ARTICLE 1

ABSENTEE VOTING

Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 5B.06, is amended to read:

5B.06 VOTING BY PROGRAM PARTICIPANT; ABSENTEE BALLOT.

A program participant who is otherwise eligible to vote may register with the secretary of state as an ongoing a permanent absentee voter. Notwithstanding section 203B.04, subdivision 5, the secretary of state is not required to send an absentee ballot application prior to each election to a program participant registered as a permanent absentee voter under this section. As soon as practicable before each election, the secretary of state shall determine the precinct in which the residential address of the program participant is located and shall request from and receive from the county auditor or other election official the ballot for that precinct and shall forward the absentee ballot to the program participant with the other materials for absentee balloting as required by Minnesota law. The program participant shall complete the ballot and return it to the secretary of state, who shall review the ballot in the manner provided by section 203B.24. If the ballot and ballot materials comply with the requirements of that section, the ballot must be certified by the secretary of state as the ballot of a program participant, and must be forwarded to the appropriate electoral jurisdiction for tabulation along with all other ballots. The name and address of a program participant must not be listed in the statewide voter registration system.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 203B.02, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Unable to go to polling place Absentee voting; eligibility.

(a) Any eligible voter who reasonably expects to be unable to go to the polling place on election day in the precinct where the individual maintains residence because of absence from the precinct; illness, including isolation or quarantine under sections 144.419 to 144.4196 or United States Code, title 42, sections 264 to 272; disability; religious discipline; observance of a religious holiday; or service as an election judge in another precinct may vote by absentee ballot as provided in sections 203B.04 to 203B.15.

(b) If the governor has declared an emergency and filed the declaration with the secretary of state under section 12.31, and the declaration states that the emergency has made it difficult for voters to go to the polling place on election day, any voter in a precinct covered by the declaration may vote by absentee ballot as provided in sections 203B.04 to 203B.15.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 203B.04, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Application procedures.

(a) Except as otherwise allowed by subdivision 2 or by section 203B.11, subdivision 4, an application for absentee ballots for any election may be submitted at any time not less than one day before the day of that election. The county auditor shall prepare absentee ballot application forms in the format provided by the secretary of state and shall furnish them to any person on request. By January 1 of each even-numbered year, the secretary of state shall make the forms to be used available to auditors through electronic means. An application submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall be in writing and shall be submitted to:

(1) the county auditor of the county where the applicant maintains residence; or

(2) the municipal clerk of the municipality, or school district if applicable, where the applicant maintains residence.

(b) An application shall be approved if it is timely received, signed and dated by the applicant, contains the applicant's name and residence and mailing addresses, date of birth, and at least one of the following:

(1) the applicant's Minnesota driver's license number;

(2) Minnesota state identification card number;

(3) the last four digits of the applicant's Social Security number; or

(4) a statement that the applicant does not have any of these numbers.

(c) To be approved, the application must state that the applicant is eligible to vote by absentee ballot for one of the reasons specified in section 203B.02, and must contain an oath that the information contained on the form is accurate, that the applicant is applying on the applicant's own behalf, and that the applicant is signing the form under penalty of perjury.

(d) An applicant's full date of birth, Minnesota driver's license or state identification number, and the last four digits of the applicant's Social Security number must not be made available for public inspection. An application may be submitted to the county auditor or municipal clerk by an electronic facsimile device. An application mailed or returned in person to the county auditor or municipal clerk on behalf of a voter by a person other than the voter must be deposited in the mail or returned in person to the county auditor or municipal clerk within ten days after it has been dated by the voter and no later than six days before the election. The absentee ballot applications or a list of persons applying for an absentee ballot may not be made available for public inspection until the close of voting on election day.

(e) An application under this subdivision may contain an application under subdivision 5 to automatically receive an absentee ballot application.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 203B.04, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Permanent illness or disability absentee voter status.

(a) An eligible voter who reasonably expects to be permanently unable to go to the polling place on election day because of illness or disability may apply to a county auditor or municipal clerk under this section to automatically receive an absentee ballot application before each election, other than an election by mail conducted under section 204B.45, and to have the status as a permanent absentee voter indicated on the voter's registration record. An eligible voter listed as an ongoing absentee voter as of July 31, 2013, pursuant to laws in effect on that date, shall be treated as if the voter applied for status as a permanent absentee voter pursuant to this subdivision.

(b) A voter who applies under paragraph (a) must automatically be provided an absentee ballot application for each eligible election. A voter's permanent absentee status ends and automatic ballot application delivery must be terminated on:

(1) the voter's written request;

(2) the voter's death;

(3) return of an absentee ballot as undeliverable; or

(4) a change in the voter's status to "challenged" or "inactive" in the statewide voter registration system.

(b) (c) The secretary of state shall adopt rules governing procedures under this subdivision.

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 203B.06, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Printing and delivery of forms.

Each county auditor and municipal clerk shall prepare and print a sufficient number of blank application forms for absentee ballots. The county auditor or municipal clerk shall deliver a blank application form to any voter who requests one pursuant to section 203B.04. Blank application forms must be mailed to eligible voters who have requested an application pursuant to section 203B.04, subdivision 5 or 6, at least 60 days before:

(1) each regularly scheduled primary for federal, state, county, city, or school board office;

(2) each regularly scheduled general election for city or school board office for which a primary is not held; and

(3) a special primary to fill a federal or county office vacancy or special election to fill a federal or county office vacancy, if a primary is not required to be held pursuant to section 204D.03, subdivision 3, or 204D.07, subdivision 3; and

(4) any election held in conjunction with an election described in clauses (1) to (3);

or at least 45 days before any other primary or other election for which a primary is not held.

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 203B.121, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Duties of ballot board; absentee ballots.

(a) The members of the ballot board shall take possession of all return envelopes delivered to them in accordance with section 203B.08. Upon receipt from the county auditor, municipal clerk, or school district clerk, two or more members of the ballot board shall examine each return envelope and shall mark it accepted or rejected in the manner provided in this subdivision. 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, subdivision 2.

(b) The members of the ballot board shall mark the return envelope "Accepted" and initial or sign the return envelope below the word "Accepted" if a majority of the members of the ballot board examining the envelope are satisfied that:

(1) the voter's name and address on the return envelope are the same as the information provided on the absentee ballot application;

(2) the voter signed the certification on the envelope;

(3) the voter's Minnesota driver's license, state identification number, or the last four digits of the voter's Social Security number are the same as the number provided on the voter's application for ballots. If the number does not match the number as submitted on the application, or if a number was not submitted on the application, the election judges must compare the signature provided by the applicant to determine whether the ballots were returned by the same person to whom they were transmitted;

(4) the voter is registered and eligible to vote in the precinct or has included a properly completed voter registration application in the return envelope;

(5) the certificate has been completed as prescribed in the directions for casting an absentee ballot; and

(6) the voter has not already voted at that election, either in person or, if it is after the close of business on the fourth seventh day before the election, by absentee ballot.

The return envelope from accepted ballots must be preserved and returned to the county auditor.

(c)(1) If a majority of the members of the ballot board examining a return envelope find that an absentee voter has failed to meet one of the requirements provided in paragraph (b), they shall mark the return envelope "Rejected," initial or sign it below the word "Rejected," list the reason for the rejection on the envelope, and return it to the county auditor. There is no other reason for rejecting an absentee ballot beyond those permitted by this section. Failure to place the ballot within the security envelope before placing it in the outer white envelope is not a reason to reject an absentee ballot.

(2) If an envelope has been rejected at least five days before the election, the envelope must remain sealed and the official in charge of the ballot board shall provide the voter with a replacement absentee ballot and return envelope in place of the rejected ballot.

(3) If an envelope 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.

(d) The official in charge of the absentee ballot board must mail the voter a written notice of absentee ballot rejection between six and ten weeks following the election. If the official determines that the voter has otherwise cast a ballot in the election, no notice is required. If an absentee ballot arrives after the deadline for submission provided by this chapter, the notice must be provided between six to ten weeks after receipt of the ballot. A notice of absentee ballot rejection must contain the following information:

(1) the date on which the absentee ballot was rejected or, if the ballot was received after the required deadline for submission, the date on which the ballot was received;

(2) the reason for rejection; and

(3) the name of the appropriate election official to whom the voter may direct further questions, along with appropriate contact information.

(e) An absentee ballot return envelope marked "Rejected" may not be opened or subject to further review except in an election contest filed pursuant to chapter 209.

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 203B.121, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Record of voting.

(a) When applicable, the county auditor or municipal clerk must immediately record that a voter's absentee ballot has been accepted. After the close of business on the fourth seventh day before the election, a voter whose record indicates that an absentee ballot has been accepted must not be permitted to cast another ballot at that election. In a state primary, general, or state special election for federal or state office, the auditor or clerk must also record this information in the statewide voter registration system.

(b) The roster must be marked, and a supplemental report of absentee voters who submitted a voter registration application with their ballot must be created, no later than the start of voting on election day to indicate the voters that have already cast a ballot at the election. The roster may be marked either:

(1) by the county auditor or municipal clerk before election day;

(2) by the ballot board before election day; or

(3) by the election judges at the polling place on election day.

The record of a voter whose absentee ballot was received after the close of business on the fourth seventh day before the election is not required to be marked on the roster or contained in a supplemental report as required by this paragraph.

Sec. 8.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 203B.121, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Opening of envelopes.

