§ 204D.19 — Special Elections; When Held
Plain-Language Summary
This section establishes the presidential nomination primary in Minnesota, including voter eligibility, ballot preparation, and the allocation of delegates based on primary results.
204D.19 SPECIAL ELECTIONS; WHEN HELD.
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Subdivision 1.Vacancy filled at general election.
When a vacancy occurs more than 150 days before the next state general election, and the legislature will not be in session before the final canvass of the state general election returns, the vacancy shall be filled at the next state general election. When practicable, the filing period for the vacancy must be concurrent with the filing period for the general election filing period provided in section 204B.09. If not possible, the filing period for the vacancy must be a minimum of five days and a maximum of ten days, excluding holidays. §
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 filing period for the vacancy must be a minimum of three days, excluding holidays. 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 two days before or the two days after a holiday as defined in section 645.44, subdivision 5. §
Subd. 3.Special election at other times.
When a vacancy occurs at a time other than those described in subdivisions 1 and 2 the governor shall issue a writ, calling for a special election to be held so that the individual elected may take office at the opening of the next session of the legislature, or at the reconvening of a session of the legislature. The filing period for the vacancy must be a minimum of five days and a maximum of ten days, excluding holidays. §
Subd. 4.Writ when vacancy results from election contest.
If a vacancy results from a successful election contest, the governor shall issue 22 days after the first day of the legislative session a writ calling for a special election unless the house in which the contest may be tried has passed a resolution which states that it will or will not review the court’s determination of the contest. If the resolution states that the house will not review the court’s determination, the writ shall be issued within five days of the passage of the resolution. §
Subd. 5.
[Repealed, 1999 c 132 s 46] §
Subd. 6.Writ when vacancy results from vacancy in nomination.
If a vacancy in office is due to a vacancy in nomination under section 204B.13, the governor shall issue a writ in the manner provided in that section.
History:
1981 c 29 art 6 s 19; 1993 c 375 art 7 s 6; 2008 c 295 s 14; 2010 c 201 s 53; 2013 c 131 art 2 s 52; art 5 s 9; 2025 c 39 art 8 s 72-74
History: History: 1981 c 29 art 6 s 19; 1993 c 375 art 7 s 6; 2008 c 295 s 14; 2010 c 201 s 53; 2013 c 131 art 2 s 52; art 5 s 9; 2025 c 39 art 8 s 72-74