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RELEVANT LINKS: <br />League of Minnesota Cities Information Memo: 5/15/2024 <br />City Special Elections Page 8 <br /> B. Ballot question elections called by council or <br />by petition <br />Appendix B: Statutorily <br />authorized special elections <br />called by council or subject <br />to petition. <br />On other topics, there are two ways that a special election may arise: <br />Minn. Stat. § 205.10. <br />A.G. Op. 476-B-15 (Dec. 17, <br />1940). <br />A.G. Op. 472-0 (Mar. 20, <br />1961). <br />Minn. R. Ch. 8205. <br />See Section IV: Petitions. <br />• The council may pass, by a majority vote of a quorum, a motion <br />calling for a special election on an authorized question. <br />• The council must order a vote on an authorized ballot question if it <br />receives a sufficient petition. State rules govern petitions. <br />Minn. Stat. § 205.10. <br />Minn. Stat. § 205.16. A special election ordered by the city council on its own motion may be <br />cancelled by motion of the governing body. However, the council may not <br />cancel a special election less than 74 days before the election. If the <br />special election is cancelled, the clerk must provide written notice to the <br />county auditor not less than 74 days before the election. <br /> C. Optional ballot question elections <br />Minn. Stat. § 413.02. <br />Appendix C: Statutorily <br />permitted special elections. <br />A few statutes allow ballot question elections after receiving a petition, but <br />do not require them. Changing the name of a city is one example where the <br />council may submit a ballot question to local voters after receiving a <br />petition, but the statute does not require it. <br /> D. Reverse referenda or elections to revoke <br />council action <br />Appendix D: Council action <br />subject to reversal by voters. In narrowly applicable situations, eligible voters may petition for a special <br />election to reverse a particular council action. Referenda are votes of the <br />electorate on a particular subject. Because voters petition for the chance to <br />reverse a council action, this type of special election is commonly known <br />as a reverse referendum. <br />Section VI: Petitions. <br /> The particular statute allowing a petition to reverse the council governs <br />these special elections. State rules govern the form of petitions. Typically, <br />voters have only a certain number of days to submit a petition calling for a <br />vote to reverse a previous council action. Reverse referenda are unusual; <br />consult the city attorney for specific legal advice. <br /> E. Recall or removal from office <br /> <br />Section IV: Unauthorized <br />elections on questions. <br />Minn. Stat. § 351.02 (5). <br />Minn. Stat. § 410.20. <br />Minn. Const. art. VIII, § 6. <br />Local voters often ask if the city can hold a vote to remove a local official <br />from office in a special election. As discussed previously, voters in <br />statutory cities have only those powers delegated to them by the state <br />legislature. <br />16