Early Voting for Everyone

The City of Minneapolis reminds eligible voters that planning ahead can save them from standing in long lines on Election Day. Starting Sept. 23, any voter can vote early by mail or in person at one of four locations around the city.

Early in-person voting is convenient. It especially helps voters who need special accommodations, such as language support, that the extra time, attention and onsite resources of early in-person voting afford more readily than the polls might on Election Day.

The Northeast Early Vote Center is located at the Water Bar, 2516 Central Ave. NE. Standard hours throughout the absentee voting period are 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. During the final two weeks before the election, these hours will be extended and include weekend times. All early voting hours are posted on the website (vote.minneapolismn.gov). Other in-person early vote centers include Downtown Early Vote Center, 217 S. Third St.; North Early Vote Center, 2100 Plymouth Ave. N., in the Minneapolis Urban League building; and South Early Vote Center, 1860 E. 28th St., in the Roof Depot building.

"Kids Voting Minneapolis" Seeks Ward 1 Volunteers

Ward One Update

City Council Member Kevin Reich

350 S. 5th Street, Room 307, Minneapolis, MN 55415

(612) 673-2201 · kevin.reich@minneapolismn.gov

HELP OUR STUDENTS VOTE ON ELECTION DAY

Since 2004, in partnership with the Minneapolis Public Schools and the Minneapolis City Elections Department, Kids Voting Minneapolis (KVM) has offered Minneapolis K-12 students the opportunity to go to the polls on Election Day with their parents and vote. Students vote in their own voting booth on their own ballot and get rewarded with their “I Voted” sticker. This authentic voting experience furthers civic education and helps students understand the important right and responsibility of voting in this democracy. 

For this to happen, KVM needs 300 community volunteers who staff the 123 city precinct polling places to assist students as they vote. We are still in need of volunteers in Ward 1 polling places. This is a wonderful, one-off volunteer opportunity, just 3 hours (2:00-5:00 or 5:00-8:00 p.m.) on Election Day, plus a convenient 1 hr. training session, and it’s fun. If you could help, just go to www.bit.ly/KVM2014 and fill out the simple Google form or contact the KVM Volunteer Coordinator, Sarah Williams at sarah@kidsvotingminneapolis.org.

Absentee Voting Begins Sept. 20

Absentee voting for the November municipal election begins on Friday, September 20. The City has already received more than 500 absentee ballot applications and will begin mailing ballots on Friday. Eligible voters may vote by absentee ballot for any of the following reasons:

• Absent from the precinct on election day 
• Illness or disability 
• Religious discipline or observance of religious holiday 
• Service as an election judge in another precinct 
• Eligible emergency declared by governor or quarantine declared by federal or state government.

You may click HERE for an absentee ballot application or contact 311 to request an application. In-person absentee voting will also be conducted at Minneapolis City Hall, 350 S. 5th Street, beginning Sept. 20. Hours are M-F, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and two Saturdays (Oct. 26 & Nov. 2), 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. The Monday before the election, absentee voter hours are 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Election Judges Needed

The City of Minneapolis is seeking election judges to serve voters in local polling places. Serving as an election judge p is an important service to our community. Especially needed are judges who are fluent in a second language, including Spanish, Somali, Hmong, Vietnamese, Oromo, Laotian, Russian, and American Sign Language. To learn more, please visit vote.minneapolismn.gov/volunteer or call 612-673-2296.

New Elections Website

The City of Minneapolis has launched a new elections website to help voters get ready for this fall’s election. By visiting vote.minneapolis.gov, voters can learn what they need to know about how to register to vote, find their polling place, and many other elections topics.

Because Minneapolis will use ranked-choice voting this year, the website can help people learn how to vote using ranked-choice voting, and they can see how ballots are counted. Ranked-choice voting gives voters the opportunity to rank up to three candidates for each office. The website features an interactive demonstration ballot that voters can use to learn how to mark a ranked-choice ballot. After completing the ballot, visitors to the site can see how the ballot-counting works. Minneapolis voters can also use the website to ensure they are ready to vote. You can check your registration status or download a voter registration application on the website. You can use the polling-place finder to find your assigned polling place and also find information about absentee voting.

The City has also produced a new video that explains everything you need to know about ranked-choice voting. The video can be found at vote.minneapolis.gov. The City’s mobile application has also been updated this year to help voters. Users of the 311 app for iPhones and Android devices can now easily access the election’s Your Vote guide with quick links to key election-related information, including how to register to vote, finding your polling place, and how to absentee vote.

Voter Ambassadors

Help get out the vote for the November 5th municipal election as a Voter Ambassador. Ambassadors will be trained in basic election law, registration and voting procedures, and Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) so that they can provide information and resources to friends, neighborhoods and civic circles. The City will supply precinct maps, sample ballots, and RCV-specific guides to answer frequently asked questions. Materials will be made available in multiple languages to facilitate effective outreach to all voters. If you’d like to be part of the Voter Ambassador Program, contact Anissa Hollingshead at anissa.hollingshead@minneapolismn.gov or 612-673-2296.

Message from Council Member Kevin Reich

The general election is Tuesday, November 2. Do your part to ensure a good turnout by considering the following:

• Do you know where your polling place is? Precinct 7 in the SE Como neighborhood, for example, had a change in polling place this year from the Elections Warehouse to Van Cleve Park. If you are unsure of where to vote, click HERE to go to Hennepin County’s precinct finder.
  
• Are you registered to vote? You can find out by going to www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/elections and clicking on “Voter Registration Lookup”. You can register to vote at your polling place by providing one of the forms of identification required by Minnesota law.
  
• Do you need a ride to the polls? In the Twin Cities metro area, the non-partisan Rides to the Polls Coalition will provide free rides to and from the polling place. Fully accessible vans are ready to meet the needs of all people, including those who use wheelchairs, scooters and walkers. Space is limited, so call or email now to schedule a ride: 1-877-507-4337 or jeff@mncn.org.
  
• Do you know what’s on your ballot? The general election ballot includes races for U.S. representative, governor and lt. governor, secretary of state, state auditor, attorney general, state senators, state representatives, county and judicial offices, and the Minneapolis school board. In addition, there will be a Minneapolis City Charter ballot question on the handling of redistricting in the city.

Minneapolis 311 will be available extended hours, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. to serve voters while the polls are open on Tuesday. Minneapolis voters can call 311 for information on how to register and where to vote.