Park Perspective - September 2019 special edition

Park Perspective September 2019 special edition Experience VOTING in the Park

City elections website: www.stlouispark.org/vote Contents 1. Prepare to vote 2. Ranked-choice voting 3. Voter registration, early voting 4. Campaign signs, Precinct 9 location For city events, activities and news, visit www.stlouispark.org.

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www.stlouispark.org/vote

General election 2019 Tuesday, Nov. 5

Polls open 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Plan ahead – prepare to vote!

Did you know there is an election in St. Louis Park this year? In 2019 you have the opportunity to vote for the offices of mayor, council member at large A, council member at large B, and either four seats on the St. Louis Park Public Schools/ISD 283 School Board or Hopkins Public Schools/ISD 270 School Board (depending on the district you live in). The upcoming election is also the first time you will be able to use ranked-choice voting to elect the offices of mayor and council member.

Remember, voting is your opportunity to be heard, to hold elected officials accountable and to have a say in important issues that affect your community. Whether you vote early at city hall or at the polls on Election Day, we encourage you to plan ahead to make your voting experience as easy and efficient as possible.

Finding your polling place, registering to vote and learning what races will be on your ballot are all important steps to take when preparing to vote.

The elections team is here to help. Here are some of the most common questions asked during election season: • What’s on my ballot?

• What’s ranked-choice voting?

• Am I registered to vote?

• How do I register to vote?

• Can I vote early?

• Where do I vote?

Sign up for email and text notifications:

www.stlouispark.org/sign-up

Make service requests or receive city information via the app

or visit www.mystlouispark.org.

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The Park Perspective is printed on 30 percent post-consumer recycled paper in an effort to meet the city’s environmentally preferable purchasing policy.

To find the answers to all these questions and more, visit www.stlouispark.org/vote or call the elections hotline at 952.924.2503.

Note: The Secretary of State’s Office has many voting materials and forms available in twelve languages – English, Spanish, Hmong, Somali, Vietnamese, Russian, Chinese, Lao, Oromo, Khmer, Amharic and S’gaw Karen.

Visit www.stlouispark.org/vote or call the elections hotline at 952.924.2503 for more information on how to access these materials.

Look at your sample ballot inside!

Ranked-choice voting is here! We hope you’ve already heard about ranked-choice voting in St. Louis Park. If you are still wondering what it is or simply want to know more, we have you covered. Take a look at your sample ballot inside to see what it will look like when you vote and to practice marking your ballot.

• Ranked-choice voting is ONLY used to elect the offices of mayor and council member. Under current state law, ranked-choice voting cannot be used to elect school district offices.

• Ranked-choice voting allows you to rank multiple candidates in order of preference. This voting method combines the primary and General Election into one event. Simply put, you have the chance to say, “If my first-choice candidate is not elected, this is my second choice (or third choice) for who I would like to see elected.”

• On the ranked-choice side of the ballot, you will have the option to rank up to three choices for the offices of mayor and council member. Make sure to read the instructions at the top of the ballot carefully.

• Don’t forget to flip your ballot over – there are school district races on the opposite side.

Still have questions? Check out the information on page 2, visit www.stlouispark.org/vote or call 952.924.2503.

This is a special edition of the Park Perspective.

Look for the regular October Park Perspective, including polling locations, in mid-October.

General Election 2019 Tuesday, Nov. 5

Polls open 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.

How to vote on a ranked-choice ballot 1st choice

2nd choice

3rd choice

• R ank up to three different candidates for each city office (mayor and council member).

• Your first choice is the candidate you would most like to see elected.

• Always vote left to right.

• S elect one candidate in each column. If you wish to rank second and/or third choices, you will select them in the corresponding second and third columns on the ballot.

• I n races with fewer than three candidates, ranking is still allowed – including write-in options.

• Turn your ballot over to vote in school district races.

This is a representation, not an actual ballot. To see what your ballot will look like, view the included sample.

How is a candidate elected using ranked-choice voting?

How is a winner declared?

• A ll of the first-choice votes are added up.

• If a candidate has received 50 percent plus one of the total votes cast, that candidate is declared the winner.

What happens if no winner is declared?

• The candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. A new count begins.

• If your top choice was for the candidate that was eliminated, your vote is transferred to your next choice and all the votes for remaining candidates are counted again.

• This process is repeated until: - A candidate has 50 percent plus one of the total votes cast.

YES

50%

OR

Plus one vote

City elections website: www.stlouispark.org/vote

- Only two candidates remain.

The candidate with the most votes wins.

NO 50% plus one

Citywide mock election is Sept. 17, 4 – 8 p.m.

Last call to test the ranked-choice system!

Still not sure how ranked-choice voting works? Stop by the citywide mock election Sept. 17 to try the new system before casting your official ballot during the election. This is a chance to practice voting on a mock ballot, cast a mock ballot and learn how races are counted. Election judges will also be on hand to help and to answer questions. Check in isn’t required, and you don’t need to be registered for the mock election. Anyone who attends is welcome to participate, including youth. Results of the mock election will be posted on the city website the following day. Mock elections will be held at four polling places across the city, one in each ward. Visit www.stlouispark.org/vote to find the closest location. Invite a neighbor or a friend to take a few minutes to learn how to vote with ranked-choice voting. We hope to see you there!

