Opinion ID: 1790752
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Election Law Violation Claim.

Text: Because the MGDPA does not provide for disclosure of the political party membership of election judges, at our direction respondent McClung submitted under seal a roster listing St. Paul election judges by precinct, identified by political party. The party identification is that stated by the election judge in the application for the position. There are two shifts of election judges for each of St. Paul's 104 precincts. A chart appended to the October 20, 2004 affidavit of the Ramsey County Elections Manager indicates that one precinct was out of compliance with Minn.Stat. § 204B.19, subd. 5. Our in camera review of the materials submitted shows that as of October 15, 2004, one shift in each of eight precincts had a party-membership imbalance of one judge. [4] We direct respondent McClung to correct these imbalances. We recognize that the allocation of election judges is subject to change up to election day for a number of reasons, including illness and family emergencies. We nevertheless urge municipalities to make all efforts to comply with the statutory requirement of political party balance among election judges in each precinct. Finally, we are compelled to emphasize that petitioners do not allege, and there is no evidence of, fraud, malfeasance or other wrongdoing in the appointment of election judges in any jurisdiction. In fact, our review of the judge assignments for 104 precincts and 208 shifts in St. Paul revealed only 8 discernable minor imbalances. Based upon all the files, records and proceedings herein, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT: 1. Respondent McClung shall ensure that the complement of election judges serving in each precinct in the City of St. Paul shall comply with the requirements of Minn.Stat. § 204B.19, subd. 5 (2002). 2. The petition be, and the same is, dismissed with respect to respondents O'Connor and Hall. 3. The petition be, and the same is, in all other things denied. 4. Any future petitions brought pursuant to Minn.Stat. § 204B.44 that challenge the political party balance of election judges under Minn.Stat. § 204B.19, subd. 5 between the date of this order and the completion of the November 2, 2004, general election shall be commenced in the district court. See Rice v. Connolly, 488 N.W.2d 241, 244 (Minn.1992) (requiring quo warranto petitions to be commenced in the district court). BY THE COURT: /s/ Kathleen A. Blatz Chief Justice