Bill Text: MN SF696 | 2011-2012 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Precinct caucus date change
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-03-14 - Author added Rest [SF696 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2011-SF696-Introduced.html
1.2relating to elections; changing a date for precinct caucuses;amending Minnesota
1.3Statutes 2010, section 202A.14, subdivision 1.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 202A.14, subdivision 1, is amended to
1.6read:
1.7 Subdivision 1. Time and manner of holding; postponement. (a) In every state
1.8general election year, beginning at 7:00 p.m. on the date established pursuant to paragraph
1.9(b), there shall be held for every election precinct a party caucus in the manner provided
1.10in sections202A.14 to
202A.19 .
1.11 (b)(1) The chairs of the two largest major political parties shall jointly submit to
1.12the secretary of state, no later than March 1 of each odd-numbered year, the single date
1.13on which the two parties have agreed to conduct their precinct caucuses in the next
1.14even-numbered year.
1.15 (2) On March 1 of each odd-numbered year, the secretary of state shall publicly
1.16announce the official state precinct caucus date for the following general election year.
1.17 (3) If the chairs of the two largest major political parties do not jointly submit a
1.18single date for conducting their precinct caucuses as provided in this paragraph, then for
1.19purposes of the next general election year, the first Tuesday inFebruary March shall be
1.20considered the day of a major political party precinct caucus and sections202A.19 and
1.21202A.192
shall only apply on that date.
1.22 (4) For purposes of this paragraph, the two largest major political parties shall be the
1.23parties whose candidates for governor received the greatest and second greatest number of
1.24votes at the most recent gubernatorial election.
2.1 (c) In the event of severe weather a major political party may request the secretary of
2.2state to postpone caucuses. If a major political party makes a request, or upon the secretary
2.3of state's own initiative, after consultation with all major political parties and on the advice
2.4of the federal Weather Bureau and the Department of Transportation, the secretary of state
2.5may declare precinct caucuses to be postponed for a week in counties where weather
2.6makes travel especially dangerous. The secretary of state shall submit a notice of the
2.7postponement to news media covering the affected counties by 6:00 p.m. on the scheduled
2.8day of the caucus. A postponed caucus may also be postponed pursuant to this subdivision.
1.3Statutes 2010, section 202A.14, subdivision 1.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 202A.14, subdivision 1, is amended to
1.6read:
1.7 Subdivision 1. Time and manner of holding; postponement. (a) In every state
1.8general election year, beginning at 7:00 p.m. on the date established pursuant to paragraph
1.9(b), there shall be held for every election precinct a party caucus in the manner provided
1.10in sections
1.11 (b)(1) The chairs of the two largest major political parties shall jointly submit to
1.12the secretary of state, no later than March 1 of each odd-numbered year, the single date
1.13on which the two parties have agreed to conduct their precinct caucuses in the next
1.14even-numbered year.
1.15 (2) On March 1 of each odd-numbered year, the secretary of state shall publicly
1.16announce the official state precinct caucus date for the following general election year.
1.17 (3) If the chairs of the two largest major political parties do not jointly submit a
1.18single date for conducting their precinct caucuses as provided in this paragraph, then for
1.19purposes of the next general election year, the first Tuesday in
1.20considered the day of a major political party precinct caucus and sections
1.22 (4) For purposes of this paragraph, the two largest major political parties shall be the
1.23parties whose candidates for governor received the greatest and second greatest number of
1.24votes at the most recent gubernatorial election.
2.1 (c) In the event of severe weather a major political party may request the secretary of
2.2state to postpone caucuses. If a major political party makes a request, or upon the secretary
2.3of state's own initiative, after consultation with all major political parties and on the advice
2.4of the federal Weather Bureau and the Department of Transportation, the secretary of state
2.5may declare precinct caucuses to be postponed for a week in counties where weather
2.6makes travel especially dangerous. The secretary of state shall submit a notice of the
2.7postponement to news media covering the affected counties by 6:00 p.m. on the scheduled
2.8day of the caucus. A postponed caucus may also be postponed pursuant to this subdivision.
