the time of the election, is a resident of the district. A person elected may hold the
office only while remaining a resident of the commissioner district or, after deleted text begin June 15deleted text end new text begin the
last day to file for officenew text end during a year ending in "2", while remaining a resident of the
county. The county board or the redistricting commission shall determine the number of
members of the county board who shall be elected for two-year terms and for four-year
terms to provide staggered terms on the county board. Thereafter, all commissioners shall
be elected for four years. When a county is redistricted, there shall be a new election of
commissioners in all the districts at the next general election except that if the change
made in the boundaries of a district is less than five percent of the average of all districts
of the county, the commissioner in office at the time of the redistricting shall serve for
the full period for which elected.
Sec. 10. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE.
new text end
new text begin
Sections 1 to 9 are effective the day following final enactment.
new text end