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RELEVANT LINKS: <br />League of Minnesota Cities Information Memo: 5/15/2024 <br />City Special Elections Page 4 <br /> B. Timing <br />Minn. Stat. § 412.02, subd. <br />2a. A special election to fill a council vacancy may be held at or before the <br />next regular city election. Many cities hold this type of special election at <br />the same time as the next regular city election. <br />Providing for Special <br />Elections to Fill Council <br />Vacancies, LMC Model <br />Ordinance. <br />In order to hold a special election before the next regular city election, the <br />council must adopt an ordinance that specifies under what circumstances it <br />will hold a special election to fill a vacancy before the next regular city <br />election. The city may choose to adopt an ordinance that addresses all <br />future special elections on vacancies. <br /> An example of this would be an ordinance that requires a special election <br />every time a vacancy occurs within a specified period of time before the <br />filing period for the next regular election. A different option would be to <br />adopt an ordinance that addresses only one election; this type of ordinance <br />would not apply to all future special elections. <br /> <br />Minn. Stat. § 205.10, subd. <br />3a. <br />Generally, if an ordinance allows the city to hold a special election before <br />the next regular city election, an election to fill a vacancy may be held on <br />any of the days allowed by statute. <br />Minn. Stat. § 205.10, subd. <br />3a. Cities may only hold a special election on one of uniform election dates: <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />• The second Tuesday in February. <br />• The second Tuesday in April. <br />• The second Tuesday in May. <br />• The second Tuesday in August. <br />• The first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. <br />• On another date if the special election is held in response to an <br />emergency or disaster. “Emergency” means an unforeseen <br />combination of circumstances that calls for immediate action to <br />prevent a disaster from developing or occurring. “Disaster” means a <br />situation that creates an actual or imminent serious threat to the health <br />and safety of persons or a situation that has resulted or is likely to <br />result in catastrophic loss to property or the environment. <br /> A home rule charter city must not designate additional dates in its charter. <br />Minn. Stat. § 351.055. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />A.G. Op. 471-M (June 6, <br />1958). <br />If it is certain that a vacancy will occur in the future and there must be a <br />special election for the position, the city council may begin the special <br />election process so that a successor may be elected at the earliest possible <br />time. For prospective vacancies that will occur as a result of a resignation, <br />preparations for the special election may begin immediately after the <br />written resignation is received by the council. Cities should not appoint a <br />person to a vacancy before the vacancy exists. <br />12