Agenda - Charter Commission - 05/09/2001

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4.1.1. Primary Elections. On the first Tuesday after the second Monday in September in advance of the regular municipal election there shall be a primary election for the selection of two nominees for each elective office at the regular municipal election, unless two nominees or fewer file for each elective office. Section 4.2. Filing for Office. Ail persons provided for by this charter who shall desire to be elected to any elected office shall file an affidavit not more than ten weeks nor less than eight weeks before the primary election with the city clerk, paying a filing fee to the city clerk in an amount as set by ordinance. The city clerk shall prepare and have printed at the expense of the city the necessary ballots or other required material for such election. The ballots or other material shall contain no politcal party designation of any candidate and the names of the candidates for each office may be arranged on the ballot alphabetically according to the surname of each candidate. The ballots or the results shall be counted and preserved and the city clerk shall be the final custodian of such ballots or returns for the city. A sample ballot or a facsimile representation of the ballot shall be posted at the place of election at least one week before such election by the city clerk, whose duty it is to preserve such sample ballots. Please note Minn. Stat. ~ 205.065 establishes primary elections. The procedure required is by resolution or ordinance passed by a majority of the Council. The statute further states that the section does "....not apply to a city charter of which specifically prohibits or provides for a municipal primary'. Our charter does not reference primaries at all so, therefore, it appears that a primary system could be established by the City Council without a charter amendment. [' FILENAME \p [IS:\Ramsey Civil\Charter\Ward System\Amendment to Section 4.1.1.doc[i