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RELEVANT LINKS: <br />League of Minnesota Cities Information Memo: 5/15/2024 <br />City Special Elections Page 12 <br />Minn. R. 8205.1050. <br />Minn. R. 8205.1010. If the petition satisfies the form requirements and has been signed by the <br />required number of qualified signatories during the applicable time period, <br />the clerk must notify the person whose name is on the petition receipt that <br />the petition is sufficient. <br />Minn. R. 8205.1050. The clerk must complete the verification of a petition as soon as <br />practicable, but no later than 10 working days after the day on which the <br />petition was filed. <br />In re Referendum to Amend <br />City of Grand Rapids, <br />Minnesota Mun. Elections <br />Ordinance No. 04-08-11, No. <br />31-CV-05-3798 (Minn. Ct. <br />App. July 18, 2006) <br />(unpublished decision). <br />Bogen v. Sheedy, 304 Minn. <br />62, 229 N.W.2d 19 (1975). <br />Courts take notice of how difficult it is to prepare and to circulate <br />petitions. Frequently citizens, not skilled in the technical aspects of the <br />law, prepare such petitions. Courts typically exercise extreme caution in <br />ruling petitions out on mere technicalities and view petitions as the result <br />of democracy working at the grassroots level. Consider working with the <br />city attorney on handling any petition irregularities. <br /> B. Petitions with no legal effect <br />A.G. Op. 472-O (Jul. 31, <br />1959). Citizens have the right to petition the city council on any issue. Such <br />petitions may have a political effect but unless a state statute or city charter <br />authorizes the petition, it has no legal effect. <br /> In other words, the council does not have an obligation to act on the <br />petition, but it may certainly discuss the issue. <br /> VII. Ballot question special elections held by <br />mail <br />Minn. Stat. § 204B.46. <br />Minn. R. 8210.3000. <br />Secretary of State Mail <br />Voting Guide. <br />A city may hold a ballot question special election by mail. (This is a <br />slightly different process than holding a regular election by mail.) The <br />only required location for a polling place in a ballot question special <br />election held by mail is the office of the county auditor or city clerk. No <br />offices may be voted on. Notice of the election must be given to the county <br />auditor at least 74 days prior to the election. The special mail ballot <br />procedures must be posted at least six weeks before the election. <br />Minn. Stat. § 204B.46. <br />Minn. R. 8210.3000. <br />Secretary of State Mail <br />Voting Guide. <br />The city clerk must mail ballots by non-forwardable mail to all registered <br />voters in the city no earlier than 46 days or later than 14 days before a <br />special election on a question. <br />Minn. Stat. Ch. 203B. No later than 14 days before the election, the clerk must make another <br />mailing of ballots to those voters who registered to vote after the initial <br />mailing, but before the 20th day before the election. Eligible voters who <br />are not registered at the time the ballots are mailed may still apply for <br />ballots in the same manner that one applies for an absentee ballot under <br />Chapter 203B. <br />20