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balloting prior to Election Day and for <br />city special elections; <br />b) Eliminate the party balance <br />requirement for elections where only <br />nonpartisan offices and/or ballot <br />questions are on the ballot; and <br />e) Authorize college students to get time <br />off from classes if they have been <br />appointed to serve as an election <br />judge; <br />(1) Allow the two election judges on teams <br />designated by the city clerk for health <br />care facility voting to be affiliated with <br />a major political party, a minor <br />political party or no political party, as <br />long as both judges are not affiliated <br />with the same political party; and <br />e) Allow election judges who are <br />appointed to serve at a polling place <br />on Election Day to be affiliated with a <br />major political party, a minor political <br />party or no political party, as long as <br />not more than half of the judges are <br />affiliated with the same political party. <br />SD-75. Mail Balloting <br />Issue: Minn. Stat. § 204B.45 authorizes all <br />non -metropolitan townships and cities with <br />less than 400 registered voters located <br />outside of the Minneapolis/St. Paul seven - <br />county metropolitan area to hold elections <br />by mail. A city may conduct mail balloting <br />for an individual precinct having fewer than <br />100 registered voters, subject to the approval <br />of the county auditor. <br />Staffing and equipment needs can be very <br />costly and mail balloting is an efficient way <br />of conducting an election for cities that have <br />lower numbers of registered voters <br />regardless of location in or outside the metro <br />area. It is not uncommon for the redistricting <br />process to create very small precincts in the <br />metro area that are more cost-effectively <br />served by a mail balloting process. <br />Additionally, for special elections that <br />historically have lower turnout, mail <br />balloting could increase voter participation. <br />Response: The League of Minnesota <br />Cities supports allowing cities inside or <br />outside the metropolitan area to conduct <br />mail balloting in precincts with less than <br />500 registered voters. Additionally, for <br />special elections held on dates other than <br />those of regularly scheduled elections, <br />cities should have the option of using mail <br />balloting regardless of number of <br />registered voters or location. <br />League of Minnesota Cities <br />2018 City Policies Page 49 <br />