2006 Minnesota Statutes

204B.135 REDISTRICTING OF ELECTION DISTRICTS.
    Subdivision 1. Cities with wards. A city that elects its council members by wards may not
redistrict those wards before the legislature has been redistricted in a year ending in one or two.
The wards must be redistricted within 60 days after the legislature has been redistricted or at least
19 weeks before the state primary election in the year ending in two, whichever is first.
    Subd. 2. Other election districts. For purposes of this subdivision, "local government
election district" means a county district, park and recreation district, school district, or soil and
water conservation district. Local government election districts, other than city wards covered by
subdivision 1, may not be redistricted until precinct boundaries are reestablished under section
204B.14, subdivision 3, paragraph (c). Election districts covered by this subdivision must be
redistricted within 80 days of the time when the legislature has been redistricted or at least 15
weeks before the state primary election in the year ending in two, whichever comes first.
    Subd. 3. Voters rights. (a) An eligible voter may apply to the district court for either a
writ of mandamus requiring the redistricting of wards or local government election districts or
to revise any plan adopted by the governing body responsible for redistricting of wards or local
government election districts.
(b) If a city adopts a ward redistricting plan at least 19 weeks before the primary in a year
ending in two, an application for revision of the plan that seeks to affect elections held in the year
ending in two must be filed with the district court within three weeks but no later than 18 weeks
before the state primary election in the year ending in two, notwithstanding any charter provision.
If a city adopts a ward redistricting plan less than 19 weeks before the state primary in a year
ending in two, an application for revision of the plan that seeks to affect elections held in the year
ending in two must be filed with the district court no later than one week after the plan has been
adopted, notwithstanding any charter provision.
(c) If a plan for redistricting of a local government election district is adopted at least 15
weeks before the state primary election in a year ending in two, an application for revision of the
plan that seeks to affect elections held in the year ending in two must be filed with the district
court within three weeks but no later than 14 weeks before the state primary election in the year
ending in two. If a plan for redistricting of a local government election district is adopted less than
15 weeks before the state primary election in a year ending in two, an application for revision of
the plan that seeks to affect elections held in the year ending in two must be filed with the district
court no later than one week after the plan has been adopted.
    Subd. 4. Special elections; limitations. No municipality or school district may conduct a
special election during the 19 weeks before the state primary election in the year ending in two,
except for special elections conducted on the date of the school district general election. A school
district special election required by any other law may be deferred until the date of the next school
district general election, the state primary election, or the state general election.
    Subd. 5. Redistricting expenses. The county board may levy a tax not to exceed $1 per
capita in the year ending in "0" to pay costs incurred in the year ending in "1" or "2" that are
reasonably related to the redistricting of election districts, establishment of precinct boundaries,
designation of polling places, and the updating of voter records in the statewide registration
system. The county auditor shall distribute to each municipality in the county on a per capita basis
25 percent of the amount levied as provided in this subdivision, based on the population of the
municipality in the most recent census. This levy is not subject to statutory levy limits.
History: 1987 c 297 s 1; 1991 c 349 s 30; 1999 c 243 art 6 s 1