Chapter 204B — Manner of Nomination

15.001 Application of Laws 2005, Chapter 56, Terminology Changes State agencies must use updated terminology from a 2005 law when they replace old printed materials and signs. They do … 204B.001 This section has been renumbered. See section 15.001 for the current law. 204B.01 Definitions The definitions used in this chapter about elections are found in chapter 200 of Minnesota Statutes. 204B.02 Application This chapter applies to all elections held in Minnesota unless another law says otherwise. 204B.03 Manner of Nomination Candidates from major political parties and all nonpartisan candidates must file an affidavit of candidacy and be … 204B.04 Candidacy; Prohibitions A candidate cannot appear on the ballot for more than one major political party. A person who runs in the primary cannot … 204B.05 This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. 204B.06 Filing for Primary; Affidavit of Candidacy To run for office in Minnesota, a candidate must file an affidavit of candidacy stating their name, that they are an … 204B.07 Nominating Petitions Candidates who are not running through a major political party must collect voter signatures on a nominating petition. … 204B.071 Petitions; Rules of Secretary of State The secretary of state must create rules for how election petitions are circulated, signed, filed, and checked. The … 204B.08 Signing Petitions A nominating petition can only be signed during the period set by law for filing candidacy. Each voter may sign … 204B.09 Time and Place of Filing Affidavits and Petitions Candidates for state and county offices file their paperwork with the secretary of state or county auditor during a … 204B.10 Affidavits of Candidacy; Nominating Petitions; Duties Filing officers must number candidacy affidavits and petitions in the order they are received. Within three days, the … 204B.11 Candidates; Filing Fees; Petition in Place of Filing Fee Candidates must pay a filing fee when they submit their candidacy paperwork. The fee is $300 for state legislature, $500 … 204B.12 Withdrawal of Candidates A candidate may withdraw from the primary by filing a written request with the filing officer by the end of the filing … 204B.13 Vacancy in Nomination; Partisan Office When a partisan candidate withdraws, dies, or becomes disqualified after winning the primary nomination, the political … 204B.131 Vacancy in Nomination; Nonpartisan Office When a nonpartisan candidate withdraws, dies, or becomes disqualified after the primary but before the general election, … 204B.135 Redistricting of Election Districts After redistricting, cities with wards and school districts with election districts must redraw their boundaries to … 204B.14 Election Precincts Every city and town in Minnesota must be divided into election precincts with clear boundaries. Precincts must follow … 204B.145 Duties of Secretary of State; Redistricting After legislative redistricting is completed, the secretary of state may help counties, cities, and school districts … 204B.146 Duties of Secretary of State The secretary of state has duties related to redistricting, including coordinating with counties to update precinct … 204B.15 Unorganized Territory; Election Precincts County boards can create election precincts for areas of unorganized territory that are not part of any city or town. … 204B.16 Polling Places; Designation Local governing bodies choose polling places for each election precinct. Polling places must be accessible to people … 204B.17 This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. 204B.175 Change of Polling Place in an Emergency If a polling place becomes unavailable due to an emergency, the municipal clerk or county auditor can move the polling … 204B.18 Polling Places; Equipment Polling places must have private voting booths or stations where voters can mark their ballots in secret. The booths … 204B.181 Election Emergency Plans The secretary of state must create election emergency plans for state elections, and county auditors must create plans … 204B.182 Chain of Custody Plans County auditors must develop a chain of custody plan for all election materials used in elections held in the county. … 204B.19 Election Judges; Qualifications To serve as an election judge in Minnesota, a person must be eligible to vote, able to read, write, and speak English, … 204B.195 Time Off From Work to Serve as Election Judge An employee who is selected to serve as an election judge can take time off work without penalty, as long as they give … 204B.20 Election Board; Head Election Judge; Duties The election judges assigned to a precinct form the election board for that precinct. One judge is named the head … 204B.21 Appointment of Election Judges Political parties must submit lists of people to serve as election judges. The appointing authority (usually the city … 204B.22 Election Judges; Number Required Each election precinct must have a minimum number of election judges depending on the number of registered voters. … 204B.23 Vacancies Among Election Judges A vacancy on an election board happens when a judge does not show up within 30 minutes of the polls opening, becomes … 204B.24 Election Judges; Oath Every election judge must sign an oath before starting work on election day. The oath says they will perform their … 204B.25 Training for Election Judges County auditors must provide training for all election judges before each election. The training covers election law, … 204B.26 Election Judges; Violations; Penalties A county auditor or municipal clerk can remove an election judge for neglecting their duties, misconduct, or other … 204B.27 Duties of Secretary of State The secretary of state must prepare and provide blank forms, instructions, and other materials needed to run elections. … 204B.275 Election Reporting System The secretary of state must maintain an election reporting system that provides the public with timely election night … 204B.28 Clerks; Election Supplies; Duties Municipal clerks and county auditors must prepare and deliver election supplies to each polling place before the … 204B.29 Election Judges; Election Supplies; Duties Before the polls open, election judges must pick up the election supplies and bring them to the polling place. They must … 204B.295 Voting Instructions and Sample Ballots in Languages Other Than English; Multilingual Election Judges Election officials must provide voting instructions and sample ballots in languages other than English in precincts … 204B.30 Unofficial Ballots If official ballots are not ready when voting starts or run out before voting ends, election judges can make unofficial … 204B.31 Compensation for Election Services Election judges and other election workers are paid for their services. The amount of pay is set by the governing body … 204B.32 Election Expenses; Payment The costs of running elections are paid by the government body responsible for the election. For state and county … 204B.33 Notice of Filing At least 16 weeks before the state primary, the secretary of state notifies county auditors about which offices will be … 204B.34 Notice of Election County auditors must publish a notice of each state election at least two weeks before the election. The notice must … 204B.35 Preparation of Ballots The county auditor is responsible for preparing ballots for state and county elections. Ballots must be printed using … 204B.36 Ballots; Form Minnesota ballots must follow specific formatting rules. Candidates' names must appear in a standardized way, with their … 204B.37 Back of Ballot The back of every ballot must have the words 'Official Ballot' printed on it, along with the election date and lines for … 204B.38 Names on Ballots; Identical Descriptive Words When two or more candidates for the same office have very similar first and last names, up to three extra words can be … 204B.39 Substitute Ballots If official ballots are not delivered on time or are lost or destroyed, the official in charge of printing can make … 204B.40 Ballots; Election Records and Other Materials; Disposition; Inspection of Ballots All election materials, including voted ballots, must be kept in locked storage for at least 22 months after the … 204B.41 This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. 204B.42 This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. 204B.43 Unlawful Printing or Distribution of Ballots; Penalty It is a felony for anyone involved in printing official ballots to give ballots to unauthorized people, print ballots in … 204B.44 Errors and Omissions; Remedy Anyone can file a court petition to fix errors on ballots, such as wrong names, missing candidates, or ineligible … 204B.45 Mail Balloting Small towns and townships with fewer registered voters may conduct elections entirely by mail instead of setting up a … 204B.46 Mail Elections; Questions Counties, cities, and school districts can hold special elections by mail when only questions (not candidates) are on … 204B.47 Alternative Election Procedures; Duties of Secretary of State The secretary of state may approve alternative election procedures for municipalities that want to try new methods of … 204B.48 This section has been repealed or is reserved and is no longer in effect. 204B.49 'i Voted' Stickers The secretary of state must provide 'I Voted' stickers to be given to voters at polling places and included with …