After the close of business on the fourth seventh day before the election, the ballots from return envelopes marked "Accepted" may be opened, duplicated as needed in the manner provided in section 206.86, subdivision 5, initialed by the members of the ballot board, and deposited in the appropriate ballot box. If more than one ballot is enclosed in the ballot envelope, the ballots must be returned in the manner provided by section 204C.25 for return of spoiled ballots, and may not be counted.

Sec. 9.

REPEALER.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 203B.04, subdivision 6, is repealed.

Sec. 10.

EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICABILITY.

This article is effective January 1, 2014, and applies to voting at elections conducted on the date of the state primary in 2014 and thereafter.

ARTICLE 2

ELECTION ADMINISTRATION

Section 1. [2.395] THIRTY-NINTH DISTRICT.

Subdivision 1.

Senate district.

Senate District 39 consists of that district as described in the order of the Minnesota Special Redistricting Panel in Hippert v. Ritchie, No. A11-152 (February 21, 2012).

Subd. 2.

House of representatives districts.

Notwithstanding the order of the Minnesota Special Redistricting Panel in Hippert v. Ritchie, No. A11-152 (February 21, 2012), Senate District 39, as described in that order, is divided into two house of representatives districts as follows:

(a) House of Representatives District 39A consists of the district as described in that order, with the modification contained in file L39A-1, on file with the Geographic Information Systems Office of the Legislative Coordinating Commission and published on its Web site on March 9, 2012.

(b) House of Representatives District 39B consists of that district as described in that order, with the modification contained in file L39B-1, on file with the Geographic Information Systems Office of the Legislative Coordinating Commission and published on its Web site on March 9, 2012.

EFFECTIVE DATE.

This section is effective for the state primary and state general elections conducted in 2014 for terms of office beginning on the first Monday in January 2015, and for all elections held thereafter.

Sec. 2.

[2.495] FORTY-NINTH DISTRICT.

Subdivision 1.

Senate district.

Senate District 49 consists of that district as described in the order of the Minnesota Special Redistricting Panel in Hippert v. Ritchie, No. A11-152 (February 21, 2012).

Subd. 2.

House of representatives districts.

Notwithstanding the order of the Minnesota Special Redistricting Panel in Hippert v. Ritchie, No. A11-152 (February 21, 2012), Senate District 49 is divided into two house of representatives districts as follows:

(a) House of Representatives District 49A consists of the district as described in that order, with the modification contained in file L49A-2, on file with the Geographic Information Systems Office of the Legislative Coordinating Commission and published on its Web site on March 28, 2012.

(b) House of Representatives District 49B consists of the district as described in that order, with the modification contained in file L49B-2, on file with the Geographic Information Systems Office of the Legislative Coordinating Commission and published on its Web site on March 28, 2012.

EFFECTIVE DATE.

This section is effective for the state primary and state general elections conducted in 2014 for terms of office beginning on the first Monday in January 2015, and for all elections held thereafter.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 103C.225, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Referendum.

(a) Within 60 days after the petition is received by the state board, it shall give due notice of the holding of a referendum, schedule the referendum at the next general election, and cooperate with county election officials to accomplish the election in the most expedient manner. Upon receipt of a petition, the state board shall provide written notice to the secretary of state and the county auditor of each county in which the district is located no later than 74 days before the state general election. The notice must include the date of the election and the title and text of the question to be placed on the ballot. Prior to the referendum, the state board shall facilitate the preparation of a plan to continue the administration of the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the district, including the functions of the district board.

(b) The question shall be submitted by ballots, upon which the words "For terminating the existence of appear on the ballot in the following form: "Shall the .................. (name of the soil and water conservation district to be here inserted)" and "Against terminating the existence of the .................. (name of the soil and water conservation district to be here inserted)" shall be printed, with a square before each proposition and a direction to insert an X mark in the square before one or the other be terminated?".

(d) Informalities in the conduct of the referendum or matters relating to the referendum do not invalidate the referendum, or result of the referendum, if due notice has been given and the referendum has been fairly conducted.

(e) The state board shall publish the result of the referendum.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 103C.305, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Ballots.

Ballots shall be prepared by the county auditor. The names of candidates shall be placed on the "canary ballot" described in section 204D.11, subdivision 3 state general election ballot. The office title printed on the ballot must be either "Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor" or "Conservation District Supervisor," based upon the district from which the supervisor is to be elected.

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 103C.311, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Supervisors elected by districts.

(a) The district board, with the approval of the state board, may by resolution provide that supervisors will be elected by supervisor districts as provided in this subdivision.

(b) The supervisor districts must be composed of precincts established by county and municipal governing bodies under section 204B.14. The districts must be compact, include only contiguous territory, and be substantially equal in population. The districts must be numbered in a regular series. The districts must be drawn by the county board of the county containing the largest area of the soil and water conservation district, in consultation with the district board and with the approval of the state board. The boundaries of the districts must be redrawn after each decennial federal census as provided in section 204B.135. A certified copy of the resolution establishing supervisor districts must be filed by the chair of the district board with the county auditor of the counties where the soil and water conservation district is located, with the state board, and with the secretary of state at least 30 days before the first date candidates may file for the office of supervisor., and the filings must occur within 80 days of the time when the legislature has been redistricted or at least 15 weeks before the state primary election in a year ending in two, whichever comes first.

(c) Each supervisor district is entitled to elect one supervisor. A supervisor must be a resident of the district from which elected.

(d) The district board shall provide staggered terms for supervisors elected by district. After each redistricting, there shall be a new election of supervisors 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 population of all the districts, the supervisor in office at the time of the redistricting shall serve for the full term for which elected. The district board shall determine by lot the seats to be filled for a two-year term, a four-year term, and a six-year term.

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 123A.48, subdivision 14, is amended to read:

Subd. 14.

Election.

The board shall determine the date of the election, the number of boundaries of voting precincts, and the location of the polling places where voting shall be conducted, and the hours the polls will be open. The board shall also provide official ballots which must be used exclusively and shall be in the following form: "Shall the (name of school district) and the (name of school district) be consolidated as proposed? Yes .... No ...."

For consolidation ....

Against consolidation ....

The board must appoint election judges who shall act as clerks of election. The ballots and results must be certified to the board who shall canvass and tabulate the total vote cast for and against the proposal.

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 201.061, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Election day registration.

(a) An individual who is eligible to vote may register on election day by appearing in person at the polling place for the precinct in which the individual maintains residence, by completing a registration application, making an oath in the form prescribed by the secretary of state and providing proof of residence. An individual may prove residence for purposes of registering by:

(1) presenting a driver's license or Minnesota identification card issued pursuant to section 171.07;

(2) presenting any document approved by the secretary of state as proper identification;

(3) presenting one of the following:

(i) a current valid student identification card from a postsecondary educational institution in Minnesota, if a list of students from that institution has been prepared under section 135A.17 and certified to the county auditor in the manner provided in rules of the secretary of state; or

(ii) a current student fee statement that contains the student's valid address in the precinct together with a picture identification card; or

(4) having a voter who is registered to vote in the precinct, or who is an employee employed by and working in a residential facility in the precinct and vouching for a resident in the facility, sign an oath in the presence of the election judge vouching that the voter or employee personally knows that the individual is a resident of the precinct. A voter who has been vouched for on election day may not sign a proof of residence oath vouching for any other individual on that election day. A voter who is registered to vote in the precinct may sign up to 15 eight proof-of-residence oaths on any election day. This limitation does not apply to an employee of a residential facility described in this clause. The secretary of state shall provide a form for election judges to use in recording the number of individuals for whom a voter signs proof-of-residence oaths on election day. The form must include space for the maximum number of individuals for whom a voter may sign proof-of-residence oaths. For each proof-of-residence oath, the form must include a statement that the voter is registered to vote in the precinct, personally knows that the individual is a resident of the precinct, and is making the statement on oath. The form must include a space for the voter's printed name, signature, telephone number, and address.

The oath required by this subdivision and Minnesota Rules, part 8200.9939, must be attached to the voter registration application.

(b) The operator of a residential facility shall prepare a list of the names of its employees currently working in the residential facility and the address of the residential facility. The operator shall certify the list and provide it to the appropriate county auditor no less than 20 days before each election for use in election day registration.

(c) "Residential facility" means transitional housing as defined in section 256E.33, subdivision 1; a supervised living facility licensed by the commissioner of health under section 144.50, subdivision 6; a nursing home as defined in section 144A.01, subdivision 5; a residence registered with the commissioner of health as a housing with services establishment as defined in section 144D.01, subdivision 4; a veterans home operated by the board of directors of the Minnesota Veterans Homes under chapter 198; a residence licensed by the commissioner of human services to provide a residential program as defined in section 245A.02, subdivision 14; a residential facility for persons with a developmental disability licensed by the commissioner of human services under section 252.28; group residential housing as defined in section 256I.03, subdivision 3; a shelter for battered women as defined in section 611A.37, subdivision 4; or a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter or dwelling designed to provide temporary living accommodations for the homeless.

(d) For tribal band members, an individual may prove residence for purposes of registering by:

(1) presenting an identification card issued by the tribal government of a tribe recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, United States Department of the Interior, that contains the name, address, signature, and picture of the individual; or

(2) presenting an identification card issued by the tribal government of a tribe recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, United States Department of the Interior, that contains the name, signature, and picture of the individual and also presenting one of the documents listed in Minnesota Rules, part 8200.5100, subpart 2, item B.

(e) A county, school district, or municipality may require that an election judge responsible for election day registration initial each completed registration application.

