CR 91-258 Postponement Presidential Primary0 P K
November 14, 1991 Report #91 -258
Proposed Action.
Staff recommends adoption of the following motion: Move that the
Hopkins City Council adopt Resolution #91 -145 calling on the state
legislature to postpone the Presidential Primary for four years so
that full funding can be approved at the state level.
Adoption of this motion will allow the City to go on record as
opposing the current requirement that the City fund the Presidential
Primary.
Overview.
The state legislature adopted a Presidential Primary in the last
session. This primary is an activity of the political parties and not
a general election. Only individuals willing to declare which party
they belong to will be allowed to vote in the primary. The outcome of
this primary will not determine the election of any candidate for
state or federal office.
Despite the fact that the primary is a partisan political activity the
state legislature wants each City to pay for the primary. Staff
estimates that the primary will cost approximately. $5,000. Staff
feels that this is an unwarranted mandate. The League of Minnesota
Cites is recommending that cities go on record as opposing the current
method of funding the primary.
Primary Issues to Consider.
o What costs will the City have to pay?
The City will have all the expenses of a regular election
including judges, supplies, and overtime costs. The estimate
for this cost in the 1992 budget is $5,000.
Alternatives:
RESOLUTION CALLING FOR POSTPONEMENT OF
PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY
1) Approve Resolution #91 -145. This will result in the
resolution being forwarded to the state legislature
2) Do not approve the Resolution.
Staff recommends Alternative #1.
Supporting Information.
o Resolution #91 -145
es A. Genellie, City Clerk
WHEREAS,
WHEREAS,
WHEREAS,
WHEREAS
WHEREAS,
WHEREAS,
ATTEST:
James A. Genellie, City Clerk
CITY OF HOPKINS
Hennepin County, Minnesota
RESOLUTION NO. 91 -145
RESOLUTION CALLING FOR THE REPEAL OF
PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY
the statute establishing the Presidential Primary was initially
adopted without legislative hearings; and
the legislature was not provided reimbursement of local government
costs for conducting the primary; and
the presidential primary is designed to provide voters and
opportunity to express preferences for the nomination of presidential
candidates by major national political parties; and
the statute establishing the Presidential Primary (M.S. 207A)
requires voters to declare which political party ballot they will receive
prior to casting their vote; and
such political party voter identification will become public
information and a permanent record on the voter registration file;
and
such records will be available for political campaign activities,
including canvassing and fundraising; and
WHEREAS, the purpose and effect of the balloting conducted during the
Presidential primary are unrelated to the actual election of the
candidates to public office; and
WHEREAS, the outcome of the Presidential Primary balloting will not determine
the election of candidates to public office in Minnesota or at the
national level,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the Council of The City of Hopkins calls
on the state legislature to postpone the Presidential Primary for at
least four years in order for full funding to be approved at the state
level, eliminating the need for any local government costs for
conducting the primary.
Nelson W. Berg, Mayor