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204B.45 MAIL BALLOTING.
    Subdivision 1. Authorization. A municipality 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 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.
    Subd. 1a.[Repealed, 2000 c 467 s 35]
    Subd. 2. Procedure. Notice of the election and the special mail procedure must be given
at least six weeks prior to the election. No earlier than 20 days or later than 14 days prior to the
election, the auditor shall mail ballots by nonforwardable mail to all voters registered in the
town or unorganized territory. 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 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.
    Subd. 3. Election Law applied; rules. The Minnesota Election Law is applicable to mail
balloting except as provided by this section or by rules adopted by the secretary of state, but
only paper ballots may be used. The secretary of state shall adopt rules for the conduct of mail
balloting, including instructions to voters, procedures for challenge of voters, public observation
of the counting of ballots, and procedures for proper handling and safeguarding of ballots to
ensure the integrity of the election.
History: 1987 c 212 s 8; 1990 c 585 s 26; 1991 c 227 s 16; 1993 c 318 art 1 s 1; 1997
c 145 s 1

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes