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tabulation as a candidate whose name is <br />printed on the ballot. Because this <br />requirement does not exist in city elections, <br />city election officials are required to take <br />considerable time and resources to count and <br />individually record write-in votes cast, many <br />of which are frivolous. <br />Response: The League of Minnesota <br />Cities supports legislation to give cities <br />the option to require that write-in <br />candidates for local elective offices file a <br />formal request with the chief election <br />official at least seven days before the city <br />election if they wish to have their write-in <br />votes individually recorded. <br />SD-68. Local Control in <br />Determining Filing Fees for <br />Statutory Cities <br />Issue: Filing fees are used to pay for the <br />administrative costs of processing affidavits <br />of candidacy and to encourage serious and <br />committed candidacies. Charter cities have <br />the authority to change the filing fee for <br />candidates seeking municipal elected office <br />by amending their charters via unanimous <br />city council vote or by a vote of the people. <br />Statutory cities do not have the same <br />authority and the fees are determined by the <br />Legislature (Minn. Stat. § 205.13, subd. 3). <br />The filing fees for 2nd 3rd and 4th class cities <br />have not been raised since 1959 and are $2 <br />for 4th class cities and $5 for 2nd and 3rd class <br />cities. The filing fee for 1st class cities was <br />raised in 1976 and is $20. If a candidate <br />choses, state statute allows for the <br />submission of a petition of signatures <br />instead of paying the filing fee. <br />Response: The League of Minnesota <br />Cities supports local control in <br />determining filing fees for filing an <br />affidavit for candidacy for municipal <br />office. Similar to charter cities, statutory <br />cities should have the authority to set <br />filing fees for their city by passing an <br />ordinance. <br />SD-69. Posting Campaign Finance <br />Reports Online <br />Issue: The 2014 Legislature passed a law <br />requiring the filing officer of a local <br />government to post all campaign reports <br />required to be filed with the local <br />government online. The law does not change <br />what reports must be filed and only requires <br />the posting of reports online if a city has a <br />website. The filing officer must post the <br />reports on the city's website as soon as <br />possible, but no later than 30 days after <br />receipt of the report. The reports must be <br />available on the city's website for four years <br />from the date the report was posted to the <br />website. <br />While posting the reports online may be <br />more convenient for citizens and city staff <br />alike as it will replace the physical <br />distribution of reports upon request, the time <br />required to make the report available may be <br />difficult for maintenance of city websites. <br />Response: While the League of Minnesota <br />Cities supports increasing access to <br />information through the use of city <br />websites, the League also urges the <br />Legislature to revisit the length of time <br />required to keep reports online. <br />SD-70. Local Control in Purchasing <br />and Using Electronic Rosters <br />Issue: While electronic rosters (or "e-poll <br />books") may increase efficiency and <br />decrease cost for some cities, this may not <br />be true for all. On April 1, 2015 the Office <br />of the Secretary of State will submit a report <br />on the use of electronic rosters in the 2014 <br />general election throughout the state to the <br />Legislature. As cities explore the use of <br />League of Minnesota Cities <br />2015 City Policies Page 43 <br />