1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to elections; changing the date of the state primary from August to May;
1.3 changing the date of primary elections conducted by a political subdivision in
1.4 certain circumstances; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 204B.14,
1.5 subdivisions 2, 4; 204B.21, subdivision 1; 204D.03, subdivision 1; 204D.09,
1.6 subdivision 1; 204D.28, subdivision 5; 205.065, subdivisions 1, 2; 205A.03,
1.7 subdivisions 1, 2; 205A.06, subdivision 1a; 205A.11, subdivision 2a; 206.61,
1.8 subdivision 5; 206.82, subdivision 2.
1.9BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.10 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 204B.14, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
1.11 Subd. 2.Separate precincts; combined polling place.(a) The following shall constitute
1.12at least one election precinct:
1.13 (1) each city ward; and
1.14 (2) each town and each statutory city.
1.15 (b) A single, accessible, combined polling place may be established no later than
1.16November 1 if a presidential nomination primary is scheduled to occur in the following
1.17year or May February 1 of any other year:
1.18 (1) for any city of the third or fourth class, any town, or any city having territory in more
1.19than one county, in which all the voters of the city or town shall cast their ballots;
1.20 (2) for contiguous precincts in the same municipality;
1.21 (3) for up to four contiguous municipalities located entirely outside the metropolitan
1.22area, as defined by section 200.02, subdivision 24, that are contained in the same county;
1.23or
1Section 1.
REVISOR JFK/BM 25-0453403/05/25
State of Minnesota
This Document can be made available
in alternative formats upon request
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H. F. No. 2343
NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
Authored by Quam03/13/2025
The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Elections Finance and Government Operations 2.1 (4) for noncontiguous precincts located in one or more counties.
2.2 Subject to the requirements of paragraph (c), a single, accessible, combined polling place
2.3may be established after May February 1 of any year in the event of an emergency.
2.4 A copy of the ordinance or resolution establishing a combined polling place must be
2.5filed with the county auditor within 30 days after approval by the governing body, and the
2.6county auditor must provide notice within ten days to the secretary of state, in a manner
2.7and including information prescribed by the secretary of state. A polling place combined
2.8under clause (3) must be approved by the governing body of each participating municipality.
2.9A polling place combined under clause (4) must be approved by the governing body of each
2.10participating municipality and the secretary of state and may be located outside any of the
2.11noncontiguous precincts. A municipality withdrawing from participation in a combined
2.12polling place must do so by filing a resolution of withdrawal with the county auditor no
2.13later than October 1 if a presidential nomination primary is scheduled to occur in the
2.14following year or April January 1 of any other year, and the county auditor must provide
2.15notice within ten days to the secretary of state, in a manner and including information
2.16prescribed by the secretary of state.
2.17 The secretary of state shall provide a separate polling place roster for each precinct
2.18served by the combined polling place, except that in a precinct that uses electronic rosters
2.19the secretary of state shall provide separate data files for each precinct. A single set of
2.20election judges may be appointed to serve at a combined polling place. The number of
2.21election judges required must be based on the total number of persons voting at the last
2.22similar election in all precincts to be voting at the combined polling place. Separate ballot
2.23boxes must be provided for the ballots from each precinct. The results of the election must
2.24be reported separately for each precinct served by the combined polling place, except in a
2.25polling place established under clause (2) where one of the precincts has fewer than ten
2.26registered voters, in which case the results of that precinct must be reported in the manner
2.27specified by the secretary of state.
2.28 (c) If a local elections official determines that an emergency situation preventing the
2.29safe, secure, and full operation of a polling place on election day has occurred or is imminent,
2.30the local elections official may combine two or more polling places for that election pursuant
2.31to this subdivision. To the extent possible, the polling places must be combined and the
2.32election conducted according to the requirements of paragraph (b), except that:
2.33 (1) polling places may be combined after May February 1 and until the polls close on
2.34election day;
2Section 1.
REVISOR JFK/BM 25-0453403/05/25 3.1 (2) any city or town, regardless of size or location, may establish a combined polling
3.2place under this paragraph;
3.3 (3) the governing body is not required to adopt an ordinance or resolution to establish
3.4the combined polling place;
3.5 (4) a polling place combined under paragraph (b), clause (3) or (4), must be approved
3.6by the local election official of each participating municipality;
3.7 (5) the local elections official must immediately notify the county auditor and the
3.8secretary of state of the combination, including the reason for the emergency combination
3.9and the location of the combined polling place. As soon as possible, the local elections
3.10official must also post a notice stating the reason for the combination and the location of
3.11the combined polling place. The notice must also be posted on the governing board's website,
3.12if one exists. The local elections official must also notify the election judges and request
3.13that local media outlets publicly announce the reason for the combination and the location
3.14of the combined polling place; and
3.15 (6) on election day, the local elections official must post a notice in large print in a
3.16conspicuous place at the polling place where the emergency occurred, if practical, stating
3.17the location of the combined polling place. The local election official must also post the
3.18notice, if practical, in a location visible by voters who vote from their motor vehicles as
3.19provided in section 204C.15, subdivision 2. If polling place hours are extended pursuant to
3.20section 204C.05, subdivision 2, paragraph (b), the posted notices required by this paragraph
3.21must include a statement that the polling place hours at the combined polling place will be
3.22extended until the specified time.