Sec. 8.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 201.071, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Instructions.

A registration application shall be accompanied by instructions specifying the manner and method of registration, the qualifications for voting, the penalties for false registration, and the availability of registration and voting assistance for elderly and disabled individuals and residents of health care facilities and hospitals. The instructions must indicate that if the voter does not have a valid Minnesota driver's license or identification card, the last four digits of the voter's Social Security number must be provided, unless the voter does not have a Social Security number. If, prior to election day, a person requests the instructions in Braille, on cassette tape audio format, or in a version printed in 16-point bold type with 24-point leading, the county auditor shall provide them in the form requested. The secretary of state shall prepare Braille and cassette audio copies and make them available.

Sec. 9.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 201.091, subdivision 8, is amended to read:

Subd. 8.

Registration places.

Each county auditor shall designate a number of public buildings in those political subdivisions of the county where preregistration of voters is allowed as provided in section 201.061, subdivision 1, where eligible voters may register to vote. At least one public building must be designated for each 30,000 residents of the county. At least one telecommunications device for the deaf must be available for voter registration information in each county seat and in every city of the first, second, and third class.

An adequate supply of registration applications and instructions must be maintained at each designated location, and a designated individual must be available there to accept registration applications and transmit them to the county auditor.

A person who, because of disability, needs assistance in order to determine eligibility or to register must be assisted by a designated individual. Assistance includes but is not limited to reading the registration form and instructions and filling out the registration form as directed by the eligible voter.

Sec. 10.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 201.12, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Moved out of state.

If any nonforwardable mailing from an election official is returned as undeliverable but with a permanent forwarding address outside this state, the county auditor shall promptly mail to the voter at the voter's new address a notice advising the voter that the voter's status in the statewide voter registration system will be changed to "inactive" unless the voter notifies the county auditor within 21 days that the voter is retaining the former address as the voter's address of residence. If the voter's record is challenged due to a felony conviction, lack of United States citizenship, legal incompetence, or court-ordered revocation of voting rights of persons under guardianship, the county auditor must not mail this notice. If the notice is not received by the deadline, the county auditor shall change the voter's status to "inactive" in the statewide voter registration system.

Sec. 11.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 201.13, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:

Subd. 1a.

Social Security Administration; other reports of deceased residents.

The secretary of state shall may determine if any of the persons listed on the Social Security Death Index or reported as deceased by the vital records department of another state are registered to vote and prepare a list of those registrants for each county auditor. The county auditor shall change the status of those registrants to "deceased" in the statewide voter registration system.

Sec. 12.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 201.14, is amended to read:

201.14 COURT ADMINISTRATOR OF DISTRICT COURT; REPORT CHANGES OF NAMES.

The state court administrator shall regularly report by electronic means to the secretary of state the name, address, and, if available, driver's license or state identification card number of each individual, 18 years of age or over, whose name was changed since the last report, by marriage, divorce, or any order or decree of the court. The secretary of state shall determine if any of the persons in the report are registered to vote under their previous name and shall prepare a list of those registrants for each county auditor. Upon receipt of the list, the county auditor shall make the change in the voter's record and mail to the voter the notice of registration required by section 201.121, subdivision 2. A notice must not be mailed if the voter's record is challenged due to a felony conviction, lack of United States citizenship, legal incompetence, or court-ordered revocation of voting rights of persons under guardianship.

Sec. 13.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 202A.14, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Time and manner of holding; postponement.

(a) In every state general election year, beginning at 7:00 p.m. on the date established pursuant to paragraph (b), there shall be held for every election precinct a party caucus in the manner provided in sections 202A.14 to 202A.19.

(b)(1) The chairs of the two largest major political parties shall jointly submit to the secretary of state, no later than March 1 of each odd-numbered year, the single date on which the two parties have agreed to conduct their precinct caucuses in the next even-numbered year.

(2) On March 1 of each odd-numbered year Within two business days after the parties have agreed on a single date on which to conduct their precinct caucuses, the secretary of state shall publicly announce the official state precinct caucus date for the following general election year.

(3) If the chairs of the two largest major political parties do not jointly submit a single date for conducting their precinct caucuses as provided in this paragraph, then for purposes of the next general election year, the first Tuesday in February shall be considered the day of a major political party precinct caucus and sections 202A.19 and 202A.192 shall only apply on that date.

(4) For purposes of this paragraph, the two largest major political parties shall be the parties whose candidates for governor received the greatest and second greatest number of votes at the most recent gubernatorial election.

(c) In the event of severe weather a major political party may request the secretary of state to postpone caucuses. If a major political party makes a request, or upon the secretary of state's own initiative, after consultation with all major political parties and on the advice of the federal Weather Bureau and the Department of Transportation, the secretary of state may declare precinct caucuses to be postponed for a week in counties where weather makes travel especially dangerous. The secretary of state shall submit a notice of the postponement to news media covering the affected counties by 6:00 p.m. on the scheduled day of the caucus. A postponed caucus may also be postponed pursuant to this subdivision.

Sec. 14.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 203B.05, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Generally.

The full-time clerk of any city or town shall administer the provisions of sections 203B.04 to 203B.15 if:

(1) the county auditor of that county has designated the clerk to administer them; or

(2) the clerk has given the county auditor of that county notice of intention to administer them.

The designation or notice must specify whether the clerk will be responsible for the administration of a ballot board as provided in section 203B.121.

A clerk of a city that is located in more than one county may only administer the provisions of sections 203B.04 to 203B.15 if the clerk has been designated by each of the county auditors or has provided notice to each of the county auditors that the city will administer absentee voting. A clerk may only administer the provisions of sections 203B.04 to 203B.15 if the clerk has technical capacity to access the statewide voter registration system in the secure manner prescribed by the secretary of state. The secretary of state must identify hardware, software, security, or other technical prerequisites necessary to ensure the security, access controls, and performance of the statewide voter registration system. A clerk must receive training approved by the secretary of state on the use of the statewide voter registration system before administering this section. A clerk may not use the statewide voter registration system until the clerk has received the required training. The county auditor must notify the secretary of state of any municipal clerk who will be administering the provisions of this section and the duties that the clerk will administer.

Sec. 15.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 203B.08, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Procedures on receipt of ballots.

When absentee ballots are returned to a county auditor or municipal clerk, that official shall stamp or initial and date the return envelope and place it in a secure location with other return envelopes received by that office. Within five days after receipt, the county auditor or municipal clerk shall deliver to the ballot board all ballots received, except that during the 14 days immediately preceding an election, the county auditor or municipal clerk shall deliver all ballots received to the ballot board within three days. Ballots received on election day either (1) after 3:00 p.m., if delivered by an agent; or (2) after the last mail delivery, if delivered by another method, shall be marked as received late by the county auditor or municipal clerk, and must not be delivered to the ballot board.

Sec. 16.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 203B.081, is amended to read:

203B.081 LOCATIONS FOR ABSENTEE VOTING IN PERSON.

An eligible voter may vote by absentee ballot in the office of the county auditor and at any other polling place designated by the county auditor during the 46 days before: the election, except as provided in this section.

(1) a regularly scheduled election for federal, state, county, city, or school board office;

(2) a special election for a federal or county office; and

(3) an election held in conjunction with an election described in clauses (1) and (2),

and Voters casting absentee ballots in person for a town election held in March may do so during the 30 days before any other the election. The county auditor shall make such designations at least 14 weeks before the election. At least one voting booth in each polling place must be made available by the county auditor for this purpose. The county auditor must also make available at least one electronic ballot marker in each polling place that has implemented a voting system that is accessible for individuals with disabilities pursuant to section 206.57, subdivision 5.

Sec. 17.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 203B.121, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Establishment; applicable laws.

(a) The governing body of each county, municipality, and school district with responsibility to accept and reject absentee ballots must, by ordinance or resolution, establish a ballot board. The board must consist of a sufficient number of election judges trained in the handling of absentee ballots and appointed as provided in sections 204B.19 to 204B.22. The board may include staff trained as election judges deputy county auditors or deputy city clerks who have received training in the processing and counting of absentee ballots.

(b) Each jurisdiction must pay a reasonable compensation to each member of that jurisdiction's ballot board for services rendered during an election.

Sec. 18.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 203B.121, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Storage and counting of absentee ballots.

(a) On a day on which absentee ballots are inserted into a ballot box, two members of the ballot board must:

(1) remove the ballots from the ballot box at the end of the day;

(2) without inspecting the ballots, ensure that the number of ballots removed from the ballot box is equal to the number of voters whose absentee ballots were accepted that day; and

(3) seal and secure all voted and unvoted ballots present in that location at the end of the day.

(b) After the polls have closed on election day, two members of the ballot board must count the ballots, tabulating the vote in a manner that indicates each vote of the voter and the total votes cast for each candidate or question. In state primary and state general elections, the results must indicate the total votes cast for each candidate or question in each precinct and report the vote totals tabulated for each precinct. The count shall be public. No vote totals from ballots may be made public before the close of voting on election day must be recorded on a summary statement in substantially the same format as provided in section 204C.26. The ballot board shall submit at least one completed summary statement to the county auditor or municipal clerk. The county auditor or municipal clerk may require the ballot board to submit a sufficient number of completed summary statements to comply with the provisions of section 204C.27, or the county auditor or municipal clerk may certify reports containing the details of the ballot board summary statement to the recipients of the summary statements designated in section 204C.27.

