Pocket voting guide: 2023

Voting Guide

St. Louis Park Elections

In St. Louis Park we vote. In 2023, we will hold a local election for mayor, both council members at large A & B, and school board offices.

In this election guide you will find resources on the process of how to vote. If you have questions about your voting experience, contact us using the information on the back cover of this guide. Thank you for deciding to become a voter.

To be eligible to vote you must be:

• 18 years of age or older on the day you vote

• A United States citizen

• Maintained residence in Minnesota for 20 days before the day you vote

• Properly registered

• Not currently incarcerated for a felony sentence

Voting rights

You can't be denied the right to vote if you are legally qualified to do so.

You have the right to:

• Vote if you are registered at your current residential address

• A sk an election official for help

• Be shown how to mark and cast your ballot

• A sk for a new ballot if you made an error before you cast it

• Register on Election Day if you have proof of residence accepted under state law

• Bring your child into the voting booth

• Vote if you are in line by 8 p.m. on Election Day

• Have time off work to vote without losing your pay, personal leave or vacation time

• Use the assistive device at your polling place to mark your ballot

Accessible voting

Before Election Day

Voters with a disability, illness or any other reason can vote with an absentee ballot by mail or in person before Election Day.

Go to www.stlouisparkmn.gov/vote to learn more and request your absentee ballot.

One week before Election Day

Certain voters are eligible to designate an agent to bring a ballot to them and to return it once they have completed it. Contact the city elections office using the information on the back of this guide to learn more.

When you vote in person

• Accessible voting systems are available at each polling place. These systems may be used to mark a ballot. When you arrive at your polling place, ask an election worker for more details.

• If you can’t easily leave your vehicle to enter the polling place, you can ask to have a ballot brought out to you. This is known as curbside voting. When you arrive, call the elections line 952.924.2503 to alert election workers you are outside the polling place.

Election dates

There is one regularly scheduled election in 2023. Polls are open on Election Day from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.

You can vote before Election Day at St. Louis Park City Hall from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday.

General election

• Election Day: Nov. 7, 2023

• Absentee voting: Sept. 22 – Nov. 6, 2023

• L ast day to preregister: Oct. 17, 2023

Special hours for early voting

• Saturday before Election Day: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

• Monday before Election Day: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

On Election Day, you must vote at your assigned polling place. To vote before Election Day, you must either vote by mail or in person at city hall. You may not vote at city hall on Election Day unless it is your assigned polling place, based on where you live.

Voting before Election Day

When you vote before Election Day you may vote in person or by mail. You are strongly encouraged to consider voting before Election Day.

Voting by mail

To vote by mail, return your completed absentee ballot application and a ballot will be sent to you during the absentee voting period. When you receive your ballot, be sure to follow the provided instructions carefully. This will help ensure your ballot meets the requirements to be counted.

Voting in person

To vote absentee before Election Day, be prepared to fill out an application when you arrive at city hall. Election workers will review your application and issue you a ballot to vote on-site. Don't bring any ballot materials that may have been mailed to you previously; a new ballot will be issued on-site.

Voting on Election Day

When you vote on Election Day, you must go to your assigned polling place. You may register to vote once you arrive if needed.

• General Election Day is Nov. 7, 2023.

Polls for both elections are open 7 a.m. − 8 p.m.

Find your polling place by:

• V isiting www.stlouisparkmn.gov/vote

• C alling the election line at 952.924.2503

Follow signs to locate your polling place and find the entrance marked with a "vote here" sign.

When you arrive, an election worker will greet you at the voting room entrance. Please follow their instructions carefully.

Note: If you move, your polling place may change. You must vote in the precinct you live in on Election Day. Be sure to update your registration each time you move or change your name.

How to mark a ballot

To vote on a paper ballot

For all races on the ballot, completely fill in the oval(s) next to your choice(s). Ask an election worker if you have questions about how to mark your ballot.

Ranked-choice voting Multi-seat

To vote on the assistive device

1. All contests on your ballot will appear on the screen, mark your selections. Your choices will be printed on your ballot by the device.

