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204A.06 ELECTION PRECINCTS. Subdivision 1.
<br />Boundaries. Each town, each statutory city that is separated from the
<br />town for election purposes, and each city ward, shall constitute at least
<br />one election precinct. The council of each municipality shall prescribe the
<br />boundaries of the precincts and the number of voters therein, and may
<br />rearrange the precincts from time to time, except that no changes in
<br />precinct boundaries may be made during the period beginning January 1
<br />in any year ending in seven and ending January 1 in any year ending in
<br />two. If during the period beginning January 1 of a year ending in seven
<br />and ending January 1 of a year ending in two a municipality annexes an
<br />unincorporated area located in the same county as the municipality and
<br />adjacent to the corporate boundary, the annexed area may be included in
<br />the precinct immediately adjacent to it. During the period beginning
<br />January 1 in a year ending in seven and ending January 1 in a year ending
<br />in two, a municipality may establish new precincts lying entirely within
<br />any existing precinct for which the boundaries were established before
<br />that period; provided that: (a) the outer boundaries of the existing
<br />precinct are not altered and (b) the new precincts established within the
<br />existing precinct are assigned names that include the name of the existing
<br />precinct.
<br />Subd. la. Boundary change procedure. Every change shall be
<br />adopted at least 90 days before the date of the next ensuing election, and
<br />60 days notice thereof shall be posted in the office of the clerk before the
<br />change may take effect. The clerk shall notify each registered voter in the
<br />area affected by the change at least 30 days prior to the first election held
<br />after the change takes effect.
<br />Subd. ib. Precinct boundaries; description, maps. The clerk
<br />shall file with the secretary of state and the state demographer in the state
<br />planning agency a map showing the correct boundaries of the precincts in
<br />the municipality and shall keep on file in his office for public inspection a
<br />copy of the map. At least 30 days before any change in a precinct or
<br />corporate boundary becomes effective, the clerk shall place on file for
<br />public inspection a map setting forth the revised precinct boundaries and
<br />forward copies to the secretary of state and the state demographer. For
<br />every election held in the municipality the clerk shall furnish copies of the
<br />appropriate precinct map to the election judges for each polling place.
<br />Subd. 2. (Repealed, 1977 c 149 s 2)
<br />Subd. 3. Municipality in two counties, common voting
<br />place. When a city is situated in two or more counties, the council of
<br />the city may, by resolution adopted at least 30 days prior to any election,
<br />designate a single voting place in the city in which election for the entire
<br />city shall be held, and one set of election officials presiding thereat shall
<br />be sufficient; provided that a separate ballot box for each precinct shall
<br />be furnished, in which the votes of the precinct shall be deposited and
<br />separate record thereof kept. When a single voting place has been so
<br />designated, it shall continue until changed by resolution of the council
<br />adopted at least 30 days prior to a subsequent election.
<br />Subd. 4. Precinct boundaries to follow physical features. After
<br />the general election in 1976 and before January 1, 1977, the governing
<br />body of each municipality shall set all boundaries between precincts so
<br />that each boundary follows visible, clearly recognizable physical
<br />features. Where it is not possible to set the boundary between any two
<br />adjacent precincts along any such physical feature, the boundary around
<br />the two precincts combined shall be drawn so as to comply with the
<br />provisions of this subdivision, and the map of the precincts required
<br />under the provisions of subdivision 2 of this section shall clearly indicate
<br />which boundaries are not in compliance with this subdivision. For the
<br />purposes of this subdivision, "clearly recognizable physical feature"
<br />Weans a street, road, boulevard, parkway, river, stream, shoreline,
<br />drainage ditch, railway right -of -way, or any other line which is clearly
<br />visible from the ground. A street or other roadway which has been
<br />platted but not graded is not a clearly recognizable physical feature for
<br />the purposes of this subdivision.
<br />Subd. 5. Application to municipalities. Notwithstanding the
<br />provisions of section 410.21, or any other law, ordinance or charter, the
<br />provisions of subdivision 1 and 4, of this section shall apply to all munic-
<br />ipalities.
<br />(1959 c 675 art 4 s 6; 1974 c 434 s 4; 1975 c 5 s 67; 1976 c 132 s 2, 3, 4;
<br />1977c 149s 1; 1978c725s5)
<br />NOTES AND DECISIONS
<br />If two precincts have been established in a town containing a village not separated from town for
<br />election, any modification must follow procedure in this section. The election laws do not contemplate
<br />eparate precincts for general elections as distinct from- municipal elections. Op. Atty. Gen. 183 -e,
<br />October 15, 1962.
<br />Where election precincts lie within more than one Iegislativ rict, two sets of ballots may be
<br />furnished and issued to voters according to legislative district residence. . Atty. Gen. 183 -e, June 3,
<br />1966.
<br />Section authorizes changes of precinct boundaries, but does not authorize change of ward
<br />boundaries designated in City Charter. Op. Atty. Gen. June 3, 1960.
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