In state primary and state general elections, these vote totals shall be added to the vote totals on the summary statements of the returns for the appropriate precinct. In other elections, these vote totals may be added to the vote totals on the summary statement of returns for the appropriate precinct or may be reported as a separate total.

The count shall be public. No vote totals from ballots may be made public before the close of voting on election day.

(c) In addition to the requirements of paragraphs (a) and (b), if the task has not been completed previously, the members of the ballot board must verify as soon as possible, but no later than 24 hours after the end of the hours for voting, that voters whose absentee ballots arrived after the rosters were marked or supplemental reports were generated and whose ballots were accepted did not vote in person on election day. An absentee ballot submitted by a voter who has voted in person on election day must be rejected. All other accepted absentee ballots must be opened, duplicated if necessary, and counted by members of the ballot board. The vote totals from these ballots must be incorporated into the totals with the other absentee ballots and handled according to paragraph (b).

Sec. 19.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 203B.227, is amended to read:

203B.227 WRITE-IN ABSENTEE BALLOT.

(a) A voter described in section 203B.16, subdivision 1, may use a state write-in absentee ballot or the federal write-in absentee ballot to vote in any federal, state, or local election. In a state or local election, a vote for a political party without specifying the name of a candidate must not be counted.

(b) If a voter submits a Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot for which a Federal Post Card Application was not received, the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot serves as a voter registration, for voters who are eligible to register, in lieu of the voter's Federal Post Card Application. If the voter has not already voted and the accompanying certificate is properly completed, the absentee ballot board must accept the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot.

Sec. 20.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 203B.28, is amended to read:

203B.28 POSTELECTION REPORT TO LEGISLATURE.

By March 1, 2011, and by January 15 of every odd-numbered year thereafter, the secretary of state shall provide to the chair and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over elections a statistical report related to absentee voting in the most recent general election cycle. The statistics must be organized by county and precinct, and include:

(1) the number of absentee ballots transmitted to voters;

(2) the number of absentee ballots returned by voters;

(3) the number of absentee ballots that were rejected, categorized by the reason for rejection;

(4) the number of absentee ballots submitted pursuant to sections 203B.16 to 203B.27, along with the number of returned ballots that were accepted, rejected, and the reason for any rejections; and

(5) the number of absentee ballots that were not counted because the ballot return envelope was received after the deadlines provided in this chapter.

Sec. 21.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204B.04, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

Subd. 4.

Prohibition on multiple candidacy.

A candidate who files an affidavit of candidacy for an office to be elected at the general election may not subsequently file another affidavit of candidacy for any other office to be elected on the date of that general election, unless the candidate withdraws the initial affidavit pursuant to section 204B.12. The provisions in section 645.21 do not apply to this subdivision.

Sec. 22.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204B.18, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Ballot boxes.

Each polling place shall be provided with one ballot box for each kind of ballot to be cast at the election. The boxes shall be substantially the same color as the ballots to be deposited in them. Each box shall be of sufficient size and shall have a sufficient opening to receive and contain all the ballots likely to be deposited in it. When buff or goldenrod ballot boxes are required, a separate box must be provided for each school district for which ballots are to be cast at that polling place. The number and name of the school district must appear conspicuously on the top of each buff or goldenrod ballot box.

Sec. 23.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204B.22, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Minimum number required.

(a) A minimum of four election judges shall be appointed for each precinct, except as provided by subdivision 2 in the state general election, provided that a minimum of three election judges shall be appointed for each precinct with fewer than 500 registered voters as of 14 weeks before the state primary. In all other elections, a minimum of three election judges shall be appointed for each precinct. In a combined polling place under section 204B.14, subdivision 2, at least one judge must be appointed from each municipality in the combined polling place, provided that not less than three judges shall be appointed for each combined polling place. The appointing authorities may appoint election judges for any precinct in addition to the number required by this subdivision including additional election judges to count ballots after voting has ended.

(b) An election judge may serve for all or part of election day, at the discretion of the appointing authority, as long as the minimum number of judges required is always present. The head election judge designated under section 204B.20 must serve for all of election day and be present in the polling place unless another election judge has been designated by the head election judge to perform the functions of the head election judge during any absence.

Sec. 24.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204B.28, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Meeting with election officials.

At least 12 weeks before each regularly scheduled town general election conducted in March, and at least 18 weeks before all other general elections, each county auditor shall conduct a meeting or otherwise communicate with local election officials to review the procedures for the election. The county auditor may require the head election judges in the county to attend this meeting.

Sec. 25.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204B.32, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Payment.

(a) The secretary of state shall pay the compensation for presidential electors, the cost of printing the pink paper ballots, and all necessary expenses incurred by the secretary of state in connection with elections.

(b) The counties shall pay the compensation prescribed in section 204B.31, clauses (b) and (c), the cost of printing the canary ballots, the white ballots, the pink state general election ballots when machines are used, the state partisan primary ballots, and the state and county nonpartisan primary ballots, all necessary expenses incurred by county auditors in connection with elections, and the expenses of special county elections.

(c) Subject to subdivision 2, the municipalities shall pay the compensation prescribed for election judges and sergeants at arms, the cost of printing the municipal ballots, providing ballot boxes, providing and equipping polling places and all necessary expenses of the municipal clerks in connection with elections, except special county elections.

(d) The school districts shall pay the compensation prescribed for election judges and sergeants-at-arms, the cost of printing the school district ballots, providing ballot boxes, providing and equipping polling places and all necessary expenses of the school district clerks in connection with school district elections not held in conjunction with state elections. When school district elections are held in conjunction with state elections, the school district shall pay the costs of printing the school district ballots, providing ballot boxes and all necessary expenses of the school district clerk.

All disbursements under this section shall be presented, audited, and paid as in the case of other public expenses.

Sec. 26.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204B.33, is amended to read:

204B.33 NOTICE OF FILING.

(a) At least 15 16 weeks before the state primary, the secretary of state shall notify each county auditor of the offices to be voted for in that county at the next state general election for which candidates file with the secretary of state. The notice shall include the time and place of filing for those offices. Within ten days after notification by the secretary of state, each county auditor shall notify each municipal clerk in the county of all the offices to be voted for in the county at that election and the time and place for filing for those offices. The county auditors and municipal clerks shall promptly post a copy of that notice in their offices.

(b) At least two weeks one week before the first day to file an affidavit of candidacy, the county auditor shall publish a notice stating the first and last dates on which affidavits of candidacy may be filed in the county auditor's office and the closing time for filing on the last day for filing. The county auditor shall post a similar notice at least ten days before the first day to file affidavits of candidacy.

Sec. 27.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204B.35, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Absentee ballots; preparation; delivery.

At least 46 days before a regularly scheduled an election for federal, state, county, city, or school board office or a special election for federal office, and at least 30 days before any other election, ballots necessary to fill applications of absentee voters shall be prepared and delivered to the officials who administer the provisions of chapter 203B, except as provided in this subdivision. Ballots necessary to fill applications of absentee voters for a town general election held in March shall be prepared and delivered to the town clerk at least 30 days before the election.

This section applies to school district elections held on the same day as a statewide election or an election for a county or municipality located partially or wholly within the school district.

Sec. 28.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204B.36, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Type.

All ballots shall be printed with black ink on paper of sufficient thickness to prevent the printing from being discernible from the back. All ballots of the same color shall be substantially uniform in style of printing, size, thickness and shade of color. When the ballots of a particular color vary in shade, those used in any one precinct shall be of the same shade. All ballots shall be printed in easily readable type with suitable lines dividing candidates, offices, instructions and other matter printed on ballots. The name of each candidate shall be printed in capital letters. The same type shall be used for the names of all candidates on the same ballot.

Sec. 29.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204B.45, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Authorization.

A municipality town of any size not located in a metropolitan county as defined by section 473.121, or a city having fewer than 400 registered voters on June 1 of an election year and not located in a metropolitan county as defined by section 473.121, may provide balloting by mail at any municipal, county, or state election with no polling place other than the office of the auditor or clerk or other locations designated by the auditor or clerk. The governing body may apply to the county auditor for permission to conduct balloting by mail. The county board may provide for balloting by mail in unorganized territory. The governing body of any municipality may designate for mail balloting any precinct having fewer than 50 100 registered voters, subject to the approval of the county auditor.

Voted ballots may be returned in person to any location designated by the county auditor or municipal clerk.

Sec. 30.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, 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 ten 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 mail and absentee ballot 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 deputy county auditors or deputy municipal clerks who have received training in the processing and counting of mail ballots, who need not be affiliated with a major political party. 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.

The mail and absentee ballots for a precinct must be counted together and reported as one vote total. 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. 31.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, 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 offices may be voted on at a mail election. Notice of the election must be given to the county auditor at least 53 74 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 46 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 the mail and absentee ballot 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 deputy county auditors, deputy municipal clerks, or deputy school district clerks who have received training in the processing and counting of mail ballots, who need not be affiliated with a major political party. 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.

The mail and absentee ballots for a precinct must be counted together and reported as one vote total. No vote totals from ballots may be made public before the close of voting on election day.

Sec. 32.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204C.14, is amended to read:

204C.14 UNLAWFUL VOTING; PENALTY.

No individual shall intentionally:

(a) misrepresent the individual's identity in applying for a ballot, depositing a ballot in a ballot box or attempting to vote by means of a voting machine or electronic voting system;

(b) vote more than once at the same election;

(d) give more than one ballot of the same kind and color to an election judge to be placed in a ballot box;

(e) aid, abet, counsel or procure another to go into any precinct for the purpose of voting in that precinct, knowing that the other individual is not eligible to vote in that precinct; or

(f) aid, abet, counsel or procure another to do any act in violation of this section.

