New elections provisions (new law)

A wide variety of elections provisions are included in a new law signed May 8 by Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

Sponsored by Rep. Gene Pelowski Jr. (DFL-Winona) and Sen. Ann Rest (DFL-New Hope), the law includes provisions that, among other things:

• require the governor to call for a special election within five days after a legislative vacancy occurs, with a special election to be held no more than 35 days thereafter;

• provide that a candidate must file no later than 14 days before a special primary;

• provide that standard recount laws apply to a special primary or election;

• permit existing voter registration applications to be used, without alteration, until they are gone;

• give school boards permission to decide whether to hold a primary election;

• modify the deadline for candidates to file for school board elections; and

• allow school district elections to be conducted via an approved electronic voting system.

The majority of the provisions are effective June 1, 2008.

HF3172*/SF2574/CH295