DEPARTMENT: Public Services and Revenue Administration
FILE TYPE: Regular Action
TITLE
title
Elections Update And Authorization To Execute Joint Powers Agreements To Serve As State Recount Official In Event Of State Or Federal Recounts In 2024 Elections
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Update on elections and authorize execution of joint powers agreements to act as recount official for state or federal offices for the 2024 State Primary and General Election.
SUMMARY
Minnesota Rules 8235.0200 provides that a recount official (the Secretary of State in this case) may designate the duty to conduct a recount to a County Auditor by mutual consent.
Delegation of recounts by the Secretary of State's Office allows recounts to be completed concurrently in the majority of counties. By distributing the recount to county election staff, delays in canvassing results are minimized, allowing (in the case of a primary election) programming of general election ballots to proceed in a timely manner. In the case of the general election, timely completion of a recount avoids possible delays in elected officials taking office.
In 2008, the County accepted designation as a Deputy Recount Official and assisted the Secretary of State's Office in conducting the recounts for the offices of Supreme Court Justice and U.S. Senator.
In 2010, the County accepted designation as Deputy Recount Official and assisted the Secretary of State's Office in conducting the recount for the Office of Governor.
The County accepted designation in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022 but no recounts were necessary.
The Secretary of State's Office has again asked Dakota County to accept designation as a Deputy Recount Official in the event it is needed for the purpose of recounting certain federal and state offices in the 2024 State Primary and General Election. The offices for which the State could delegate to the County are:
Federal Offices: U.S. Presidential Electors, U.S. Senator, U.S. Represen...
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