A violation of this section is a felony.

Sec. 33.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204C.15, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Physical assistance in marking ballots.

A voter who claims a need for assistance because of inability to read English or physical inability to mark a ballot may obtain the aid of two election judges who are members of different major political parties. The election judges shall mark the ballots as directed by the voter and in as secret a manner as circumstances permit. If the voter is deaf or cannot speak English or understand it when it is spoken, the election judges may select two individuals who are members of different major political parties to provide assistance. The individuals shall assist the voter in marking the ballots. A voter in need of assistance may alternatively obtain the assistance of any individual the voter chooses. Only the following persons may not provide assistance to a voter: the voter's employer, an agent of the voter's employer, an officer or agent of the voter's union, or a candidate for election. The person who assists the voter shall, unaccompanied by an election judge, retire with that voter to a booth and mark the ballot as directed by the voter. No person who assists another voter as provided in the preceding sentence shall mark the ballots of more than three voters at one election. Before the ballots are deposited, the voter may show them privately to an election judge to ascertain that they are marked as the voter directed. An election judge or other individual assisting a voter shall not in any manner request, persuade, induce, or attempt to persuade or induce the voter to vote for any particular political party or candidate. The election judges or other individuals who assist the voter shall not reveal to anyone the name of any candidate for whom the voter has voted or anything that took place while assisting the voter.

Sec. 34.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204C.19, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Ballots; order of counting.

Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, the ballot boxes shall be opened, the votes counted, and the total declared one box at a time in the following order: the white box, the pink box, the canary box, the light green box, the blue box, the buff box, the goldenrod box, the gray box, and then the other kinds of ballots voted at the election. If enough election judges are available to provide counting teams of four or more election judges for each box, more than one box may be opened and counted at the same time. The election judges on each counting team shall be evenly divided between the major political parties. The numbers entered on the summary sheet shall not be considered final until the ballots in all the boxes have been counted and corrections have been made if ballots have been deposited in the wrong boxes.

Sec. 35.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204C.25, is amended to read:

204C.25 DISPOSITION OF BALLOTS.

After the count and the summary statements have been completed, in the presence of all the election judges, the counted, defective, and blank ballots shall be placed in envelopes marked or printed to distinguish the color of the ballots contained, and the envelopes shall be sealed. The election judges shall sign each envelope over the sealed part so that the envelope cannot be opened without disturbing the continuity of the signatures. The number and kind of ballots in each envelope, the name of the town or city, and the name of the precinct shall be plainly written upon the envelopes. The number and name of the district must be plainly written on envelopes containing school district ballots. The spoiled ballots shall be placed in separate envelopes and returned with the unused ballots to the county auditor or municipal or school district clerk from whom they were received.

Sec. 36.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204C.27, is amended to read:

204C.27 DELIVERY OF RETURNS TO COUNTY AUDITORS.

One or more of the election judges in each precinct shall deliver two sets of summary statements; all spoiled white, pink, canary, and gray ballots; and the envelopes containing the white, pink, canary, and gray ballots either directly to the municipal clerk for transmittal to the county auditor's office or directly to the county auditor's office as soon as possible after the vote counting is completed but no later than 24 hours after the end of the hours for voting. One or more election judges shall deliver the remaining set of summary statements and returns, all unused and spoiled municipal and school district ballots, the envelopes containing municipal and school district ballots, and all other things furnished by the municipal or school district clerk, to the municipal or school district clerk's office within 24 hours after the end of the hours for voting. The municipal or school district clerk shall return all polling place rosters and completed voter registration cards to the county auditor within 48 hours after the end of the hours for voting.

Sec. 37.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204C.35, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Automatic Publicly funded recounts.

(a) In a state primary when the difference between the votes cast for the candidates for nomination to:

(1) a state legislative office is less than one-half of one percent of the total number of votes counted for that nomination or is ten votes or less and the total number of votes cast for the nomination is 400 votes or less; or

(2) a statewide federal office, state constitutional office, statewide judicial office, congressional office, state legislative office, or district judicial office:

(1) is less than one-half one-quarter of one percent of the total number of votes counted for that nomination; or

(2) is ten votes or less and the total number of votes cast for the nomination is 400 votes or less;

and the difference determines the nomination, the canvassing board with responsibility for declaring the results for that office shall manually recount the vote upon receiving a written request from the candidate whose nomination is in question.

Immediately following the meeting of the board that has responsibility for canvassing the results of the nomination, the filing officer must notify the candidate that the candidate has the option to request a recount of the votes at no cost to the candidate. This written request must be received by the filing officer no later than 48 hours after the canvass of the primary for which the recount is being sought.

(b) In a state general election when the difference between the votes of a candidate who would otherwise be declared elected to:

(1) a state legislative office is less than one-half of one percent of the total number of votes counted for that office or is ten votes or less and the total number of votes cast for the office is 400 votes or less; or

(2) a statewide federal office, state constitutional office, statewide judicial office, congressional office, state legislative office, or district judicial office and the votes of any other candidate for that office:

(1) is less than one-half one-quarter of one percent of the total number of votes counted for that office; or

(2) is ten votes or less if the total number of votes cast for the office is 400 votes or less,

the canvassing board shall manually recount the votes upon receiving a written request from the candidate whose election is in question.

Immediately following the meeting of the board that has responsibility for canvassing the results of the general election, the filing officer must notify the candidate that the candidate has the option to request a recount of the votes at no cost to the candidate. This written request must be received by the filing officer no later than 48 hours after the canvass of the election for which the recount is being sought.

(c) A recount must not delay any other part of the canvass. The results of the recount must be certified by the canvassing board as soon as possible.

(d) Time for notice of a contest for an office which is recounted pursuant to this section shall begin to run upon certification of the results of the recount by the canvassing board.

(e) A losing candidate may waive a recount required pursuant to this section by filing a written notice of waiver with the canvassing board.

Sec. 38.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204C.35, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

Subd. 4.

Filing officer.

For the purposes of this section, the secretary of state is the filing officer for candidates for all federal offices and for state offices voted on in more than one county. The county auditor is the filing officer for state offices voted on in only one county.

Sec. 39.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204C.36, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Required Publicly funded recounts.

(a) Except as provided in paragraph paragraphs (b) and (c), a losing candidate for nomination or election to a county, municipal, or school district office may request a recount of the votes cast for the nomination or election to that office if the difference between the vote cast for that candidate and for a winning candidate for nomination or election is less than one-half one-quarter of one percent of the total votes counted for that office. In case of offices where two or more seats are being filled from among all the candidates for the office, the one-half one-quarter of one percent difference is between the elected candidate with the fewest votes and the candidate with the most votes from among the candidates who were not elected.

(b) A losing candidate for nomination or election to a county, municipal, or school district office may request a recount of the votes cast for nomination or election to that office if the difference between the votes cast for that candidate and for a winning candidate for nomination or election is less than one-half of one percent, and the total number of votes cast for the nomination or election of all candidates is more than 400 but less than 50,000. In cases of offices where two or more seats are being filled from among all the candidates for the office, the one-half of one percent difference is between the elected candidate with the fewest votes and the candidate with the most votes from among the candidates who were not elected.

(b) (c) A losing candidate for nomination or election to a county, municipal, or school district office may request a recount of the votes cast for nomination or election to that office if the difference between the vote cast for that candidate and for a winning candidate for nomination or election is ten votes or less, and the total number of votes cast for the nomination or election of all candidates is no more than 400. In cases of offices where two or more seats are being filled from among all the candidates for the office, the ten vote difference is between the elected candidate with the fewest votes and the candidate with the most votes from among the candidates who were not elected.

(c) (d) Candidates for county offices shall file a written request for the recount with the county auditor. Candidates for municipal or school district offices shall file a written request with the municipal or school district clerk as appropriate. All requests shall be filed during the time for notice of contest of the primary or election for which a recount is sought.

(d) (e) Upon receipt of a request made pursuant to this section, the county auditor shall recount the votes for a county office at the expense of the county, the governing body of the municipality shall recount the votes for a municipal office at the expense of the municipality, and the school board of the school district shall recount the votes for a school district office at the expense of the school district.

Sec. 40.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, 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 on canary paper in the manner provided in the rules of the secretary of state. 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.

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.

Sec. 41.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204D.09, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Sample ballot.

At least two weeks 46 days before the state primary the county auditor shall prepare a sample state partisan primary ballot and a sample state and county nonpartisan primary ballot for each precinct for public inspection and transmit an electronic copy of these sample ballots to the secretary of state. The names of all of the candidates to be voted for in the county shall be placed on the sample ballots, with the names of the candidates for each office arranged in the base rotation as determined by section 206.61, subdivision 5. Only one sample state partisan primary ballot and one sample state and county nonpartisan ballot shall be prepared for any county. The county auditor shall post the sample ballots in a conspicuous place in the auditor's office and shall cause them to be published at least one week before the state primary in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the county.

Sec. 42.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204D.11, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

White State general election ballot; rules.

The names of the candidates for all partisan state and federal offices, all proposed constitutional amendments, all county offices and questions, and all judicial offices voted on at the state general election shall be placed on a single ballot printed on white paper which that shall be known as the "white state general election ballot." This ballot shall be prepared by the county auditor subject to the rules of the secretary of state. The secretary of state shall adopt rules for preparation and time of delivery of the white state general election ballot.

