 After the enabling act was passed , territorial legislators had a difficult time writing a state constitution . A constitutional convention was assembled in July 1857 , but Republicans and Democrats were deeply divided . In fact , they formed two separate constitutional conventions and drafted two separate constitutions . Eventually , the two groups formed a conference committee and worked out a common constitution . The divisions continued , though , because Republicans refused to sign a document that had Democratic signatures on it , and vice versa . One copy of the constitution was written on white paper and signed only by Republicans , while the other copy was written on blue @-@ tinged paper and signed by Democrats . These copies were signed on August 29 , 1857 . An election was called on October 13 , 1857 , where Minnesota residents would vote to approve or disapprove the constitution . The constitution was approved by 30 @,@ 055 voters , while 571 rejected it . 
