SF786

This legislative bill, SF No. 786, aims to regulate how major political party candidates are placed on electoral ballots in Minnesota. Key points of the bill include:

1. Certification Requirement: The chairperson of each major political party must certify candidates before their names can appear on the ballot. This certification is necessary for candidates who pursued party endorsement at a convention and received at least 30% of the votes.

2. Submission Deadlines: Certifications for congressional and legislative candidates must be submitted to the Secretary of State seven days before the filing period begins. For statewide candidates, the submission should be before the filing period or within 24 hours after the party’s convention ends.

3. Posting and Notification: The Secretary of State is required to post certified candidates' details online and inform county auditors about certified candidates for legislative offices.

4. Nomination Process: Candidates must be nominated by the primary election, and only those certified by major political party chairs can file for nomination. Candidates not endorsed by a major political party must use a nominating petition process.

5. Ballot Placement and Rotation: For primary elections, the names of candidates must generally be rotated on the ballot to ensure fairness. However, if a candidate has received official party endorsement, their name will appear first, followed by other candidates based on the votes they received at the party convention.

6. General Election Ballot Placement: The bill outlines the conditions under which candidates' names appear on the general election ballot, including those certified through the primary and those nominated by petition.

This legislation aims to formalize and streamline the process by which political candidates are certified and nominated for elections in Minnesota, ensuring that party endorsements and voter choices at conventions are clearly reflected in official candidate listings.