Sec. 43.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204D.11, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Special federal white ballot.

(a) The names of all candidates for the offices of president and vice-president of the United States and senator and representative in Congress shall be placed on a ballot printed on white paper which that shall be known as the "special federal white ballot."

(b) This ballot shall be prepared by the county auditor in the same manner as the white state general election ballot and shall be subject to the rules adopted by the secretary of state pursuant to subdivision 1. This ballot must be prepared and furnished in accordance with the federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, United States Code, title 42, section 1973ff.

(c) The special federal white ballot shall be the only ballot sent to citizens of the United States who are eligible to vote by absentee ballot for federal candidates in Minnesota.

Sec. 44.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204D.11, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Ballot headings.

The white, pink, and special federal white ballot containing the offices and questions in subdivisions 1 and 4, shall be headed with the words "State General Election Ballot." The canary ballot shall be headed with the words "County and Judicial Nonpartisan General Election Ballot."

Sec. 45.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204D.11, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

Subd. 6.

Gray Judicial ballot.

When the canary ballot would be longer than 30 inches or when it would not be possible to place all offices on a single ballot card for the state general election, the judicial offices that should be placed on the canary ballot may be placed instead on a separate gray judicial ballot. The gray judicial ballot shall be prepared by the county auditor in the manner provided in the rules of the secretary of state.

The gray judicial ballot must be headed with the words: "Judicial Nonpartisan General Election Ballot." Separate ballot boxes must be provided for these gray judicial ballots.

Sec. 46.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204D.13, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Nominees by petition; placement on ballot.

The names of candidates nominated by petition for a partisan office voted on at the state general election shall be placed on the white state general election ballot after the names of the candidates for that office who were nominated at the state primary. Prior to the state primary No later than 11 weeks before the state general election, the secretary of state shall determine by lot the order of candidates nominated by petition. The drawing of lots must be by political party or principle. The political party or political principle of the candidate as stated on the petition shall be placed after the name of a candidate nominated by petition. The word "nonpartisan" shall not be used to designate any partisan candidate whose name is placed on the white state general election ballot by nominating petition.

Sec. 47.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204D.14, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Rotation of names.

The names of candidates for nonpartisan offices on the canary state general election ballot and the judicial nonpartisan general election ballot shall be rotated in the manner provided for rotation of names on state partisan primary ballots by section 204D.08, subdivision 3.

Sec. 48.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204D.14, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Uncontested judicial offices.

Judicial offices for a specific court for which there is only one candidate filed must appear after all other judicial offices for that same court on the canary ballot.

Sec. 49.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204D.15, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Sample pink ballot; constitutional amendments.

Four weeks before the state general election the secretary of state shall file sample copies of the pink ballot portion of the state general election ballot that contains the proposed constitutional amendments in the Secretary of State's Office for public inspection. Three weeks before the state general election the secretary of state shall mail transmit sample copies of the pink sample ballot to each county auditor. Each auditor shall post the sample ballot in a conspicuous place in the auditor's office.

Sec. 50.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204D.16, is amended to read:

204D.16 SAMPLE GENERAL ELECTION BALLOTS; POSTING; PUBLICATION.

Two weeks before the state general election the county auditor shall prepare sample copies of the white and canary ballots and At least 46 days before the state general election, the county auditor shall post copies of these sample ballots and a sample of the pink ballot for each precinct in the auditor's office for public inspection and transmit an electronic copy of these sample ballots to the secretary of state. No earlier than 15 days and no later than two days before the state general election the county auditor shall cause the a sample white and canary ballots state general election ballot to be published in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the county.

Sec. 51.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204D.165, is amended to read:

204D.165 SAMPLE BALLOTS TO SCHOOLS.

Notwithstanding any contrary provisions in section 204D.09 or 204D.16, The county auditor, two weeks before the applicable primary or general election, shall provide one copy of the an appropriate sample partisan primary, nonpartisan primary, canary, white, or pink ballot to a school district upon request. The school district may have the sample ballots reproduced at its expense for classroom educational purposes and for educational activities authorized under section 204B.27, subdivision 7.

Sec. 52.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 204D.19, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Special election when legislature will be in session.

Except for vacancies in the legislature which occur at any time between the last day of session in an odd-numbered year and the 40th day prior to the opening day of session in the succeeding even-numbered year, when a vacancy occurs and the legislature will be in session so that the individual elected as provided by this section could take office and exercise the duties of the office immediately upon election, the governor shall issue within five days after the vacancy occurs a writ calling for a special election. The special election shall be held as soon as possible, consistent with the notice requirements of section 204D.22, subdivision 3, but in no event more than 35 days after the issuance of the writ. A special election must not be held during the four days before or the four days after a holiday as defined in section 645.44, subdivision 5.

Sec. 53.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 205.02, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

City elections.

In all statutory and home rule charter cities, the primary, general and special elections held for choosing city officials and deciding public questions relating to the city shall be held as provided in this chapter, except that sections 205.065, subdivisions 4 to 6; 205.07, subdivision 3; 205.10; 205.121; and 205.17, subdivisions 2 and subdivision 3, do not apply to a city whose charter provides the manner of holding its primary, general or special elections.

Sec. 54.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 205.10, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Prohibition.

No special election authorized under subdivision 1 may be held within 40 56 days after the state general election.

Sec. 55.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 205.13, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:

Subd. 1a.

Filing period.

In a city nominating candidates at a primary, an affidavit of candidacy for a city office voted on in November must be filed no more than 84 days nor less than 70 days before the city primary. In municipalities that do not hold a primary, an affidavit of candidacy must be filed no more than 70 days and not less than 56 days before the municipal general election held in March in any year, or a special election not held in conjunction with another election, and no more than 98 days nor less than 84 days before the municipal general election held in November of any year. The municipal clerk's office must be open for filing from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the last day of the filing period.

Sec. 56.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 205.16, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Notice to auditor.

At least 67 74 days before every municipal election held in conjunction with a regularly scheduled primary for federal, state, county, city, or school board office or a special primary for federal office, at least 74 days before every municipal election held in connection with a regularly scheduled general election for federal, state, county, city, or school board office or a special election for federal office, and at least 53 days before any other municipal election, the municipal clerk shall provide a written notice to the county auditor, including the date of the election, the offices to be voted on at the election, and the title and language for each ballot question to be voted on at the election. At least 67 74 days before every municipal election held in conjunction with a regularly scheduled primary for federal, state, county, city, or school board office or a special primary for federal office, at least 74 days before a regularly scheduled general election for federal, state, county, city, or school board office or a special election for federal office, and at least 46 days before any other election, the municipal clerk must provide written notice to the county auditor of any special election canceled under section 205.10, subdivision 6.

Sec. 57.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 205.16, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Notice to secretary of state.

Sec. 58.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 205.17, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Second, third, and fourth class cities; towns Municipal offices; questions; general election ballot.

In all statutory and home rule charter cities of the second, third, and fourth class, and in all towns, for the municipal general election, the municipal clerk shall have printed on light green paper the official ballot containing the names of all candidates for municipal offices and municipal ballot questions. The ballot shall be printed in quantities of 25, 50, or 100, shall be headed "City or Town Election Ballot," shall state the name of the city or town and the date of the election, and shall conform in other respects to the white ballot used at the state general election ballot. The names shall be arranged on city ballots in the manner provided for the state elections. On town ballots names of the candidates for each office shall be arranged either:

(1) alphabetically according to the candidates' surnames; or

(2) in the manner provided for state elections if the town electors chose at the town's annual meeting to arrange the names in that way for at least two consecutive years.

Sec. 59.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 205.17, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Primary ballots.

The municipal primary ballot in cities of the second, third, and fourth class and towns and the nonpartisan primary ballot in cities of the first class shall conform as far as practicable with the municipal general election ballot except that it shall be printed on light green paper. No blank spaces shall be provided for writing in the names of candidates. The partisan primary ballot in cities of the first class shall conform as far as practicable with the state partisan primary ballot.

Sec. 60.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 205A.04, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

Subd. 3.

Change in year of general election.

The school board may, by resolution, change the year in which the school district general election will be held. The resolution must be approved no later than four weeks before the first day to file affidavits of candidacy for the general election. A plan for the orderly transition to the new election year must be included in the resolution. The terms of school board members may be lengthened or shortened by one year as a part of the transition process.

Sec. 61.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 205A.05, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Questions.

Special elections must be held for a school district on a question on which the voters are authorized by law to pass judgment. The school board may on its own motion call a special election to vote on any matter requiring approval of the voters of a district. Upon petition filed with the school board of 50 or more voters of the school district or five percent of the number of voters voting at the preceding school district general election, whichever is greater, the school board shall by resolution call a special election to vote on any matter requiring approval of the voters of a district. A question is carried only with the majority in its favor required by law. The election officials for a special election are the same as for the most recent school district general election unless changed according to law. Otherwise, special elections must be conducted and the returns made in the manner provided for the school district general election. A special election may not be held during the 30 56 days before and the 30 56 days after the state a regularly scheduled primary, during the 30 days before and the 40 days after the state or general election. In addition, a special election may not be held during the 20 days before and the 20 days after any regularly scheduled election of a municipality conducted wholly or partially within the school district. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the time period in which a special election must be conducted under any other law may be extended by the school board to conform with the requirements of this subdivision.

Sec. 62.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 205A.05, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Vacancies in school district offices.

