04/03/1987 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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183 University Ave. E., St. Paul, MN 55101-2526 April 3, 1837 TO: City Clerks (612) 227-5600 FROA: Helen Scnendel, Associate Director RE: Election Bill Would Supercede Ali City Charters On April 2, Senator Luther introduced legislation that would establish a "local government election day" for elections of all county, city, and school district officers, county and municipal judges, and officers of ail other political subdivisions, except townships. The pill would set the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in each odd -numbered year as the local government election day. The regular election of all elective officers of every county, city and school district, or any other political subdivision would take place on the established local government election day. The proposed legislation would supercede all charter provisions and all general and special laws to the extent inconsistent with the intent of the legislation. The first local government day would be November 6, 1993. Terms would be extended where necessary to comply with the provisions of the legislation except home rule charter cities may extend or reduce terms by ordinance if they adopt it before Dec. 1, 1992. However, the bill requires that terms be for an even number of years and staggered. Charter cities could extend terms of two years to terms of four years. Under, the bill, local governments would hold primary elections six weeks before the election day. The bill would require all cities to have primary elections if more than two people file for an office or if more than twice the number of people to be elected file for an office. Cities of 2,500 population or less would not need to have primaries, but could if they pass an ordinance or resolution at least 16 weeks before the election day. Such a measure would be effective for all following elections unless the city revoked it. Filings for ail offices to be filled on local government election day would begin 144 weeks before and conclude 12 weeks before the primary or begin eight weeks before and conclude six weeks before the election day if there is no primary.