Election Day is less than a week away, and even though no statewide or federal races are on the ballot, plenty of key contests and referendums are hanging in the balance across the Twin Cities.
Voters in Minneapolis will choose their mayor and City Council, while voters in St. Paul will also elect a mayor and vote on a key school funding referendum. Here’s all you need to know to get ready to vote.
How do I register to vote?
Minnesota has same-day voter registration, which means that if you’re not registered to vote by Election Day, Nov. 4, you can sign up at your polling place and cast your ballot. You can also register at any point online.
Anyone who is a U.S. citizen age 18 years or older and has been living in Minnesota for at least 20 days is eligible unless they are incarcerated for a felony or have otherwise had their right to vote revoked.
All you need to register is a government-issued photo ID such as a Minnesota driver’s license or a Minnesota identification card number, or a lease or utility bill with your name and current address.
How do I find my polling place?
Your polling place is determined by the address at which you’re registered to vote. You can find your polling location here.
How can I vote early in person or by mail?
Early in-person voting began on Sept. 19 and will conclude on Nov. 3, the Monday before Election Day. If you would like to vote early in person, you can view a list of early voting locations here.
If you need to request an absentee ballot or need to vote by mail, you can apply for a mail ballot through this webpage. You will need a witness who is a U.S. citizen of at least 18 years of age or a notary to sign it. The ballot can then be returned in person to your local elections office or mailed back, as long as it arrives by Election Day.
What’s on the ballot this year?
This is an off-year election, so no federal or statewide offices are on the ballot. Minnesotans will elect their governor, attorney general and other statewide officials, plus members of the U.S. House of Representatives and one U.S. senator, next year. But at the local level, next week’s election could be hugely consequential.
In Minneapolis, Mayor Jacob Frey is facing a stiff challenge for his third term from state Sen. Omar Fateh. Fateh, who represents a district that includes parts of southwest Minneapolis, has been endorsed by a number of labor unions and progressive organizations. Several other candidates are running as well in the ranked-choice election.
Minneapolis voters will also elect a new City Council, with all 13 seats up for grabs and three incumbents — including long-serving councilmembers Jeremiah Ellison and Andrea Jenkins — not running for re-election.
The outcome of those races will go a long way in determining how much the mayor is able to accomplish; Frey has repeatedly clashed with a majority-progressive council over the last four years. You can meet all the City Council candidates here.
In St. Paul, meanwhile, Mayor Melvin Carter is also seeking a third term and also being challenged by a state lawmaker, Rep. Kaohly Her, and a variety of other candidates. This race will also be decided by ranked-choice voting.
For more information on the candidates’ positions on the issues, and to see which candidate’s views you most align with, you can take Sahan’s Meet Your Mayor quiz for both Minneapolis and St. Paul here.
The mayoral elections aren’t the only races to keep an eye on. St. Paul voters will also decide on a referendum to raise new revenue for St. Paul Public Schools with a property tax increase and a referendum to allow the city to administer civil fines for violations of city ordinances.
Voters in the Anoka-Hennepin school district, meanwhile, could tip the balance of power on the school board either to the left or the right depending on the outcome of three school board races.
Voters in Woodbury and parts of Maplewood will weigh in on a critical state Senate special election to replace Sen. Nicole Mitchell, who resigned after being convicted of burglary. Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger, the DFL candidate, is facing Republican Dwight Dorau with the DFL holding a one-seat advantage in the chamber.
If you want a full preview of what will appear on your ballot, you can use this tool from the Secretary of State’s website to see exactly what you’ll be asked to vote on.
What are my rights while voting?
Among the rights Minnesota voters have are bringing your children to the polls, bringing notes or a sample ballot, and requesting assistance at your polling place from anyone as long as they’re not an agent of your employer or union.
You can also take time off of work to vote without losing any pay, paid time off or vacation days. Learn more about the rules around taking time off to vote here.
You also have the right to vote without being unduly influenced inside the polling place, where campaigning is strictly prohibited. If you are being intimidated or are otherwise unhappy with the way the election is being run, you can file a written complaint.
How can I request an interpreter?
If you would prefer to vote in a language other than English, you can request an interpreter at your polling location. You can either bring someone to a polling place to translate for you, or request assistance from an on-site interpreter or election judge.
You can also, with a group of 10 or more people, file a request for interpretive services at your polling place with your county auditor or the Secretary of State.
Where can I find more information?
You can find all of Sahan’s election coverage here.
