SF 2212

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 05/17/2015 02:51pm

A bill for an act
relating to elections; providing for nonpartisan legislative elections; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 204D.08, subdivisions 4, 6.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 204D.08, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

State partisan primary ballot; party columns.

The state partisan primary
ballot shall be headed by the words "State Partisan Primary Ballot." The ballot shall be
printed on white paper. There must be at least three vertical columns on the ballot and each
major political party shall have a separate column headed by the words ".......... Party,"
giving the party name. Above the party names, the following statement shall be printed.

"Minnesota Election Law permits you to vote for the candidates of only one political
party in a state partisan primary election."

If there are only two major political parties to be listed on the ballot, one party must
occupy the left-hand column, the other party must occupy the right-hand column, and the
center column must contain the following statement:

"Do not vote for candidates of more than one party."

The names of the candidates seeking the nomination of each major political party
shall be listed in that party's column. If only one individual files an affidavit of candidacy
seeking the nomination of a major political party for an office, the name of that individual
shall be placed on the state partisan primary ballot at the appropriate location in that
party's column.

In each column, the candidates for senator in Congress shall be listed first, candidates
for representative in Congress second, deleted text begin candidates for state senator third, candidates for
state representative fourth deleted text end and then candidates for state office in the order specified by
the secretary of state.

The party columns shall be substantially the same in width, type, and appearance.
The columns shall be separated by a 12-point solid line.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 204D.08, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

Subd. 6.

State and county nonpartisan primary ballot.

The state and county
nonpartisan primary ballot shall be headed "State and County Nonpartisan Primary
Ballot." It shall be printed in the manner provided in the rules of the secretary of state. deleted text begin The
names of candidates for nomination to the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, district court,
and all county offices shall be placed on this ballot. deleted text end new text begin The candidates for state senator shall
be listed first, candidates for state representative second, candidates for nomination to the
Supreme Court third, candidates for nomination to the Court of Appeals fourth, candidates
for nomination to the district court fifth, and all county offices sixth.
new text end

No candidate whose name is placed on the state and county nonpartisan primary
ballot shall be designated or identified as the candidate of any political party or in any
other manner except as expressly provided by law.