In 2016, there will be one proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot in Minnesota.
Ballot language and instructions
Voters will have the following constitutional amendment ballot instructions and question on their ballot on November 8, 2016:
Failure to vote on a constitutional amendment will have the same effect as voting no on the amendment.
To vote for a proposed constitutional amendment, fill in the oval next to the word “Yes” on that question. To vote against a proposed constitutional amendment, fill in the oval next to the word “No” on that question.
Remove Lawmakers' Power to Set Their Own Pay
Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to remove state lawmakers' power to set their own salaries, and instead establish an independent, citizens-only council to prescribe salaries of lawmakers?
Yes
No
Sample ballot for constitutional amendment question
Text of proposed constitutional amendment
If this proposed constitutional amendment is passed, article IV, section 9 of the Minnesota Constitutional will be amended to read:
"The salary of senators and representatives shall be prescribed by a council consisting of the following members: one person who is not a judge from each congressional district appointed by the chief justice of the Supreme Court, and one member from each congressional district appointed by the governor. If Minnesota has an odd number of congressional districts, the governor and the chief justice must each appoint an at-large member in addition to a member from each congressional district. One-half of the members appointed by the governor and one-half of the members appointed by the chief justice must belong to the political party that has the most members in the legislature. One-half of the members appointed by the governor and one-half of the members appointed by the chief justice must belong to the political party that has the second-most members in the legislature. None of the members of the council may be current or former legislators, or the spouse of a current legislator. None of the members of the council may be current or former lobbyists registered under Minnesota law. None of the members of the council may be a current employee of the legislature. None of the members of the council may be a current or former judge. None of the members of the council may be a current or former governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, or state auditor. None of the members of the council may be a current employee of an entity in the executive or judicial branch. Membership terms, removal, and compensation of members shall be as provided by law. The council must prescribe salaries by March 31 of each odd-numbered year, taking into account any other legislative compensation provided to legislators by the state of Minnesota, with any changes in salary to take effect on July 1 of that year. Any salary increase for legislators authorized in law by the legislature after January 5, 2015, is repealed."
Authorizing law
This proposed constitutional was authorized by 2013 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 124 (As amended by 2014 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 282)
As required by law, the Attorney General has issued a statement of purpose and effect.
Third-party information
In accordance with Minnesota Statutes 10.60 Subd. 4 (d) (2), the Office of the Secretary of State will provide a link to the website of any individual or group advocating for or against or providing neutral information with respect to any ballot question.
In order for the link to appear on the website, organizations or individuals must submit a request in writing and provide to this office a valid website and email address.
Requests may be emailed to secretary.state@state.mn.us or mailed to: Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State, 180 State Office Building, 100 Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55155.
Links submitted to appear on this page: