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Minn. Stat. § 200.031(d); <br />Minn. Const. art. VII, § 2. ). <br />A.G. Op. 639 -E (Oct. 24, 1952. <br />Minn. Stat. § 201.016, subd. <br />la <br />Minn. Stat. ch.201. <br />HANDBOOK FOR MINNESOTA CITIES <br />CHAPTER 5 <br />o the residence of an individual who is working temporarily in any <br />precinct of this state is in the precinct where the individual's permanent <br />home is located; <br />® the residence of an individual who is living permanently in a soldiers' <br />home or nursing home is in the precinct where the home is located; <br />• if an individual's home lies in more than one precinct or political <br />subdivision, the residence of the individual is in the precinct in which a <br />majority of the room in which the individual usually sleeps is located; <br />® if an individual's home is destroyed or rendered uninhabitable by fire or <br />natural disaster, the individual does not lose residence in the precinct <br />where the home is located if the individual intends to return to the home <br />when it is reconstructed or made habitable. - <br />Cities often ask if the residence of college students is the home where they <br />live when school is out of session or the place where they are attending <br />college. Whether they should vote at home or in the city where the college is <br />located depends on the intention of the voter. In circumstances where an <br />individual may claim legal residence at either place, the place the individual <br />regards as home will be his or her residence for the purpose of voting. <br />Similar factors must be considered for people who live in another place for <br />part of the year. The statutes specify that if an individual registers to vote in <br />another state, he or she loses residency in Minnesota. Individuals working <br />for the federal government, including those in military service, do not lose <br />their eligibility to vote while residing elsewhere. Likewise, members of the <br />armed forces do not obtain residence in Minnesota for voting purposes solely <br />because they are stationed there. <br />A voter who votes in a precinct, other than a precinct in which he or she <br />maintains residence, must provide proof of residence to the auditor or <br />election judge before voting in the next election. A voter who continues to <br />vote in a precinct other than the one in which he or she maintains residence <br />is guilty of a petty misdemeanor. Subsequent violations are misdemeanors. <br />B. Permanent registration , <br />The Legislature has established statewide voter registration with county <br />systems linked to a centralized state system. The county auditor is the chief <br />custodian of the official registration records, while the secretary of State <br />administers the centralized state system. <br />Minn. Stat. § 201.221, subd. 4. Although the county auditor is chief registrar, the auditor may delegate some <br />election duties to city officials. This delegation, however, requires the <br />approval of the governing body as well as an agreement that includes a plan <br />to allocate the cost of the duties being delegated. The auditor must prepare <br />precinct lists and an annual report. City clerks who have election duties must <br />report annually to the county auditor. <br />This chapter last revised 12/2010 5:5 <br />