HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-21-1985 Pauley Letter to Commission HF 759I
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RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA
GATEWAY TO THE NORTH 2401 HIGHWAY 10
MOUNDS VIEW,MINN. 55112
784-3055
May 21 , 1985
Mr. Willard Doty ,
Chairman
Mounds View Charter Commission
3049 Bronson Drive N.E.
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55432
Dear Bill :
Enclosed with this letter please find a copy of House File
No. 759 adopted by the 1985 Legislature and signed into Law
by Governor Rudy Perpich as Chapter No. 72 of the 1985 Laws
of Minnesota relating to changes and procedures in deadlines
for absentee ballots and changing the filing dates for
municipal elections. Essentially , the intent of this Legis-
lation is to alleviate the problem with absentee ballots
experienced during the 1984 election where overseas ballots
were mailed to voters at such a short period of time prior
to the election that overseas absentee voters were unable to
return their ballots prior to the election. In order to
alleviate this situation the Legislature increased the time
that absentee voter ballots are to be prepared and delivered
for distribution from 20 to 30 days. In order to prepare
the ballots in time for the 30 day deadline, the time frame
for filing affidavits of candidacy for municipal elections
was increased from no more than six nor less than four weeks
to nor more than eight nor less than six weeks before the
Municipal Primary or Municipal General Election.
The problem the City of Mounds View faces with respect to
this new Law is that Section 4. 02 of the City ' s Home Rule
Charter provides that filings for municipal office shall
occur no earlier than 42 days ( six weeks) nor later than 28
days ( four weeks) before any municipal election. As you can
see the City would not be able to comply with the Statutory
requirement that absentee ballots be available within 30
days prior to a municipal election due to the fact that
filings close 28 days prior to the municipal election.
I would respectfully request that the Mounds View Charter
Commission consider the recommendation of an amendment to
the Home Rule Charter to increase the filing dates in order
that they might be in compliance with State Law as recently
amended. Should you have any questions regarding this
�M �
Mr. Willard Doty
May 21 , 1985
Page Two
matter or require any additional information, please do not
hesitate to contact me. It would be appreciated if you
would advise me of your next scheduled Charter Commission
meeting in order that I might be able to appear and respond
to any questions the Commission members might have regarding
this item. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Very truly yours,
CITY OF • . NDS VIEW
Donal• F. Paul- ,
Clerk- 'dmini. trator
DFP/mjs
Attachment :
cc : Charter Commission Members
Mayor and City Council
City Attorney Richard Meyers