Special elections shall be held in school districts in conjunction with school district primary and general elections to fill vacancies in elective school district offices. When more than one vacancy exists in an office elected at-large, voters must be instructed to vote for up to the number of vacancies to be filled.

Sec. 63.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 205A.07, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Notice to auditor.

At least 67 74 days before every school district election held in conjunction with a regularly scheduled primary for federal, state, county, city, or school board office or a special primary for federal office, at least 74 days before every school district election held in conjunction with a regularly scheduled general election for federal, state, county, city, or school board office or a special election for federal office, and at least 53 days before any other school district election, the school district clerk shall provide a written notice to the county auditor of each county in which the school district is located. The notice must include the date of the election, the offices to be voted on at the election, and the title and language for each ballot question to be voted on at the election. For the purposes of meeting the timelines of this section, in a bond election, a notice, including a proposed question, may be provided to the county auditor before receipt of a review and comment from the commissioner of education and before actual initiation of the election. At least 67 74 days before every school district election held in conjunction with a regularly scheduled primary for federal, state, county, city, or school board office or a special primary for federal office, at least 74 days before an election held in conjunction with a regularly scheduled general election for federal, state, county, city, or school board office or a special election for federal office, and at least 46 days before any other election, the school district clerk must provide written notice to the county auditor of any special election canceled under section 205A.05, subdivision 3.

Sec. 64.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 205A.07, subdivision 3a, is amended to read:

Subd. 3a.

Notice to commissioner of education.

At least 67 74 days before every school district election held in conjunction with a regularly scheduled primary for federal, state, county, city, or school board office or a special primary for federal office, at least 74 days before every school district election held in conjunction with a regularly scheduled general election for federal, state, county, city, or school board office or a special election for federal office, and at least 49 days before any other school district election, under section 123B.62, 123B.63, 126C.17, 126C.69, or 475.58, the school district clerk shall provide a written notice to the commissioner of education. The notice must include the date of the election and the title and language for each ballot question to be voted on at the election. At least 67 74 days before every school district election held in conjunction with a regularly scheduled primary for federal, state, county, city, or school board office or a special primary for federal office, at least 74 days before every school district election held in conjunction with a regularly scheduled general election for federal, state, county, city, or school board office or a special election for federal office, and at least 46 days before any other school district election, the school district clerk must provide a written notice to the commissioner of education of any special election canceled under section 205A.05, subdivision 3. The certified vote totals for each ballot question shall be provided in a written notice to the commissioner in a timely manner.

Sec. 65.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 205A.07, subdivision 3b, is amended to read:

Subd. 3b.

Notice to secretary of state.

Sec. 66.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 205A.08, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Buff General election ballot.

The names of all candidates for offices and all ballot questions to be voted on at a school district general election must be placed on a single ballot printed on buff paper and known as the "buff ballot.".

Sec. 67.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 206.57, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

Subd. 8.

Ballot boxes.

Notwithstanding Minnesota Rules, part 8230.4355, ballot boxes used with precinct count voting systems are not required to contain two separate compartments to receive ballots.

EFFECTIVE DATE.

This section is effective the day following final enactment.

Sec. 68.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 206.61, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Order of candidates.

On the "State Partisan Primary Ballot" prepared for primary elections, and on the white state general election ballot prepared for the general election, the order of the names of nominees or names of candidates for election shall be the same as required for paper ballots. More than one column or row may be used for the same office or party. Electronic ballot display and audio ballot readers must conform to the candidate order on the optical scan ballot used in the precinct.

Sec. 69.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 206.89, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Selection for review; notice.

At the canvass of the state primary, the county canvassing board in each county must set the date, time, and place for the postelection review of the state general election to be held under this section. The postelection review must not begin before the 11th day after the state general election and must be complete no later than the 18th day after the state general election.

At the canvass of the state general election, the county canvassing boards must select the precincts to be reviewed by lot. Ballots counted centrally by a ballot board shall be considered one precinct eligible to be selected for purposes of this subdivision. The ballots to be reviewed for a precinct include both the ballots counted at the polling place for that precinct and the absentee ballots counted centrally by a ballot board for that precinct. The county canvassing board of a county with fewer than 50,000 registered voters must conduct a postelection review of a total of at least two precincts. The county canvassing board of a county with between 50,000 and 100,000 registered voters must conduct a review of a total of at least three precincts. The county canvassing board of a county with over 100,000 registered voters must conduct a review of a total of at least four precincts, or three percent of the total number of precincts in the county, whichever is greater. At least one precinct selected in each county must have had more than 150 votes cast at the general election.

The county auditor must notify the secretary of state of the precincts that have been chosen for review and the time and place the postelection review for that county will be conducted, as soon as the decisions are made. If the selection of precincts has not resulted in the selection of at least four precincts in each congressional district, the secretary of state may require counties to select by lot additional precincts to meet the congressional district requirement. The secretary of state must post this information on the office Web site.

Sec. 70.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 206.89, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

Subd. 2a.

Exception.

No review is required under this section if the election for the office will be subject to a recount as provided in section 204C.35, subdivision 1.

Sec. 71.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 206.90, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

Subd. 6.

Ballots.

In precincts using optical scan voting systems, a single ballot card on which all ballot information is included must be printed in black ink on white colored material except that marks not to be read by the automatic tabulating equipment may be printed in another color ink. In state elections, a single ballot title must be used, as provided in sections 204D.08, subdivision 6, and 204D.11, subdivision 1. In odd-numbered years when both municipal and school district offices or questions appear on the ballot, the single ballot title "City (or Town) and School District Ballot" must be used.

On the front of the ballot must be printed the words "Official Ballot" and the date of the election and lines for the initials of at least two election judges.

When optical scan ballots are used, the offices to be elected must appear in the following order: federal offices; state legislative offices; constitutional offices; proposed constitutional amendments; county offices and questions; municipal offices and questions; school district offices and questions; special district offices and questions; and judicial offices.

On optical scan ballots, the names of candidates and the words "yes" and "no" for ballot questions must be printed as close to their corresponding vote targets as possible.

The line on an optical scan ballot for write-in votes must contain the words "write-in, if any."

If a primary ballot contains both a partisan ballot and a nonpartisan ballot, the instructions to voters must include a statement that reads substantially as follows: "THIS BALLOT CARD CONTAINS A PARTISAN BALLOT AND A NONPARTISAN BALLOT. ON THE PARTISAN BALLOT YOU ARE PERMITTED TO VOTE FOR CANDIDATES OF ONE POLITICAL PARTY ONLY." If a primary ballot contains political party columns on both sides of the ballot, the instructions to voters must include a statement that reads substantially as follows: "ADDITIONAL POLITICAL PARTIES ARE PRINTED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS BALLOT. VOTE FOR ONE POLITICAL PARTY ONLY." At the bottom of each political party column on the primary ballot, the ballot must contain a statement that reads substantially as follows: "CONTINUE VOTING ON THE NONPARTISAN BALLOT." The instructions in section 204D.08, subdivision 4, do not apply to optical scan partisan primary ballots. Electronic ballot displays and audio ballot readers must follow the order of offices and questions on the optical scan or paper ballot used in the same precinct, or the sample ballot posted for that precinct.

Sec. 72.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 208.04, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Form of presidential ballots.

When presidential electors and alternates are to be voted for, a vote cast for the party candidates for president and vice president shall be deemed a vote for that party's electors and alternates as filed with the secretary of state. The secretary of state shall certify the names of all duly nominated presidential and vice presidential candidates to the county auditors of the counties of the state. Each county auditor, subject to the rules of the secretary of state, shall cause the names of the candidates of each major political party and the candidates nominated by petition to be printed in capital letters, set in type of the same size and style as for candidates on the state white general election ballot, before the party designation. To the left of, and on the same line with the names of the candidates for president and vice president, near the margin, shall be placed a square or box, in which the voters may indicate their choice by marking an "X."

The form for the presidential ballot and the relative position of the several candidates shall be determined by the rules applicable to other state officers. The state ballot, with the required heading, shall be printed on the same piece of paper and shall be below the presidential ballot with a blank space between one inch in width.

Sec. 73.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 208.04, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Applicable rules.

The rules for preparation, state contribution to the cost of printing, and delivery of presidential ballots are the same as the rules for white state general election ballots under section 204D.11, subdivision 1.

Sec. 74.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 211B.045, is amended to read:

211B.045 NONCOMMERCIAL SIGNS EXEMPTION.

In any municipality, whether or not the municipality has an ordinance that regulates the size or number of noncommercial signs, All noncommercial signs of any size may be posted in any number from beginning 46 days before the state primary in a state general election year until ten days following the state general election. Municipal ordinances may regulate the size and number of noncommercial signs at other times.

Sec. 75.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 211B.37, is amended to read:

211B.37 COSTS ASSESSED.

Except as otherwise provided in section 211B.36, subdivision 3, the chief administrative law judge shall assess the cost of considering complaints filed under section 211B.32 as provided in this section. Costs of complaints relating to a statewide ballot question or an election for a statewide or legislative office must be assessed against the appropriation from the general fund to the general account of the state elections campaign fund in section 10A.31, subdivision 4. Costs of complaints relating to any other ballot question or elective office must be assessed against the county or counties in which the election is held. Where the election is held in more than one county, the chief administrative law judge shall apportion the assessment among the counties in proportion to their respective populations within the election district to which the complaint relates according to the most recent decennial federal census paid from appropriations to the office for this purpose.

Sec. 76.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 340A.416, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Ballot question.