3.23 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 204B.14, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
3.24 Subd. 4.Boundary change procedure.Any change in the boundary of an election
3.25precinct must be adopted at least ten weeks before the date of the next election and, for the
3.26state primary and general election or presidential nomination primary, no later than December
3.27November 1 in the year prior to the year of the state general election. The precinct boundary
3.28change shall not take effect until notice of the change has been posted in the office of the
3.29municipal clerk or county auditor for at least 56 days.
3.30 The county auditor must publish a notice illustrating or describing the congressional,
3.31legislative, and county commissioner district boundaries in the county in one or more
3.32qualified newspapers in the county at least 14 days before the first day to file affidavits of
3.33candidacy for the state general election in the year ending in two.
3Sec. 2.
REVISOR JFK/BM 25-0453403/05/25 4.1 Alternate dates for adopting changes in precinct boundaries, posting notices of boundary
4.2changes, and notifying voters affected by boundary changes pursuant to this subdivision,
4.3and procedures for coordinating precinct boundary changes with reestablishing local
4.4government election district boundaries may be established in the manner provided in the
4.5rules of the secretary of state.
4.6 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 204B.21, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
4.7 Subdivision 1.Appointment lists; duties of political parties and secretary of state.On
4.8May February 1 in a year in which there is an election for a partisan political office, each
4.9major political party shall prepare a list of eligible voters to act as election judges in each
4.10election precinct. The list provided by the party must indicate which eligible voters are
4.11willing to travel to a precinct outside of their home jurisdiction to act as an election judge,
4.12and the jurisdictions to which each eligible voter is willing to travel for that purpose. The
4.13political parties shall furnish the lists electronically to the secretary of state, in a format
4.14specified by the secretary of state. The secretary of state must combine the data received
4.15from each political party under this subdivision and must process the data to locate the
4.16precinct in which the address provided for each potential election judge is located. If the
4.17data submitted by a political party is insufficient for the secretary of state to locate the proper
4.18precinct, the associated name must not appear in any list forwarded to an appointing authority
4.19under this subdivision. The secretary of state shall notify political parties of any proposed
4.20election judges with addresses that could not be located in a precinct.
4.21 By May February 15, the secretary of state shall furnish electronically to the county
4.22auditor a list of the appropriate names for each election precinct in the jurisdiction of the
4.23appointing authority, and a list of the names of individuals residing outside of the jurisdiction
4.24who indicated a willingness to travel to that jurisdiction to act as an election judge, noting
4.25the political party affiliation of each individual on the list. The county auditor must promptly
4.26forward the appropriate names to the appropriate municipal clerk.
4.27 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 204D.03, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
4.28 Subdivision 1.State primary.The state primary shall be held on the second first Tuesday
4.29in August May in each even-numbered year to select the nominees of the major political
4.30parties for partisan offices and the nominees for nonpartisan offices to be filled at the state
4.31general election, other than presidential electors.
4Sec. 4.
REVISOR JFK/BM 25-0453403/05/25 5.1 Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 204D.09, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
5.2 Subdivision 1.Example ballot.No later than May February 1 of each year, the secretary
5.3of state shall supply each auditor with a copy of an example ballot to be used at the state
5.4primary and state general election. The example ballot must illustrate the format required
5.5for the ballots used in the primary and general elections that year. The county auditor shall
5.6distribute copies of the example ballot to municipal and school district clerks in municipalities
5.7and school districts holding elections that year. The official ballot must conform in all
5.8respects to the example ballot.
5.9 Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 204D.28, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
5.10 Subd. 5.Regular state primary."Regular state primary" means:
5.11 (a) the state primary at which candidates are nominated for offices elected at the state
5.12general election; or
5.13 (b) a primary held on the second first Tuesday in August May of odd-numbered years.
5.14 Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 205.065, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
5.15 Subdivision 1.Establishing primary.A municipal primary for the purpose of nominating
5.16elective officers may be held in any city on the second first Tuesday in August May of any
5.17year in which a municipal general election is to be held for the purpose of electing officers.
5.18The date of a municipal primary held in an odd-numbered year may be postponed for
5.19inclement weather as provided in section 205.105.
5.20 Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 205.065, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
5.21 Subd. 2.Resolution or ordinance.The governing body of a city may, by ordinance or
5.22resolution adopted by April December 15 in the year when before a municipal general
5.23election is held, elect to choose nominees for municipal offices by a primary as provided
5.24in this section. The resolution or ordinance, when adopted, is effective for all ensuing
5.25municipal elections until it is revoked. The municipal clerk shall notify the secretary of state
5.26and the county auditor within 30 days after the adoption of the resolution or ordinance.
