HomeMy WebLinkAbout2.c. Primary Election DecisionIROSEMOUNTEXECUTIVE SUMMARY
CITY COUNCIL
City Council Work Session: January 13, 2010
AGENDA ITEM: Primary Election Decision
AGENDA SECTION:
Discussion
PREPARED BY: Dwight Johnson, City Administrator
Amy Domeier, City Clerk
AGENDA NO. 2 , C
ATTACHMENTS: None
APPROVED BY:
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Discussion only
ISSUE
Based upon the number of interested residents that filed to serve on the City Council in 2008, staff would
like to hold discussion about the possibility of a municipal primary election in 2010.
DISCUSSION
The City may, by ordinance or resolution adopted at three months before the next municipal general
election, elect to choose nominees for municipal offices by a primary as provided in Section 205.065. The
resolution or ordinance, when adopted, is effective for all ensuing municipal elections until revocation.
The City Clerk is required to notify the secretary of state and the county auditor within 30 days after
adoption of the resolution or ordinance. Staff would recommend that if the City Council decided to hold
a primary election that an ordinance be adopted so that anyone interested can find out whether there is a
primary by checking the City Code.
Per State Statute the primary election is held on the first Tuesday after the second Monday in September.
However, there is proposed legislation to move the primary from September 14, 2010 to August 10, 2010.
It is anticipated that legislature will be discussing the August primary on February 6, 2010. The 2010
General Election will be held on November 2, 2010. Listed below are the candidate filing deadlines for
the municipal primaries.
Primary Election Date: August 10, 2010
Filing dates with municipal election: May 18 — June 1, 2010
Filing dates without municipal election: August 10 — August 24, 2010
Primary Election Date: September 14, 2010
Filing dates with municipal election: July 6 —July 20, 2010
Filing dates without municipal election: August 24 — September 7, 2010
Staff has consulted with Dakota County election staff regarding holding a municipal primary election. The
2010 general election ballot looks to be very long and the maximum length for an optical scan ballot is
18 ". Should the City have numerous candidates filing for local offices there may be a need to have a
second ballot. The number of candidate ballot rotations and the number of ballot styles increase with
more candidates filing for a particular office. Although the City was fortunate in 2008 the likelihood of a
local recount increases with the number of candidates in a particular race.
Dakota County consists of 11 large cities. Of those 11 cities, six cities allow for a possible primary election
(Burnsville, Eagan, Hastings, Inver Grove Heights, South St. Paul and West St. Paul) while five do not
allow for a municipal primary (Apple Valley, Farmington, Lakeville, Mendota Heights and Rosemount).
Staff is requesting that the City Council determine whether or not to hold a municipal primary election.
Should the decision be to hold a municipal primary election an ordinance will be provided at the February
1, 2010 meeting for City Council consideration.
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