2. When you are finished, insert your marked ballot into the ballot counter.

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Voter registration

You do not need an ID to vote. However, you may need proof of residence to register to vote if you are not registered at your current address or if your name has changed. To register on the same day you vote, bring proof of residence from section A, B, or C. To update your voter registration online, visit the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website, mnvotes.org, at least 21 days before Election Day.

A. ID with current name and address

• Valid Minnesota driver’s license, learner’s permit or ID; or a receipt for any of these

• Tribal ID with name, address, photo and signature

B. Registered voter who can confirm your address

A registered voter from your precinct can go with you to the polling place to sign an oath confirming your address, known as vouching. A registered voter can vouch for up to eight voters. You can't vouch for others if someone vouched for you.

C. Photo ID and a document with current name and address; the ID can be expired

Approved photo IDs (choose one)

• Driver’s license, state ID or learner’s permit issued by any state

• U.S. passport

• U.S. military or Veteran ID card

• Tribal ID with name, signature and photo

• Minnesota college ID

• Minnesota high school ID

Approved documents (choose one)

• Bill, account or start-of-service statement due or dated within 30 days of the election for:

͵Phone, TV, internet

͵S olid waste, sewer, electric, gas, water

͵Banking or credit card

͵Rent or mortgage

• Residential lease or rent agreement valid through Election Day

• Current student fee statement

LEGEND

46A (north) / 46B (south) district line

Precincts

How a ranked-choice race is counted

How is a winner declared?

• All of the first-choice votes are added up.

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

50% plus one vote

50% plus one vote

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 the remaining candidates are counted again.

• This process is repeated until:

͵A candidate has 50% plus one of the total votes cast for that office. OR

͵Only two candidates remain.

How a ranked-choice race is counted

Correct:

Choose a different candidate in each column.

Incorrect:

Do NOT choose more than one candidate in a column.

To rank less than three candidates, leave column(s) blank.

Vote will not count for this race.

• Rank up to three different candidates for each city office.

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

• If you wish to rank your second and/or third choices, you will select them in the corresponding second and third columns on the ballot.

• Always vote from left to right.

School board elections

Flip your ballot

Your ballot is two sided, one side has school board offices and one side has city offices. The voting method is different; read the instructions on the ballot carefully. See an election worker if you have questions.

To vote in a school board election, you can select up to as many candidates as are allowed from a single list on your ballot, read the instructions carefully. The candidates with the most votes will be elected.

Which school district do I live in?

Most St. Louis Park residents are located in ISD 283 (St. Louis Park Public Schools), but some residents live in other school districts. Contact the elections office to find out which school district you live in if you are unsure. If you have questions about school board offices, contact your school district.

Get involved

There are several ways for you to get involved with elections in St. Louis Park. Here are a few options:

• Become an election worker or trainee election worker (people who are 16 or 17 years old)

• Talk with a friend or neighbor about voting (use this guide!)

• Hold an event in your neighborhood

• Hold a voter registration drive

• Help a voter witness a vote by mail ballot

• Help us spread the word by sharing an elections related social media post from an official government source (follow @stlouispark on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram)

• Educate neighbors on upcoming election dates or rules

• Invite the elections team to speak with or visit your group

Candidates are placed on a ballot in St. Louis Park after they file for office.

Candidate filing for city offices will will open Aug. 1 and close at 5 p.m. Aug. 15, 2023. You may file at the city clerk’s office, 5005 Minnetonka Blvd.

The city clerk’s office is open Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

To file for the office of council member, you must:

• Complete an affidavit of candidacy

• Pay the $20 filing fee

• File a nominating petition signed by at least 50 registered voters qualified to vote for the office and who have not signed another petition for a different candidate for that same office

To file for the office of school board office, you must:

• Complete an affidavit of candidacy

• Pay the $2 filing fee

All of these requirements must be completed during the filing period.

General election

In November, you will vote for local offices. This includes one race for mayor and both at large council members A & B. You are eligible to vote in every race on your ballot.

Election workers will be prepared to help you when you are ready to vote. Please plan ahead and be prepared. Make sure you are registered to vote.

Remember, campaigning is not allowed within 100 feet of a polling place or anywhere on public property. This includes wearing clothing that promotes a candidate on the ballot.