5.27 Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 205A.03, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
5.28 Subdivision 1.Resolution requiring primary in certain circumstances.The school
5.29board of a school district may, by resolution adopted by April December 15 of any year,
5.30decide to choose nominees for school board by a primary as provided in this section. The
5Sec. 9.
REVISOR JFK/BM 25-0453403/05/25 6.1resolution, when adopted, is effective for all ensuing elections of board members in that
6.2school district until it is revoked. If the board decides to choose nominees by primary and
6.3if there are more than two candidates for a specified school board position or more than
6.4twice as many school board candidates as there are at-large school board positions available,
6.5the school district must hold a primary.
6.6 Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 205A.03, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
6.7 Subd. 2.Date.The school district primary must be held on the second first Tuesday in
6.8August May in the year when the school district general election is held. The clerk shall
6.9give notice of the primary in the manner provided in section 205A.07. The date of a school
6.10district primary held in an odd-numbered year may be postponed for inclement weather as
6.11provided in section 205A.055.
6.12 Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 205A.06, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:
6.13 Subd. 1a.Filing period.In school districts that have adopted a resolution to choose
6.14nominees for school board by a primary election, affidavits of candidacy must be filed with
6.15the school district clerk no earlier than the 84th day and no later than the 70th day before
6.16the second first Tuesday in August May in the year when the school district general election
6.17is held. In all other school districts, affidavits of candidacy must be filed no earlier than the
6.1898th day and no later than the 84th day before the school district general election.
6.19 Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 205A.11, subdivision 2a, is amended to read:
6.20 Subd. 2a.Notice of special elections.The school district clerk shall prepare a notice to
6.21the voters who will be voting in a combined polling place for a school district special election.
6.22The notice must include the following information: the date of the election, the hours of
6.23voting, and the location of the voter's polling place. The notice must be sent by
6.24nonforwardable mail to every affected household in the school district with at least one
6.25registered voter. The notice must be mailed no later than 14 days before the election. The
6.26mailed notice is not required for a school district special election that is held on the second
6.27first Tuesday in August May, the Tuesday following the first Monday in November, or for
6.28a special election conducted entirely by mail. A notice that is returned as undeliverable must
6.29be forwarded immediately to the county auditor.
6Sec. 12.
REVISOR JFK/BM 25-0453403/05/25 7.1 Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 206.61, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
7.2 Subd. 5.Alternation.The provisions of the election laws requiring the alternation of
7.3names of candidates must be observed as far as practicable by changing the order of the
7.4names on an electronic voting system in the various precincts so that each name appears on
7.5the machines or marking devices used in a municipality substantially an equal number of
7.6times in the first, last, and in each intermediate place in the list or group in which they
7.7belong. However, the arrangement of candidates' names must be the same on all voting
7.8systems used in the same precinct. If the number of names to be alternated exceeds the
7.9number of precincts, the election official responsible for providing the ballots, in accordance
7.10with subdivision 1, shall determine by lot the alternation of names.
7.11 If an electronic ballot marker is used with a paper ballot that is not an optical scan ballot
7.12card, the manner of alternation of candidate names on the paper ballot must be as prescribed
7.13for optical scan ballots in this subdivision.
7.14 The rules adopted by the secretary of state for the rotation of candidate names must use
7.15the number of registered voters in each precinct as of 8:00 a.m. on May February 1 of the
7.16year when the rotation will be made as the basis for determining the rotation of names.
7.17 Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 206.82, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
7.18 Subd. 2.Plan.The municipal clerk in a municipality where an electronic voting system
7.19is used and the county auditor of a county in which an electronic voting system is used in
7.20more than one municipality and the county auditor of a county in which a counting center
7.21serving more than one municipality is located shall prepare a plan which indicates acquisition
7.22of sufficient facilities, computer time, and professional services and which describes the
7.23proposed manner of complying with section 206.80. The plan must be signed, notarized,
7.24and submitted to the secretary of state more than 60 days before the first election at which
7.25the municipality uses an electronic voting system. Before May February 1 of each subsequent
7.26general election year, the clerk or auditor shall submit to the secretary of state notification
7.27of any changes to the plan on file with the secretary of state. The secretary of state shall
7.28review each plan for its sufficiency and may request technical assistance from the Department
7.29of Information Technology Services or other agency which may be operating as the central
7.30computer authority. The secretary of state shall notify each reporting authority of the
7.31sufficiency or insufficiency of its plan within 20 days of receipt of the plan. The attorney
7.32general, upon request of the secretary of state, may seek a district court order requiring an
7.33election official to fulfill duties imposed by this subdivision or by rules promulgated pursuant
7.34to this section.
7Sec. 14.
REVISOR JFK/BM 25-0453403/05/25 8.1 Sec. 15. EFFECTIVE DATE.
8.2 This act is effective January 1, 2026, and applies to primary elections held on or after
8.3January 1, 2026.
8Sec. 15.
REVISOR JFK/BM 25-0453403/05/25