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HANDBOOK FOR MINNESOTA CITIES <br /> <br />Mit~-.. Stat. § 205.065, sub& 5. <br /> <br />Minn. Stat. §§ 204C.03, subd. 1; <br />202A.19, subd. 7; 202A.192; 204B.16, <br />subd. 6. <br /> <br />Minn. Stat. § 204B.14, subd. 2. <br /> <br />As in the case of nonpartisan offices; generally, a primary is not <br />necessary when not more than twice the number of people to be <br />elected file for office. In this case, the names of the candidates go <br />directly on the general election ballot. Names go on the ballot <br />without partisan designation. <br /> <br />Within two days after the primary, the council must canvass the <br />votes and certify to the city clerk the names of the two candidates <br />for each office who receive the highest number of votes. If two <br />councilmembers are up for election, however, the council must issue <br />certificates of nomination to the four candidates receiving the <br />highest number of votes. Primary winners' names go on the official <br />ballot without partisan designation and without payment of an <br />additional fee or filing of any additionaI papers. <br /> <br />Election procedures <br /> <br />The statutes describe procedures for conducting elections in detail, <br />including the manner in which election judges must take the blank <br />ballots out of the ballot boxes as they prepare for the opening of the <br />polling place on election day. <br /> <br />Because a mistake at any point in the procedures may result in <br />contested elections, it is imperative that all election officials adhere <br />rigidly to the statutory procedures. <br /> <br />City councils and other local governing bodies cannot hold any <br />meetings betweeh 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. on the day of any election <br />within their boundaries, nor can they hold meetings after 6 p.m. on <br />the day of a state precinct caucus. City councils and other local <br />governing bodies, such as school districts, must make their public <br />facilities available for holding precinct caucuses and legislative <br />district or county conventions. These facilities (including parking) <br />must be available for city, county, state and federal elections as well. <br />A local government may charge no more than the lowest amount it <br />charges any other group. <br /> <br />Precincts <br />Each city and town must constitute at least one election precinct. Up <br />to four contiguous municipalities outside the metropolitan area may, <br />by resolution passed by all affected units, combine to form one <br />polling place for state and county election purposes. A city council <br />may divide the city into several precincts. <br /> <br />Precincts may have any number of individuals. Logically, however, <br />no election precinct should contain so many voters that the task of <br />managing the polling place and counting the ballots becomes too <br />difficult. A precinct should not become so large that the polling <br />place is a great distance away from a number of voters. <br /> <br />94 <br /> <br /> <br />