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Check in.

See an example ballot.

Pick up and complete your ballot.

Place your ballot into the ballot counter.

Have questions? Ask an election worker.

Frequently asked questions

If I requested an absentee ballot by mail but didn’t return it, can I vote on Election Day?

Yes. If you did not vote before Election Day you may vote at your assigned polling place. Don't bring your absentee ballot to the polling place; you will be given a new ballot after checking in.

I am not registered to vote. Can I still vote before Election Day?

Yes. After applying for an absentee ballot, you will be provided with the necessary registration materials. You will still be required to provide proof of residence; see page 10 for details.

I voted by absentee but want to change my vote. Can I do that?

Yes. You may change your vote if it is prior to the deadline in state law. Call 952.924.2503 for more information.

Can I get materials in other languages?

Yes. If you need materials in another language, contact our elections team using the contact information on the back of this guide.

Can I view an example ballot?

Yes. Example ballots are available 46 days before each election. You can pick up an example ballot at St. Louis Park City Hall. You may also receive one by contacting the elections line at 952.924.2503 or viewing one online at www.stlouisparkmn.gov/vote.

English is not my first language. Can I bring a translator to the polling place?

Yes. You can bring a trusted friend or family member to help you mark your ballot. In most cases, election workers can also provide you with a translator over the phone.

I am concerned about the security of our elections. Where can I learn more?

Emergency plans are prepared for each election to ensure it is safe to cast a ballot. To learn more about Minnesota’s election data integrity and cybersecurity, visit the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website at mnvotes.org.

For more information, call 952.924.2503 or visit www.stlouisparkmn.gov/vote.

Ranked-choice voting frequently asked questions

Is there a benefit to ranking choices?

You have the option to rank your choices for each city office. You are not required to rank. Others who have used the system believe that having the option to rank their choices allows them more opportunity to have their voice heard. Voters who choose to rank essentially have the chance to say, “If my first choice is not elected, this is the next candidate I would like to see elected."

Does my vote count if I rank the same candidate for each choice?

Yes. However, votes will count one time for that candidate. Ranking the same candidate for all three choices will not increase their chance of winning. It’s generally considered the same as leaving two of the choices blank.

Ranked-choice voting frequently asked questions

Does my vote count if I skip a ranking or leave one of the choices blank?

Yes. All valid votes cast on a ballot will be counted. Skipping a ranking or choosing not to vote for a particular office on the ballot is called an undervote. You are allowed to rank up to three choices for each city office and may vote for each office that appears on your ballot. Similar to what happens now, you can choose to vote for as many or as few of the offices on the ballot as you choose.

If I rank three choices, do three votes get counted?

No. Each voter only gets one vote counted. If a winner can be declared after all first-choice votes are counted, the second and third choice votes are never counted. If a candidate is eliminated, all votes for that candidate are transferred to the next highest candidate chosen on those ballots.

How to register if you are:

• A college student

College students should register to vote from the address they currently consider home. For many students, this is likely a school address or the house of an adult who cares for them.

• Homeless

If you are experiencing homelessness, you can register to vote using the location where you sleep as your address. You will need to go to the polling place with someone who is eligible to vote in your precinct and can confirm where you are living.

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In the military or living abroad

If you are currently serving in the military or are a citizen living abroad temporarily or indefinitely, you can have an absentee ballot sent to you wherever you are. Your ballot application also serves as a voter registration application.

• Moving on or close to Election Day

To vote in Minnesota, you must live in the state for at least 20 days before Election Day. If you are moving within the state near Election Day, you must register to vote from the address you currently consider home.

Yard signs

Yard signs can't be restricted in size and number beginning 46 days before an election. Ten days after the general election has been held, and at all other times, a sign may be regulated by St. Louis Park city ordinance and state law. Please consult applicable rules before placing a sign or call 952.924.2592 for more information.

Yard signs can’t be recycled in St. Louis Park. These signs may be kept for future use, for an adapted use or discarded as waste. You may choose to check with the campaign that distributed the election sign to see if they are collecting these signs following the election.

Yard signs

yard signs