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i o, rim Property Records and Revenue Jusepli M ansky, Elections Dik isinn Ni anager 722 G vernmant Center Wvsi ,90 west Kellogg Boulevard St Paul, N[N 5i 10 20- 169 February 6, Zoo Carolyn Curti City of Roseville 660 Civic Center Drive Roseville, MINI 55113 [dear Carolyn, Rhone: 651 -266 -2171 Fax: 651-266-2 177 TTDR: X66 -21 70 You have indicated that the City of Roseville is considering adoption of a municipal primary, to be held for the first time in 2006. You have asked about the impact of the primary when held ® in the even - numbered years. The following its a brief discussion of this issue. The object of a primary is to reduce the field of candidates to a maximum of two in the general election. From an administrative standpoint, this is useful. There are normally a large number of offices and questions on the general election ballot in an even - numbered year. We have a limited amount of space on the ballot and periodically fill both sides in the state generai election. Having municipal offices on the ballot without a primary increases the probability that two ballots will be required for the general election. My best estimate is than a second ballot in the general election would increase F osevill e's election costs by approximately $6,000. This would cover the costs of programming, printing, testing, and counting the second ballot. Based on the recent experience in Hennepin and Sherburne counties using two ballots, our preference would be to avoid this situation if possible. On the other hand, there is ample space on the primary ballet for a large number of municipal candidates, given the fact that there are generally a small number of nonpartisan offices on the primary ballot. Again, from a purely administrative standpoint, it is preferable to have the lamer number of municipal candidates on the primary ballot than on the general election ballot, simply because there is less competition for space on the primary ballot* All lame cities in Minnesota conduct municipal pdmaries. in Ramsey County, this inctudes the cities of Saint Paul and Maplewood. In those communities, voters . . SR have an expectation that they will be asked to narrow the field of candidates for the general election at the primary. This situation is not uncommon. In 2001, 16 Minnesota's First Dome R,urle County [ 1+;11wr 111111 .l WRIIIIIIIII + +I I- I ° Whi + ++11%.11rsl"r s ++141.11' v