200.02 Definitions. 

    Subdivision 1.    Application.  The terms defined in 
 this section apply to the Minnesota election law.  

    Subd. 2.    General election.  "General election" means 
 an election held at regular intervals on a day determined by law 
 or charter at which the voters of the state or any of its 
 subdivisions choose by ballot public officials or presidential 
 electors.  

    Subd. 3.    Primary.  "Primary" means an election at 
 which the voters of the state or any of its subdivisions choose 
 by ballot the nominees for the offices to be filled at a general 
 election.  

    Subd. 4.    Special election.  "Special election" means: 

    (a) An election held at any time to fill vacancies in 
 public offices; or 

    (b) An election held by a subdivision of the state for a 
 special purpose.  

    Subd. 5.    Special primary.  "Special primary" means an 
 election held to choose the nominees for vacant public offices 
 to be filled at a special election. 

    Subd. 6.    Political party.  "Political party" means an 
 association of individuals under whose name a candidate files 
 for partisan office.  

    Subd. 7.    Major political party.  "Major political 
 party" means a political party that maintains a party 
 organization in the state, political division or precinct in 
 question and: 

    (1) that has presented at least one candidate for election 
 to a partisan office at the last preceding state general 
 election who received votes in each county in that election and 
 received votes from not less than five percent of the total 
 number of individuals who voted in that election; or 

    (2) whose members present to the secretary of state for a 
 place on the state partisan primary ballot a petition that 
 contains signatures of a number of the party members equal to at 
 least five percent of the total number of individuals who voted 
 in the preceding state general election. 

    Votes cast for a candidate who was the nominee of more than 
 one political party in a state general election are not counted 
 in determining whether a minor political party should become a 
 major political party under clause (1). 

    Subd. 8.    City.  "City" means a home rule charter or 
 statutory city. 

    Subd. 9.  MS 1971 Repealed, 1973 c 123 art 3 s 7 

    Subd. 9.    Municipality.  "Municipality" means any city 
 or town. 

    Subd. 10.    Governing body.  "Governing body" means the 
 board of commissioners of a county, the elected council of a 
 city, or the board of supervisors of a town.  

    Subd. 11.    Precinct.  "Precinct" means a geographical 
 area the boundaries of which are established for election 
 purposes in accordance with section 204B.14. 

    Subd. 12.    Polling place.  "Polling place" means the 
 place of voting. 

    Subd. 13.    Convention.  "Convention" means an 
 organized body of delegates assembled for the purpose of 
 transacting the business of a major political party. 

    Subd. 14.    Election board.  "Election board" means the 
 election judges serving in a precinct. 

    Subd. 15.    Eligible voter.  "Eligible voter" means an 
 individual who is eligible to vote under section 201.014. 

    Subd. 16.    County auditor.  "County auditor" means the 
 county auditor or, in counties where that office does not exist, 
 the principal county officer charged with duties relating to 
 elections.  

    Subd. 17.    Member of a major political party.  "Member 
 of a major political party" means an individual who:  

    (a) Supports the general principles of that party's 
 constitution; 

    (b) Voted for a majority of that party's candidates in the 
 last general election; or 

    (c) Intends to vote for a majority of that party's 
 candidates in the next general election. 

    Subd. 18.    Oath, swear, sworn.  "Oath" means an oath 
 or affirmation, as the conscience of the individual dictates.  
 If an affirmation is given instead of an oath, "swear" means to 
 affirm and "sworn" means affirmed.  

    Subd. 19.    School district.  "School district" means 
 an independent, special, or county school district. 

    Subd. 20.    Statewide registration system.  "Statewide 
 registration system" means the computerized central statewide 
 voter registration system and database developed and maintained 
 by the secretary of state pursuant to section 201.022.  

    Subd. 21.    Local election official.  "Local election 
 official" means the municipal clerk or principal officer charged 
 with duties relating to elections. 

    Subd. 22.    Minor political party.  (a) "Minor 
 political party" means a political party that is not a major 
 political party as defined by subdivision 7 and that has adopted 
 a state constitution, designated a state party chair, and met 
 the requirements of paragraph (b) or (c), as applicable. 

    (b) To be considered a minor party in all elections 
 statewide, the political party must have presented at least one 
 candidate for a partisan office voted on statewide at the 
 preceding state general election who received votes in each 
 county that in the aggregate equal at least one percent of the 
 total number of individuals who voted in the election, or its 
 members must have presented to the secretary of state a 
 nominating petition in a form prescribed by the secretary of 
 state containing the signatures of party members in a number 
 equal to at least one percent of the total number of individuals 
 who voted in the preceding state general election.  

    (c) To be considered a minor party in an election in a 
 legislative district, the political party must have presented at 
 least one candidate for a legislative office in that district 
 who received votes from at least ten percent of the total number 
 of individuals who voted for that office, or its members must 
 have presented to the secretary of state a nominating petition 
 in a form prescribed by the secretary of state containing the 
 signatures of party members in a number equal to at least ten 
 percent of the total number of individuals who voted in the 
 preceding state general election for that legislative office. 

    (d) Votes cast for a candidate who was the nominee of more 
 than one political party in a state general election are not 
 counted in determining whether a minor political party should 
 remain a minor political party under this subdivision. 

    HIST: 1959 c 675 art 1 s 2; Ex1961 c 10 s 1; 1973 c 123 art 3 
 s 1; art 5 s 7; 1973 c 576 s 1; 1973 c 676 s 1,2; 1973 c 725 s 
 37; 1978 c 725 s 2; 1981 c 29 art 1 s 3; 1984 c 560 s 1; 1987 c 
 266 art 1 s 3; 1990 c 585 s 1; 1991 c 227 s 3; 1996 c 419 s 2,3 

*   NOTE:  The amendments to this section by Laws 1996, chapter 
*419, are suspended during any time that the decision of the 
*eighth circuit court of appeals in Twin Cities Area New Party v. 
*McKenna, No. 94-3417MN, is stayed or the mandate of the court is 
*recalled.  If the McKenna decision is reversed, the amendments 
*to this section expire and the prior law is revived.  Laws 1996, 
*chapter 419, section 10.