2021 Ballot Questions

See election results for 2021 ballot questions.

November 2, 2021

City Question 1 – Government Structure: Executive Mayor – Legislative Council

The ballot read:

Shall the Minneapolis City Charter be amended to adopt a change in its form of government to an Executive Mayor-Legislative Council structure to shift certain powers to the Mayor, consolidating administrative authority over all operating departments under the Mayor, and eliminating the Executive Committee?

Government structure question - Passed
AnswerVotesPercent
Yes 74,037 52.41%
No 67,228 47.59%

A ballot question needs at least 51% Yes votes in order to pass.

See Minnesota Statutes 410.12 Subd. 4

City Question 2 – Department of Public Safety

The ballot read:

Shall the Minneapolis City Charter be amended to remove the Police Department and replace it with a Department of Public Safety that employs a comprehensive public health approach to the delivery of functions by the Department of Public Safety, with those specific functions to be determined by the Mayor and City Council by ordinance; which will not be subject to exclusive mayoral power over its establishment, maintenance, and command; and which could include licensed peace officers (police officers), if necessary, to fulfill its responsibilities for public safety, with the general nature of the amendments being briefly indicated in the explanatory note below, which is made a part of this ballot?

A note included with the ballot read:

This amendment would create a Department of Public Safety combining public safety functions through a comprehensive public health approach to be determined by the Mayor and Council. The department would be led by a Commissioner nominated by the Mayor and appointed by the Council. The Police Department, and its chief, would be removed from the City Charter. The Public Safety Department could include police officers, but the minimum funding requirement would be eliminated.

Public safety question - Failed
AnswerVotesPercent
Yes 62,813 43.83%
No 80,506 56.17%

A ballot question needs at least 51% Yes votes in order to pass.

City Question 3 – Authorizing City Council To Enact Rent Control Ordinance

The ballot read:

Shall the Minneapolis City Charter be amended to authorize the City Council to regulate rents on private residential property in the City of Minneapolis, with the general nature of the amendments being indicated in the explanatory note below, which is made a part of this ballot?

A note included with the ballot read:

This amendment would:

  1. Authorize the City Council to regulate rents on private residential property in the City of Minneapolis by ordinance.
  2. Provide that an ordinance regulating rents on private residential property could be enacted in two different and independent ways:
    1. The City Council may enact the ordinance.
    2. The City Council may refer the ordinance as a ballot question to be decided by the voters for approval at an election. If more than half of the votes cast on the ballot question are in favor of its adoption, the ordinance would take effect 30 days after the election, or at such other time as provided in the ordinance.
Rent control ordinance question - Passed
AnswerVotesPercent
Yes 75,598 53.21%
No 66,468 46.79%

A ballot question needs at least 51% Yes votes in order to pass.