Minnesota Session Laws - 2010, Regular Session

CHAPTER 180--S.F.No. 848

An act

relating to elections; changing certain requirements for elections;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 204B.19, subdivision 2; 204B.21, subdivisions 1, 2; 204B.46; 205.075, subdivision 1, by adding a subdivision; 367.03, subdivision 4, by adding a subdivision.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204B.19, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Individuals not qualified to be election judges.

new text begin (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), new text end no individual shall be appointed as an election judge for any precinct if that individual:

deleted text begin (a) deleted text end new text begin (1) new text end is unable to read, write new text begin , new text end or speak the English language;

deleted text begin (b) deleted text end new text begin (2) new text end is the spouse, parent, child new text begin , including a stepchild, new text end or sibling new text begin , including a stepsibling, new text end of any election judge serving in the same precinct or of any candidate at that election; or

deleted text begin (c) deleted text end new text begin (3) new text end is a candidate at that election.

new text begin (b) Individuals who are related to each other as provided in paragraph (a), clause (2), may serve as election judges in the same precinct, provided that they serve on separate shifts that do not run concurrently. new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204B.21, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Appointment lists; duties of political parties and deleted text begin county auditor deleted text end new text begin secretary of state new text end .

On June 1 in a year in which there is an election for a partisan political office, deleted text begin the county or legislative district chairs of deleted text end each major political party deleted text begin , whichever is designated by the state party, deleted text end shall prepare a list of eligible voters to act as election judges in each election precinct deleted text begin in the county or legislative district deleted text end . The deleted text begin chairs deleted text end new text begin political parties new text end shall furnish the lists new text begin electronically new text end to the deleted text begin county auditor of the county in which the precinct is located deleted text end new text begin secretary of state, in a format specified by the secretary of state. The secretary of state must combine the data received from each political party under this subdivision and must process the data to locate the precinct in which the address provided for each potential election judge is located. If the data submitted by a political party is insufficient for the secretary of state to locate the proper precinct, the associated name must not appear in any list forwarded to an appointing authority under this subdivision. The secretary of state shall notify political parties of any proposed election judges with addresses that could not be located in a precinct new text end .

By June 15, the deleted text begin county auditor deleted text end new text begin secretary of state new text end shall furnish new text begin electronically new text end to the deleted text begin appointing authorities deleted text end new text begin county auditor new text end a list of the appropriate names for each election precinct in the jurisdiction of the appointing authority deleted text begin . Separate lists shall be submitted by the county auditor for each major political party deleted text end new text begin , noting the political party affiliation of each individual on the list. The county auditor must promptly forward the appropriate names to the appropriate municipal clerk new text end .

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204B.21, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Appointing authority; powers and duties.

Election judges for precincts in a municipality shall be appointed by the governing body of the municipality. Election judges for precincts in unorganized territory and for performing election-related duties assigned by the county auditor shall be appointed by the county board. Election judges for a precinct composed of two or more municipalities must be appointed by the governing body of the municipality or municipalities responsible for appointing election judges as provided in the agreement to combine for election purposes. Except as otherwise provided in this section, appointments shall be made from lists furnished pursuant to subdivision 1 subject to the eligibility requirements and other qualifications established or authorized under section 204B.19. At least two election judges in each precinct must be affiliated with different major political parties. If no lists have been furnished or if additional election judges are required after all listed names new text begin in that municipality new text end have been exhausted, the appointing authority may appoint other individuals who meet the qualifications to serve as an election judge, including persons who are not affiliated with a major political party. The appointments shall be made at least 25 days before the election at which the election judges will serve new text begin , except that the appointing authority may pass a resolution authorizing the appointment of additional election judges within the 25 days before the election if the appointing authority determines that additional election judges will be required new text end .

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, 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. deleted text begin No earlier deleted text end new text begin Not more new text end than deleted text begin 20 or deleted text end new text begin 30 nor new text end 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. new text begin 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. new text end Eligible voters not registered at the time the ballots are mailed may apply for ballots pursuant to chapter 203B.

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 205.075, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Date of election.

The general election in a town must be held on the second Tuesday in March, except as provided in subdivision 2 new text begin or when moved for bad weather as provided in section 365.51, subdivision 1 new text end .

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 205.075, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 2a. new text end

new text begin Return to March election. new text end

new text begin The town board of a town that has adopted the alternative November election date under subdivision 2 may, after having conducted at least two elections on the alternative date, adopt a resolution designating the second Tuesday in March as the date of the town general election. The resolution must be adopted by a unanimous vote of the town supervisors and must include a plan to shorten or lengthen the terms of office to provide an orderly transition to the March election schedule. The resolution becomes effective upon an affirmative vote of the electors at the next town general election. new text end

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 367.03, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Officers; November election.

new text begin Except as provided in subdivision 4a, new text end supervisors and other town officers in towns that hold the town general election in November shall be elected for terms of four years commencing on the first Monday in January and until their successors are elected and qualified. The clerk and treasurer shall be elected in alternate years.

Sec. 8.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 367.03, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 4a. new text end

new text begin Optional six-year terms. new text end

new text begin The resolution required under section 205.075, subdivision 2, to adopt the alternative November date for town general election may include the proposal and corresponding transition plan to provide for a six-year term for town supervisors. A town that has adopted the alternative November date for general town elections using the four-year terms provided under subdivision 4 may adopt a resolution establishing six-year terms for supervisors as provided under this subdivision. The resolution must include a plan to provide an orderly transition to six-year terms. The resolution adopting the six-year term for town supervisors may be proposed by the town board or by a resolution of the electors adopted at the annual town meeting and is effective upon an affirmative vote of the electors at the next town general election. new text end

Presented to the governor February 9, 2010

Signed by the governor February 11, 2010, 1:24 p.m.