DEPARTMENT: Elections
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
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Authorization To Establish Absentee Ballot Board
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RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Minn. Stat. § 203B.121 requires that any governing body with the responsibility to accept and reject ballots establish an absentee ballot board; and
WHEREAS, Minn. Stat. § 204B.19 to 204B. 22, requires the Absentee Ballot Board membership must consist of a sufficient number of elections judges in equal number from each of the major political parties in Minnesota; and
WHEREAS, the major political parties of this state provide the Secretary of State’s Office with a list of prospective election judges, which in turn is provided to each county; and
WHEREAS, the Ballot Board may also include Deputy County auditors; and
WHEREAS, Dakota County Elections Department is responsible for the administration of absentee voting for the County.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby rescinds Resolution No. 22-248 (June 21, 2022); and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners, pursuant
to Minn. Stat. § 203B.121 hereby establishes the Dakota County Absentee Ballot Board, with the
responsibility to accept or reject absentee ballots cast by voters in Dakota County and absentee ballots cast pursuant to the Uniformed and Overseas Citizen Absentee Ballot Act (UOCAVA), effective for the 2026 State primary election and until this resolution is rescinded; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby directs the
Director of Elections to use the election judge list received from the Office of the Secretary of State to
appoint election judges to the County Absentee Ballot Board pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 203B.121; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Director of Elections to appoint trained deputy county auditors to serve on the County Absentee Ballot Board when one or more appointed election judges are unavailable and the Absentee Ballot Board requires additional members to fulfill its statutory obligations.
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