The form of the question of the referendum under this section must be on a separate ballot and must allow the voters to vote either "for license" or "against license." either "Shall the city issue ... intoxicating liquor licenses?" or "Shall the city discontinue issuing intoxicating liquor licenses?".

Sec. 77.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 340A.416, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Effect of election results.

If a majority of persons voting on the referendum question vote "against license," to discontinue issuing licenses, the city may not issue intoxicating liquor licenses until the results of the referendum have been reversed at a subsequent election where the question has been submitted as provided in this section.

Sec. 78.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 340A.602, is amended to read:

340A.602 CONTINUATION.

In any city in which the report of the operations of a municipal liquor store has shown a net loss prior to interfund transfer in any two of three consecutive years, the city council shall, not more than 45 days prior to the end of the fiscal year following the three-year period, hold a public hearing on the question of whether the city shall continue to operate a municipal liquor store. Two weeks' notice, written in clear and easily understandable language, of the hearing must be printed in the city's official newspaper. Following the hearing the city council may on its own motion or shall upon petition of five percent or more of the registered voters of the city, submit to the voters at a general or special municipal election the question of whether the city shall continue or discontinue municipal liquor store operations by a date which the city council shall designate. The date designated by the city council must not be more than 30 months following the date of the election. The form of the question shall be: "Shall the city of (name) discontinue operating the municipal liquor store on (Month xx, 2xxx)?".

Sec. 79.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 375.20, is amended to read:

375.20 BALLOT QUESTIONS.

If the county board may do an act, incur a debt, appropriate money for a purpose, or exercise any other power or authority, only if authorized by a vote of the people, the question may be submitted at a special or general election, by a resolution specifying the matter or question to be voted upon. If the question is to authorize the appropriation of money, creation of a debt, or levy of a tax, it shall state the amount. Notice of the election shall be given as in the case of special elections. If the question submitted is adopted, the board shall pass an appropriate resolution to carry it into effect. In the election the form of the ballot shall be: "In favor of Shall (here state the substance of the resolution to be submitted)?, Yes ...... No......," with a square opposite each of the words "yes" and "no," in one of which the voter shall mark an "X" to indicate a choice. The county board may call a special county election upon a question to be held within 60 74 days after a resolution to that effect is adopted by the county board. Upon the adoption of the resolution the county auditor shall post and publish notices of the election, as required by section 204D.22, subdivisions 2 and 3. The election shall be conducted and the returns canvassed in the manner prescribed by sections 204D.20 to 204D.27, so far as practicable.

Sec. 80.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 447.32, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Elections.

Except as provided in this chapter, the Minnesota Election Law applies to hospital district elections, as far as practicable. Regular elections must be held in each hospital district at the same time, in the same election precincts, and at the same polling places as general elections of state and county officers. It may establish the whole district as a single election precinct or establish two or more different election precincts and polling places for the elections. If there is more than one precinct, the boundaries of the election precincts and the locations of the polling places must be defined in the notice of election, either in full or by reference to a description or map on file in the office of the clerk.

Special elections may be called by the hospital board to vote on any matter required by law to be submitted to the voters. A special election may not be conducted either during the 30 56 days before and the 30 days after the state or the 56 days after a regularly scheduled primary or state general election, or during the 20 days before and the 20 days after the regularly scheduled election of any municipality conducted wholly or partially within the hospital district. Special elections must be held within the election precinct or precincts and at the polling place or places designated by the board. In the case of the first election of officers of a new district, precincts and polling places must be set by the governing body of the most populous city or town included in the district.

Advisory ballots may be submitted by the hospital board on any question it wishes, concerning the affairs of the district, but only at a regular election or at a special election required for another purpose.

Sec. 81.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 447.32, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Election notices.

At least two weeks before the first day to file affidavits of candidacy, the clerk of the district shall publish a notice stating the first and last day on which affidavits of candidacy may be filed, the places for filing the affidavits and the closing time of the last day for filing. The clerk shall post a similar notice in at least one conspicuous place in each city and town in the district at least ten days before the first day to file affidavits of candidacy.

At least 53 74 days prior to every hospital district election, the hospital district clerk shall provide a written notice to the county auditor of each county in which the hospital district is located. The notice must include the date of the election, the offices to be voted on at the election, and the title and language for each ballot question to be voted on at the election. At least 46 days before a hospital district election for which a notice is provided to the county auditor under this subdivision, The county auditor shall immediately provide a notice to the secretary of state in a manner and including information prescribed by the secretary of state.

The notice of each election must be posted in at least one public and conspicuous place within each city and town included in the district at least ten days two weeks before the election. It must be published in the official newspaper of the district or, if a paper has not been designated, in a legal newspaper having general circulation within the district, at least two weeks before the election. Failure to give notice does not invalidate the election of an officer of the district. A voter may contest a hospital district election in accordance with chapter 209. Chapter 209 applies to hospital district elections.

Sec. 82.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 447.32, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Candidates; ballots; certifying election.

A person who wants to be a candidate for the hospital board shall file an affidavit of candidacy for the election either as member at large or as a member representing the city or town where the candidate resides. The affidavit of candidacy must be filed with the city or town clerk not more than 91 98 days nor less than 77 84 days before the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of the year in which the general election is held. The city or town clerk must forward the affidavits of candidacy to the clerk of the hospital district or, for the first election, the clerk of the most populous city or town immediately after the last day of the filing period. A candidate may withdraw from the election by filing an affidavit of withdrawal with the clerk of the district no later than 5:00 p.m. two days after the last day to file affidavits of candidacy.

Voting must be by secret ballot. The clerk shall prepare, at the expense of the district, necessary ballots for the election of officers. Ballots must be printed on tan paper and prepared as provided in the rules of the secretary of state. The ballots must be marked and initialed by at least two judges as official ballots and used exclusively at the election. Any proposition to be voted on may be printed on the ballot provided for the election of officers. The hospital board may also authorize the use of voting systems subject to chapter 206. Enough election judges may be appointed to receive the votes at each polling place. The election judges shall act as clerks of election, count the ballots cast, and submit them to the board for canvass.

After canvassing the election, the board shall issue a certificate of election to the candidate who received the largest number of votes cast for each office. The clerk shall deliver the certificate to the person entitled to it in person or by certified mail. Each person certified shall file an acceptance and oath of office in writing with the clerk within 30 days after the date of delivery or mailing of the certificate. The board may fill any office as provided in subdivision 1 if the person elected fails to qualify within 30 days, but qualification is effective if made before the board acts to fill the vacancy.

Sec. 83.

Laws 1963, chapter 276, section 2, subdivision 2, as amended by Laws 1992, chapter 534, section 1, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

One third of the members of the first hospital board shall be appointed for a term to expire one year from December 31 next following such appointment, one third for a term to expire two years from such date, and one third for a term to expire three years from such date. Successors to the original board members shall each be elected for terms of three years, and all members shall hold office until their successors are elected and qualify. Terms of all members shall expire on December 31. In case of a vacancy on the hospital board, whether due to death, removal from the district, inability to serve, resignation, or other cause the majority of the remaining members of the hospital board, at its next regular or special meeting, shall make an appointment to fill such vacancy for the then unexpired term. The election of successors to the original board members shall be elected by popular vote of the qualified voters in the hospital district. Hospital board elections shall be conducted as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 447.32. The hospital board shall, by resolution, adopt a plan for the orderly transition to the new election schedule. The resolution must be approved no later than four weeks before the first day to file affidavits of candidacy for the general election. The terms of hospital board members may be lengthened or shortened by one year as a part of the transition process.

Sec. 84.

APPROPRIATION.

$60,000 is appropriated from the general fund in fiscal year 2014 to the secretary of state to develop functionality within the statewide voter registration system to facilitate the processing and tracking of mail ballots.

Sec. 85.

REPEALER.

(a) Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 204B.22, subdivision 2; 204B.42; 204D.11, subdivisions 2 and 3; 205.17, subdivisions 2 and 4; and 205A.08, subdivision 4, are repealed.

(b) Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 2.444; and 2.484, are repealed.

Office of the Revisor of Statutes

Minnesota Session Laws - 2013, Regular Session

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Chapter 131

CHAPTER 131--H.F.No. 894

ARTICLE 1

ABSENTEE VOTING

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 5B.06, is amended to read:

5B.06 VOTING BY PROGRAM PARTICIPANT; ABSENTEE BALLOT.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 203B.02, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Unable to go to polling place Absentee voting; eligibility.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 203B.04, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Application procedures.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 203B.04, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Permanent illness or disability absentee voter status.

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 203B.06, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Printing and delivery of forms.

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 203B.121, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Duties of ballot board; absentee ballots.

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 203B.121, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Record of voting.

Sec. 8.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 203B.121, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Opening of envelopes.

Sec. 9.

REPEALER.

Sec. 10.

EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICABILITY.

ARTICLE 2

ELECTION ADMINISTRATION

Section 1.

[2.395] THIRTY-NINTH DISTRICT.

Subdivision 1.

Senate district.

Subd. 2.

House of representatives districts.

EFFECTIVE DATE.

Sec. 2.

[2.495] FORTY-NINTH DISTRICT.

Subdivision 1.

Senate district.

Subd. 2.

House of representatives districts.

EFFECTIVE DATE.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 103C.225, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Referendum.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 103C.305, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Ballots.

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 103C.311, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Supervisors elected by districts.

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 123A.48, subdivision 14, is amended to read:

Subd. 14.

Election.

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 201.061, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Election day registration.

Sec. 8.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 201.071, subdivision 2, is amended to read: