1.2relating to elections; changing certain requirements for town elections;
1.3amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 205.075, subdivision 1, by adding a
1.4subdivision; 367.03, subdivision 4, by adding a subdivision.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6    Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 205.075, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.7    Subdivision 1. Date of election. The general election in a town must be held on the
1.8second Tuesday in March, except as provided in subdivision 2 or when moved for bad
1.9weather as provided in section 365.51, subdivision 1.

1.10    Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 205.075, is amended by adding a subdivision
1.11to read:
1.12    Subd. 2a. Return to March election. The town board of a town that has adopted
1.13the alternative November election date under subdivision 2 may, after having conducted
1.14at least two elections on the alternative date, adopt a resolution designating the second
1.15Tuesday in March as the date of the town general election. The resolution must be
1.16adopted by a unanimous vote of the town supervisors and must include a plan to shorten
1.17or lengthen the terms of office to provide an orderly transition to the March election
1.18schedule. The resolution becomes effective upon an affirmative vote of the electors at
1.19the next town general election.

1.20    Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 367.03, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
1.21    Subd. 4. Officers; November election. Except as provided in subdivision 4a,
1.22supervisors and other town officers in towns that hold the town general election in
2.1November shall be elected for terms of four years commencing on the first Monday in
2.2January and until their successors are elected and qualified. The clerk and treasurer shall
2.3be elected in alternate years.

2.4    Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 367.03, is amended by adding a subdivision
2.5to read:
2.6    Subd. 4a. Optional six-year terms. The resolution required under section 205.075,
2.7subdivision 2, to adopt the alternative November date for town general election may
2.8include the proposal and corresponding transition plan to provide for a six-year term for
2.9town supervisors. A town that has adopted the alternative November date for general town
2.10elections using the four-year terms provided under subdivision 4 may adopt a resolution
2.11establishing six-year terms for supervisors as provided under this subdivision. The
2.12resolution must include a plan to provide an orderly transition to six-year terms. The
2.13resolution adopting the six-year term for town supervisors may be proposed by the town
2.14board or by a resolution of the electors adopted at the annual town meeting and is effective
2.15upon an affirmative vote of the electors at the next town general election.