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September 2019

General Election 2019 Tuesday, Nov. 5

Polls open 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Can’t go to the polls on Election Day? Vote early at city hall.

Eligible St. Louis Park voters may vote before Election Day through absentee voting. Ballots for absentee voting are available at city hall 46 days before an election and can be submitted in person or by mail, instead of at a polling location.

You can vote early at St. Louis Park City Hall, 5005 Minnetonka Blvd., Sept. 20 – Nov. 4, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

City hall will be open extended hours for voting on the following days: • Nov. 2, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

• Nov. 4, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Who can vote in Minnesota?

To be eligible to vote, you must be: • At least 18 years old on Election Day • A U.S. citizen • A resident of Minnesota for 20 days • Finished with all parts of any felony sentence

Am I registered to vote?

Check your registration status online at www.stlouispark.org/vote or by calling 952.924.2503 at least one month prior to when you plan to vote.

When voting early, you must first complete an absentee ballot application.

The application has seven questions and requires: • Full name • Date of birth • Either a Minnesota-issued ID or driver’s license number OR the last four digits of your Social Security number OR a statement that you have neither • Address where you live • Signature of an oath that you are eligible to vote in Minnesota You can request an absentee ballot application: • In person at St. Louis Park City Hall, 5005 Minnetonka Blvd.

• By mail – Contact the elections office at elections@stlouispark.org or 952.924.2503 • Online – download and print an application at www.stlouispark.org/vote Once your completed absentee ballot application is received a ballot will be sent to you.

Note: Elections staff can only provide you with information about your own registration status.

Registering before Election Day If you know you are not registered to vote under your current name and/or at your current residential address, you should register to vote before Election Day. This will make your trip to the polls much faster. State law requires you to register at least 20 days prior to Election Day so that your name is on the list of registered voters at your polling place. The last date for pre-registration for the 2019 General Election is Oct. 15.

Registering on Election Day If you missed the pre-registration deadline, you can register or update your registration when you vote. Whether you choose to vote early or at your polling place on Election Day, you will need to bring proof of residence to register. For a list of acceptable proofs of residence under state law, visit www.stlouispark.org/vote or call 952.924.2503.

Candidate information We understand that voters are interested in learning more about the candidates on the ballot. In an effort to remain neutral, the city does not advertise for or provide background information on candidates or political platforms.

Candidates appearing on the ballot may have their own websites dedicated to their campaign. Voters can use the following resources to search for additional information about candidates: • Visit www.stlouispark.org/vote for candidate filings.

• Read the St. Louis Park Sun Sailor for information on local candidates.

The timing and content of any articles are not under the city’s control.

For more information contact the Sun Sailor directly.

Don’t wait!

Don’t wait until Election Day – plan ahead and contact the elections team with any questions!

www.stlouispark.org/vote

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General Election 2019 Tuesday, Nov. 5

Are campaign signs regulated?

When election season begins, residents and visitors will start to see campaign signs popping up throughout the community.

Political signs are regulated by MN Statute 211B.045 and City Code Section 36-362(h)(5).

Polls open 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Publicly owned land

(Schools, public buildings, pa rks, etc.)

Traffic islands

Keep in mind:

Street signs, signals, fire hy

• P olitical signs of any size are permitted in any number from 46 days before an election.

• Political signs must be removed within 10 days after the General Election has been held.

• P olitical signs should not be placed on the public right of way or on any publicly owned property, including boulevard trees and utility poles.

• P olitical signs must not obstruct the vision at an intersection or otherwise create a hazard to public safety.

Utility poles

drants

Campaign signs If you have questions about campa ign signs in St. Louis Park, call 95 2. 92 4. 25 92 .

Campaign sign help If you have questions about campaign signs in St. Louis Park, call 952.924.2592.

New polling location in Precinct 9 Voters in Precinct 9 who previously voted at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church will vote at a new polling place in 2019.

The change in location was required due to the sale of the building. The new polling place for Precinct 9 will be Knollwood Place Apartments, 3630 Phillips Parkway. All registered voters in Precinct 9 will receive a mailed notification of this change from Hennepin County before election day.

Get involved – stay informed!

St. Louis Park values voter engagement and education.

We want all St. Louis Park voters to feel informed, included and heard. We have many ways for you to connect with us and with your community about elections in St. Louis Park.

Visit www.stlouispark.org/vote for more information on outreach, education and opportunities, or to get involved.

Mobile voting pilot project coming to St. Louis Park This October, the City of St. Louis Park elections team will be testing a mobile voting pilot project, offering early (absentee) voting from the community engagement vehicle.

Voters will cast a ballot just as they would if they voted early at city hall. All registration and voter eligibility requirements apply.

This pilot project is being offered to see if expanding voting services increases engagement in the community and makes it easier for people in the community to participate in local elections.

This year’s mobile voting will be offered outside of regular business hours at two locations on two dates in October: • ROC (Recreation Outdoor Center), 3700 Monterey Dr. • Louisiana Court Apartments, 2720 Louisiana Ct. S. More details will be available as the events approach.

Sign up at www.stlouispark.org/vote to receive elections updates and the most current information about these exciting opportunities.

Experience VOTING in the Park

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September 2019