Minimum age for local election candidates lowered.

A bill for an act

relating to elections; lowering the minimum age for local election candidates;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 204B.06, subdivision 1.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 204B.06, subdivision 1, is amended

to read:

Subdivision 1.

Form of affidavit.

(a) An affidavit of candidacy shall state the name of

the office sought and, except as provided in subdivision 4, shall state that the candidate:

(1) is an eligible voter;

(2) has no other affidavit on file as a candidate for any office at the same primary or

next ensuing general election, except as authorized by subdivision 9; and

(3)
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is, or will be on assuming the office, 21 years of age or more, and
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will have maintained

residence in the district from which the candidate seeks election for 30 days before the

general election
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and:
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(i) for county, municipal, school district, and special district offices, is or will be 18

years of age or more on assuming office; or

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(ii) for any other office, is or will be 21 years of age or more on assuming office
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.

(b) An affidavit of candidacy must include a statement that the candidate's name as

written on the affidavit for ballot designation is the candidate's true name or the name by

which the candidate is commonly and generally known in the community and:

(1) the phonetic spelling or an explanation for the pronunciation of the full name

designated for the ballot; or

(2) a certification that the candidate is directing the official responsible for programming

materials for the election to use the applicable technology's default pronunciation of the

candidate's name.

(c) An affidavit of candidacy for partisan office shall also state the name of the candidate's

political party or political principle, stated in three words or less.

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EFFECTIVE DATE.

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This section is effective the day following final enactment.

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