The problem arises with the size of the ballot when we take into consideration four major parties that are in existence for the very first time in recent Minnesota history. We thought we had the problem resolved based on conversations with the Secretary of State and the Minnesota Association of County Auditors. It was our understanding that the Secretary of State had advised local election officials as to how this process was going to be handled. Most ballots in Minnesota can only accommodate 2 or 3 parties on each side.
Some ballot designs enable the local election officials to place all four major parties on one side.
The only significant problem exists where the ballot design and placement has the Republican and Democratic parties on one side and the Constitution and Independence Party on the other. Every county and locality handled the situation a little bit differently when the sample ballots were printed up earlier this Summer. We were told that the ballots were to be handed out with the Independence Party and Constitution Party side up. We discussed handing out ballots in a perpendicular fashion as well. A check with local election officials indicates that there have been no consistent instructions received from Secretary Kiffmeyer on this issue.