1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to elections; providing for consistency in polling place locations;
1.3 	amending Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 204B.16, subdivision 3; Minnesota 
1.4 	Statutes 2005 Supplement, section 204B.16, subdivision 1.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2005 Supplement, section 204B.16, subdivision 1, is 
1.7 	amended to read:
1.8 		Subdivision 1.Authority; location. The governing body of each municipality 
1.9 	and of each county with precincts in unorganized territory shall designate by ordinance 
1.10 	or resolution a polling place for each election precinct. This designation may be made 
1.11 	no more frequently than once in any 12-month period for each precinct, subject to the 
1.12 	provisions of subdivision 3. Polling places must be designated and ballots must be 
1.13 	distributed so that no one is required to go to more than one polling place to vote in 
1.14 	a school district and municipal election held on the same day. The polling place for a 
1.15 	precinct in a city or in a school district located in whole or in part in the metropolitan area 
1.16 	defined by section 200.02, subdivision 24, shall be located within the boundaries of the 
1.17 	precinct or within 3,000 feet of one of those boundaries unless a single polling place 
1.18 	is designated for a city pursuant to section 204B.14, subdivision 2, or a school district 
1.19 	pursuant to section 205A.11. The polling place for a precinct in unorganized territory may 
1.20 	be located outside the precinct at a place which is convenient to the voters of the precinct. 
1.21 	If no suitable place is available within a town or within a school district located outside 
1.22 	the metropolitan area defined by section 200.02, subdivision 24, then the polling place for 
1.23 	a town or school district may be located outside the town or school district within five 
1.24 	miles of one of the boundaries of the town or school district.

2.1 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 204B.16, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
2.2 		Subd. 3.Designation effective until changed. The designation of a polling place 
2.3 	pursuant to this section shall remain effective until a different polling place is designated 
2.4 	for that precinct. No designation of a new or different polling place:
2.5 	(a) shall be made more frequently than once in any 12-month period;
2.6 	(b) shall become effective less than 90 days prior to an election, including school 
2.7 	district elections or referenda, and no polling place changes may; and
2.8 	(c) shall occur during the period between the state primary and the state general 
2.9 	election, except that a new polling place may be designated to replace a polling place that 
2.10 	has become unavailable for use.