HomeMy WebLinkAboutX-E-03 Write-in Votes for Local Elections
City Council Memorandum
To: Mayor Fasbender & City Councilmembers
From: Kelly Murtaugh, Assistant City Administrator
Date: October 16, 2023
Item: Write-In Votes for Local Elections
Council Action Requested:
Approve the resolution requiring the tally of write-in votes only if write-in votes are greater than a ballot
candidate’s total votes.
Background Information:
In May, 2023 the House and Senate passed an elections bill that included many policy provisions. One
provision allows cities to adopt a resolution regarding how write-ins are handled for local elections. The
current write-in vote counting process is time consuming and unnecessary in that there is no change in
election results unless a single write-in candidate receives the most votes for an office.
Legislature modified the statute to allow for a more efficient tracking of write-in votes. Local options
include adopting one of the following:
• require the candidate to file a written request with the chief election official no later than the
seventh day before the city election if the candidate wants to have the candidate's write-in votes
individually recorded; or
• require that write-in votes for an individual candidate only be individually recorded if the total
number of write-in votes for that office is equal to or greater than the fewest number of non-
write-in votes for a ballot candidate.
Staff is recommending that the City Council adopt the attached resolution requiring that write-in votes for
an individual candidate will only be individually recorded if the total number of write-in votes for that
office is equal to or greater than the fewest number of non-write-in votes for a ballot candidate.
Financial Impact:
N/A
Committee Discussion:
N/A
Attachment:
• Resolution
X-E-03
CITY OF HASTINGS
DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION NO. ___________
A RESOLUTION REQUIRING THE TALLY OF WRITE-IN VOTES ONLY IF WRITE-IN
VOTES ARE GREATER THAN A BALLOT CANDIDATE’S TOTAL VOTES
WHEREAS, Minnesota Statute 204B.09, subdivision 3 allows for the governing body of a
statutory or home rule charter city to adopt a resolution governing the counting of write-in votes for local
elective office; and
WHEREAS, the current write-in vote counting process is overly time consuming and unnecessary.
It does not result in a change in election results unless a single write-in candidate receives the most votes
for an office.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
HASTINGS, MINNESOTA AS FOLLOWS:
That the City of Hastings hereby requires that write-in votes for an individual candidate will only be
individually recorded if the total number of write-in votes for that office is equal to or greater than the
fewest number of non-write-in votes for a ballot candidate.
Adopted this _____ day of ______________, 2023, by the City Council of the City of Hastings.
CITY OF HASTINGS
____________________________
Mary D. Fasbender, Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________
Kelly Murtaugh, City Clerk
X-E-03