Laserfiche WebLink
I <br /> `tt`i• 1 5 <br /> 11114p; r(i C f 0VoutS rW <br /> RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA <br /> GATEWAY TO THE NORTH 2401 HIGHWAY 10 <br /> MOUNDS VIEW,MINN. 55112 <br /> 784-3055 <br /> May 21 , 1985 <br /> Mr. Willard Doty , <br /> Chairman <br /> Mounds View Charter Commission <br /> 3049 Bronson Drive N.E. <br /> Minneapolis, Minnesota 55432 <br /> Dear Bill : <br /> Enclosed with this letter please find a copy of House File <br /> No. 759 adopted by the 1985 Legislature and signed into Law <br /> by Governor Rudy Perpich as Chapter No. 72 of the 1985 Laws <br /> of Minnesota relating to changes and procedures in deadlines <br /> for absentee ballots and changing the filing dates for <br /> municipal elections. Essentially , the intent of this Legis- <br /> lation is to alleviate the problem with absentee ballots <br /> experienced during the 1984 election where overseas ballots <br /> were mailed to voters at such a short period of time prior <br /> to the election that overseas absentee voters were unable to <br /> return their ballots prior to the election. In order to <br /> alleviate this situation the Legislature increased the time <br /> that absentee voter ballots are to be prepared and delivered <br /> for distribution from 20 to 30 days. In order to prepare <br /> the ballots in time for the 30 day deadline, the time frame <br /> for filing affidavits of candidacy for municipal elections <br /> was increased from no more than six nor less than four weeks <br /> to nor more than eight nor less than six weeks before the <br /> Municipal Primary or Municipal General Election. <br /> The problem the City of Mounds View faces with respect to <br /> this new Law is that Section 4. 02 of the City ' s Home Rule <br /> Charter provides that filings for municipal office shall <br /> occur no earlier than 42 days ( six weeks) nor later than 28 <br /> days ( four weeks) before any municipal election. As you can <br /> see the City would not be able to comply with the Statutory <br /> requirement that absentee ballots be available within 30 <br /> days prior to a municipal election due to the fact that <br /> filings close 28 days prior to the municipal election. <br /> I would respectfully request that the Mounds View Charter <br /> Commission consider the recommendation of an amendment to <br /> the Home Rule Charter to increase the filing dates in order <br /> that they might be in compliance with State Law as recently <br /> amended. Should you have any questions regarding this <br />