Park Perspective July 2020
www.stlouispark.org
Follow the city’s strategic priorities In 2018, the St. Louis Park City Council adopted the following five strategic priorities. Look for the icons throughout this and future editions of the Park Perspective to read stories about how the city is working to meet these priorities. St. Louis Park is committed to:
State primary election is Aug. 11, 2020 The state primary election is Tuesday, Aug. 11, with polls open from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. Early (absentee) voting started June 26 and continues through Aug. 10.
Being a leader in racial equity and inclusion in order to create a more just and inclusive community for all. Continuing to lead in environmental stewardship. Providing a broad range of housing and neighborhood-oriented development. Providing a variety of options for people to make their way around the city comfortably, safely and reliably. reating opportunities to build social capital C through community engagement.
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Voting rule changes
Voting by mail: why are there so many envelopes?
Rules for voting may change before you vote. To get the most up-to-date information on requirements for voting, visit www.stlouispark.org/vote and sign up to receive GovDelivery elections updates. We will communicate any changes as soon as we know how they will affect you.
Each envelope serves a purpose to secure your ballot. When your ballot comes in the mail you will receive a brown secrecy envelope, a white signature envelope and a white return envelope. Each is designed to help keep your vote private and secure. Here is how they work together step by step to keep your vote secure:
Your vote plan
First, seal your completed ballot in the secrecy envelope. This is like a ballot box. Election officials do not open the secrecy envelopes until it is time to put the ballots through a machine to count them. The secrecy envelope ensures your ballot remains anonymous.
As Election Day approaches, your options for participating are more limited. This year you may encounter additional logistical challenges to cast a ballot, so developing a vote plan may help. A vote plan is simply how, when and where you will vote, so it could be, “by mail, two weeks early, at home” or “in person, on Election Day, at my polling place.” The St. Louis Park elections team is here to support your vote plan. Check out our online voting plan tool at www.stlouispark.org/vote or write down your plan now. We strongly encourage you to plan ahead. Need help with your plan? Here's a helpful guide.
Option A: Vote by mail • A pply for a ballot online or on paper. You can apply for both elections (state primary and general election) at the same time. • A pply early! Additional delays may occur due to a high volume of requests. • V ote! It is best to vote and mail your ballot so it arrives by Election Day. This is the best way to ensure your ballot will be counted, regardless of any law changes that may occur.
Option B: In person at city hall • I n person voting is available 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday, June 26 – Aug. 10 at city hall. • B e prepared to wait. Additional measures to protect elections staff and voters will be in place, including physical distancing, protective barriers and increased cleaning protocols. • H elp us protect each other and consider wearing a face mask when you visit city hall. • C ity hall will be open extended hours for in person voting on Saturday, Aug. 8 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. and Monday, Aug. 10 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Option C: In person on Election Day • Check your polling location before you go to vote as it may have changed. Any service disruptions that force us to move a polling location on short notice will be published on the city website. • Be prepared to wait and dress appropriately. Additional measures to protect poll workers and voters will be in place, including physical distancing, reduced number of individuals allowed in the room used for voting, protective barriers and increased cleaning protocols. This could mean each voter will take longer to process and may have to wait outdoors. • Help us protect each other and consider wearing a face mask when you visit your polling place. • Register to vote online at mnvotes.org. A registered voter takes less time to process.
Next, seal your secrecy envelope in the signature envelope and sign it. A witness may also sign the signature envelope. Requirements on this process may have changed by the time you read this. Visit www.stlouispark.org/vote for the most current information on the use of a witness. This is like a poll worker issuing you a blank ballot at a polling place after you check in and verify your eligibility to vote.
Finally, seal your signature envelope in the return envelope to mail it back. Return postage will be pre-printed on the return envelope. Your right to vote is protected, including when you vote by mail. Tampering with or disrupting U.S. mail is a felony.
Visit mnvotes.org to track when your ballot is sent, received and accepted. When your ballot shows "accepted" status it will be counted. This is like putting your ballot into a machine at a polling place. You can also call the elections office to check on the status of your own ballot. Voting in a partisan primary election Your next election is the state primary on Aug. 11. It is an open primary so you will not need to declare which political party's ballot you would like to vote. Each party's contest will be in one column; vote in only one column.
Vote in only one column Party A
Party B
Party C
Party D
Tip: Do not vote in more than one party's contests; this is called cross party voting and will spoil your ballot. Tip: Remember, not all contests required a primary election. If a particular office does not appear in a column it is because there were not enough candidates to require a primary. The candidate(s) who filed from that party will appear on your ballot in November.
Stay up to date on any Election Day changes through the city’s social media: Facebook, Instagram and Instagram (@stlouispark), or by signing up to receive text or email notifications at www.stlouispark.org/sign-up. Email elections@stlouispark.org or call 952.924.2503 for more information.