Section 205.10 Municipal Special Elections - Minnesota Statutes

205.10 MS 1957 [Repealed, 1959 c 675 art 13 s 1]

205.10 MUNICIPAL SPECIAL ELECTIONS.

Subdivision 1.Questions.

Special elections may be held in a city or town on a question on which the voters are authorized by law or charter to pass judgment. A special election may be ordered by the governing body of the municipality on its own motion or, on a question that has not been submitted to the voters in an election within the previous six months, upon a petition signed by a number of voters equal to 20 percent of the votes cast at the last municipal general election. A question is carried only with the majority in its favor required by law or charter. The election officials for a special election shall be the same as for the most recent municipal general election unless changed according to law. Otherwise special elections shall be conducted and the returns made in the manner provided for the municipal general election.

Subd. 2.Vacancies in city offices.

Special elections shall be held in statutory cities to fill vacancies in elective city offices as provided in section 412.02, subdivision 2a.

Subd. 3.Prohibition.

No special election authorized under subdivision 1 may be held within 40 days after the state general election.

Subd. 4.Vacancies in town offices.

Special elections must be held with the town general election to fill vacancies in town offices as provided in section 367.03, subdivision 6.

Subd. 5.Limit on ballot questions.

The governing body of a city or town may not act to submit a ballot question at a general or special election and may not accept a petition for submission of a ballot question at a general or special election unless all election-related deadlines can be met, including publication deadlines for all required notices. A petition rejected under this subdivision may be resubmitted at a time when compliance with all election-related deadlines is possible. Nothing in this subdivision requires the scheduling of a special election for a ballot question.

Subd. 6.Cancellation.

A special election ordered by the governing body of the municipality on its own motion under subdivision 1 may be canceled by motion of the governing body, but not less than 46 days before the election.

History:

1959 c 675 art 6 s 10; 1976 c 2 s 74; 1976 c 44 s 6; 1981 c 29 art 7 s 38; 1981 c 172 s 1; 1983 c 62 s 4; 1993 c 375 art 7 s 7; 1994 c 646 s 8,9; 1997 c 147 s 42; 1999 c 75 s 1; 1999 c 132 s 31,32; 2003 c 75 s 1; 2008 c 244 art 1 s 15