Minneapolis voters overwhelmingly approve ballot questions
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Minneapolis voters approved two ballot questions regarding amendments to the city charter. The questions were yes/no and were voting on separately.
Voters overwhelmingly voted “yes” on both questions, according to unofficial results from the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office.
The first question centered on a state law commonly known as the Kahn Rule, which requires the city to hold city council elections in years ending in 2 or 3 after a census is taken and ward boundaries are redrawn to ensure council members are not representing wards whose boundaries have significantly changed from the previous census.
Under the amended city charter, Minneapolis City Council members will now run for two, two-year terms in 2023 and 2025, instead of one four-year term. City council seats will be on the ballot in 2021, 2023, 2025, 2029, 2033, 2037, 2041, 2043, 2045 and so on.
The second question centered on special municipal elections. The question passing means the city charter will now be amended to be in line with state law regarding when municipal elections can be held.
Under the amended charter, special municipal elections will be held on one of the five state-approved election days: the second Tuesday in February, the second Tuesday in April, the second Tuesday in May, the second Tuesday in August or the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
Question 1: Redistricting of Wards and Park Districts
Shall the Minneapolis City Charter be amended to allow ward and park district boundaries to be reestablished in a year ending in 1 and to allow the use of those new boundaries for elections in that same year; to allow ward and park district boundaries to be modified after the legislature has been redistricted to establish City precinct boundaries; to provide that an election for a Council Member office required by Minnesota law in a year ending in 2 or 3 after a redistricting shall be for a single 2-year term; and to clarify that a regular election means a regular general election?
What is this question asking?
The Minneapolis City Charter requires City Council members to run for four-year terms. The next municipal election is in 2021. All 13 city council seats as well as the mayor and the Park Board will be on the ballot.
However, a Minnesota law passed in 2010, referred to as the Kahn rule after former longtime DFL state Rep. Phyllis Kahn, requires cities to hold city council elections in years ending in 2 or 3 after a census is taken and ward boundaries are redrawn. The aim of the law is to ensure city council members are not representing wards whose demographics have significantly changed.
Due to the Kahn rule, all 13 Minneapolis City Council seats will be on the ballot again in 2023. If the Kahn-rule mandated election in 2023 is for a four-year term, the City Council will be on a different election schedule than the mayoral election, which would be in 2025 since the mayor is elected to four-year terms. The Kahn rule only affects city council.
The proposed charter amendment would make the Kahn-rule mandated city council election in 2023 for a two-year term, putting city council seats back on the ballot in 2025 and thus, realigning city council elections with mayoral elections. Carl said to think of it as breaking up the usual four-year term into two, two-year terms.
Question 2: Special Municipal Elections
Shall the Minneapolis City Charter be amended to comply with Minnesota election law related to uniform dates for special municipal elections and to provide that a special election be held on a legal election day under Minnesota law that is more than 90 days from a vacancy in the office of Mayor or Council Member?
What is this question asking?
This question is asking whether the Minneapolis City Charter should be amended so it is in line with a state law that requires special elections to be held on a legal election day, even if that means the special election will be held more than 90 days after a vacancy on the city council or in the mayor’s office.
Minnesota law requires that special municipal elections be held on state-approved election days: the second Tuesday in February, the second Tuesday in April, the second Tuesday in May, the second Tuesday in August or the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
The Minneapolis City Charter, however, currently stipulates that a special election be held within 90 days of a city council or mayoral vacancy. This allows for circumstances in which the special election would not be held on one of the state-approved election days.