Elections & Redistricting

The following write-ups are produced and maintained by Minnesota House Research Department, with some links provided to other sources.

Elected Officials

• Compatibility of Offices
  A 14-page information brief addressing state law that determines whether one person may hold specific combinations of elected or appointed public positions simultaneously. August 2012.
• Legislative Ethics
  An 8-page publication that summarizes Minnesota laws and rules relating to ethical behavior that apply to House members and staff. November 2018.
• State Elected Officials' Compensation
  Lists salaries and explains how they are established. December 2018.

Constitutional Amendments

• Constitutional Amendments Data
  A spreadsheet that provides information on constitutional amendments in Minnesota.
• Legislative Approval of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (1894-2013)
• Minnesota Constitutional Amendments: History and Legal Principles
  A 78-page report that provides a general overview of historial and current legal and procedural issues related to amending the Minnesota Constitution. March 2013.
• State Constitutional Amendments
• United States Constitutional Amendment Process: Legal Principles for State Legislators
  A 57-page reference guide for state legislators and legislative staff on the history and legal principles related to amending the United States Constitution. April 2016.
• United States Constitutional Amendments: Minnesota's Legislative History
  A 39-page report that provides background on the Minnesota Legislature's involvement in the process of amending the United States Constitution. April 2016.

Campaign Conduct and Financing

• Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board: Member Appointment and Confirmation Process
  A brief description of the process and a list of current and prior members.
• Minnesota's Presidential Nomination Primary
  An 8-page brief that explains the state's new presidential primary, which will first occur in 2020. August 2019.
• State Regulation of Political Parties
  A 7-page brief that describes how political parties are regulated in Minnesota. January 2019.

Elections Process

• Recall of State Elected Officials

Redistricting

• Congressional and Legislative Redistricting 2020: Timeline Scenarios
• Local Government Redistricting 2020

Archived Materials

The following materials have been archived and may contain some information that is not up-to-date. "Archived" materials are no longer actively maintained by House Research Department and are generally at least five years old. Current materials are provided in the previous topics.

• 2010-2012 Minnesota redistricting timeline
• Assisting a Voter and Polling Place Accesibility
• Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board Appointments
• Canvassing Boards
• Clean Elections Acts
  A 5-page policy brief that describes a national effort to pass state and federal campaign finance laws called "clean elections acts" and compares Minnesota's current program for campaign financing with clean elections acts. August 2002.
• Constitutional Issues in Regulating Independent Candidates
  A 12-page legal analysis summarizing why many states regulate independent candidates and explaining potential constitutional issues raised by such regulation. September 1999.
• Constitutional Issues in the Initiative Process
• Dissolving a Principal Campaign Committee
  A 4-page information brief addressing frequently asked questions about dissolving principal campaign committees under the Ethics in Government Act. November 2008.
• Dissolving a Principal Campaign Committee on or after August 1, 2002
• Election Crimes and Civil Penalties in Minnesota
  A 28-page information brief that lists the crimes and civil penalties for violating the state's election laws, including violations of the law by a voter, candidate, or election official in the conduct of a campaign or election. July 2011.
• Election Judges
• Gift Ban Law and Rules for House Members and Employees
  A brief description of the laws and rules that ban gifts to House members from lobbyists and others. November 2013.
• How a Constitutional Amendment is Proposed and Ratified
• Instant-Runoff Voting
  A 7-page information brief that explains instant-runoff voting, which allows voters to rank their preference for an office among multiple candidates. February 2007.
• Layers of Census geography for redistricting
• Legislators and Dual Offices
  A brief description of the constitutional prohibitions regarding other offices state legislators can occupy. October 2002.
• Local redistricting 2010-2012: Cities that do not have a 2011 municipal election and townships
• Local redistricting 2010-2012: Cities with wards and 2011 municipal election
• Local redistricting 2010-2012: Counties
• Local redistricting 2010-2012: School districts
• Major Supreme Court Decisions on Campaign Finance Legislation (Request a copy)
• Minnesota Redistricting Process: A Historical Overview
  Presentation to the House Redistricting Committee, January 18, 2011
• Minnesota's Voter Eligibility and Identification Requirements
• Minor and Major Political Parties
  A brief description of how a political party achieves minor or major status and what the designation means. November 2005.
• One Person, One Vote (Request a copy)
• Postelection Review
• Postelection Review Flowchart
• Public Financing of Election Campaigns: Minnesota Ethics in Government Act (Request a copy)
• Recall of State Elected Officials: A Proposed Minnesota Constitutional Amendment
• Recounts Flowchart
• Recounts: Federal, State, and Judicial Offices
• Special Legislative Elections
  A brief description of when and how special elections are held for an open seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives. September 2003.
• Term Limits for Elective Office (Request a copy)
• Term Limits for Elective Office (Request a copy)
• Voter Identification Requirements
• Voting Rights Act Overview
  Presentation to the House Redistricting Committee, March 12, 2011