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A / 1 <br />GATEWAY TO THE NOOTM <br />May 21, 1985 <br />Mr. Willard Doty, <br />Chairman <br />Mounds View Charter Commission <br />3049 bronson Drive N.E. <br />Minneapolis, Minnesota 5S4 it <br />Dear bill: <br />d voVig Verb <br />V MAMS/. rot,NTY MINNISOTA <br />,f01 n bNWAv 10 <br />MUJNn•. V MN MiNN ,6112 <br />10Y Nr'S <br />Enclosed with this letlel tuul a dopy of House Pile <br />No. 759 adopted by the 1985 Legislature and signed into Law <br />by Governor Rudy Perpich as Chapter No. 72 of the 198S Laws <br />of Minnesota relating to changes and procedures in deadlines <br />for ab:entce ballots and cha•riginny 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 1904 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 Legislaturc 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 fame <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 .han eight nor less than six week3 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 />fiiings 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 />_�-nded. Should you have any queAtions regarding this <br />