General Election 2016 Tuesday, Polls are open November 8
2016
Plan ahead – Prepare to vote!
City elections website: slpmn.us/elections
Voting is your opportunity to be heard, hold elected officials accountable and have a say in important issues that affect your community. Record voter turnout is expected on Election Day. Voters are encouraged to plan ahead to make their trip to the polls as efficient as possible.
Elections hotline: 952.924.2503
Contents
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 City of St. Louis Park is here to help you get ready to vote. Here are some of the most common questions we are asked during election season:
2 Absentee voting Direct balloting 3 E-poll books Candidate information 4 Campaign signs Election Day travel tips
• Am I eligible to vote? • Am I registered to vote?
St. Louis Park Polling Locations
Shelard Parkway
Precinct 13 169
394
d
Burlin
No gton
rthern
Precinct 12
46A
33rd St W
District Line
Precinct 10
46B
Precinct 9
Precinct 1 Minnetonka Blvd
Precinct 11 7
7
Texas Ave
Precinct 4
els Exc
Precinct 8 3
Excelsior Way
100
WARD 1
5
25
Blv ior
d
Precinct 7
3
Please note: The Secretary of State’s Office has many voting materials and forms available in ten languages – Spanish, Hmong, Somali, Vietnamese, Russian, Chinese, Lao, Oromo, Khmer and Amharic. Visit slpmn.us/elections or call the Elections hotline at 952.924.2503 for more information on how to access these materials.
• The facility is located within one mile of a boundary for Precinct 16 and fulfills the statutory and ADA requirements for a polling location. • All registered voters in the precinct were mailed notification of the change by Hennepin County in the first week of July, prior to the Primary election. • Watch your mailbox! Another notification reminding voters of the new voting location will be sent to all registered voters in Precinct 16 beginning October 15. The notification is a postcard from Hennepin County that contains the important details regarding the new voting location. • For the General Election, voting will take place in the St. Louis Park Middle School gymnasium. Voters should enter through the main doors and follow posted signage inside of the building directing them to the gym.
WARD 3
Precinct 2 - Peter Hobart Elementary School, 6500 26th St W
Precinct 10 - Lenox Community Center, 6715 Minnetonka Blvd Precinct 11 - St. Louis Park Senior High School, 6425 33rd St W
Precinct 1 – Beth El Synagogue, 5225 Barry St. W. Precinct 4 - Central Community Center, 6300 Walker St Precinct 2 – Peter Hobart Elementary School, 6500 26th St. W. Precinct 3 – St. Louis Park City Hall, 5005 Minnetonka Blvd. Precinct 4 – Central Community WARD 2Center, 6300 Walker St.
To find the answers to all these questions and more visit slpmn.us/elections or call the Elections hotline at 952.924.2503.
Precinct 9 - Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 8115 State Highway 7
Precinct 3 - St. Louis Park City Hall, 5005 Minnetonka Blvd
WARD 1
17
44th St
St. Louis Park Polling Locations
Precinct 1 - Beth El Synagogue, 5225 Barry St W
Precinct 100 3
Precinct 6
Precinct 5
169
• What is on my ballot?
• The City Council formally approved St. Louis Park Middle School, located at 2025 Texas Ave., as the new polling place in May 2016.
5
Louisiana Ave
5
• Where do I vote?
• In late January the city was notified that the Sabes Jewish Community Center would not be available for use as a polling place for the 2016 elections cycle.
Douglas Ave
RR
Precinct 2
169
Edgemore Dr
Precinct 16
France Ave
Louisiana Ave
100
Natchez Ave
Flag Ave
eR La k
• How do I register to vote on Election Day?
St. Louis Park Middle School, 2025 Texas Ave. S.
394
Precinct 15 r da Ce
• How do I register to vote before Election Day?
Precinct 16 location change –
394
Precinct 14
7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
WARD 2
Precinct 5 – Union Congregational Church, 3700 Alabama Ave. S. Precinct 12 - Aquila Elementary School, 8500 31st St W Precinct 6 – St. Louis Park Rec Center, 3700 Monterey Dr. Precinct 7 – Susan Lindgren Elementary School, 4801 41st St. W. Precinct 8 – AldersgateWARD United Methodist Church, 3801 Wooddale Ave. S. 4
Precinct 5 - Union Congregational Church, 3700 Alabama Ave S
Precinct 13 - Westwood Lutheran Church, 9001 Cedar Lake Rd
Precinct 6 - St. Louis Park Rec Center, 3700 Monterey Dr
Precinct 14 - Park Assembly Church, 1615 Texas Ave S
Precinct 7 - Susan Lindgren Elementary School, 4801 41st St W
Precinct 15 - Peace Presbyterian Church, 7624 Cedar Lake Rd
Precinct 8 - Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 3801 Wooddale Ave S
Precinct 16 - St. Louis Park Middle School, 2025 Texas Ave S
WARD 3 Precinct 9 – Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 8115 State Hwy. 7 Precinct 10 – Lenox Community Center, 6715 Minnetonka Blvd. Precinct 11 – St. Louis Park Senior High School, 6425 33rd St. W. Precinct 12 – Aquila Elementary School, 8500 31st St. W.
WARD 4 Precinct 13 – Westwood Lutheran Church, 9001 Cedar Lake Rd. Precinct 14 – Park Assembly Church, 1615 Texas Ave. S. Precinct 15 – Peace Presbyterian Church, 7624 Cedar Lake Rd. Precinct 16 – St. Louis Park Middle School, 2025 Texas Ave. S.
General Election 2016 Can’t go to the polls on Election Day? Vote absentee. If you can’t get to the polls on Election Day you can still vote. Absentee voting means voting by mail or in person before Election Day instead of at a polling place. Absentee ballots are available 46 days before an election. Any eligible voter may choose to vote by absentee ballot for any reason. Here is what you need to know: • Absentee ballots for the General Election are available until November 7 at 5 p.m. • City Hall is open for absentee voting Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. • You can request an absentee ballot online at slpmn.us/elections or by calling 952.924.2503.
New for 2016 – Direct balloting • All eligible voters can now vote in-person at City Hall beginning Nov. 1 and place their ballots directly into a ballot counter. • Votes will be counted immediately, but results will not be reported until the polls close on Election Day, November 8. • For the 2016 General Election, direct balloting will be available at City Hall November 1 – 7.
Tuesday, November 8 Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
What are the benefits of direct balloting? • Vote at a time that is convenient for you • Have confidence that your ballot is immediately counted • Voter is able to verify that their ballot was properly filled out and accepted by the counting machine • Avoid the hassle of placing absentee ballots into a series of envelopes • Avoid traveling to your polling place on Election Day and waiting in longer lines to vote This change also helps election officials by providing: • Faster results reporting on election night • Increased savings in time and materials to administer the election
How do I vote if I am serving in the military or living abroad? There are special forms and procedures to make voting easier for Minnesotans who are serving in the military or are otherwise overseas. A spouse, parent, sibling or child age 18 and over can apply for an absentee ballot on your behalf. For more information visit slpmn.us/elections or call 952.924.2503.
• The City Clerk’s office will be open extended hours for direct balloting on the following dates: – November 5, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. – November 7, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
2 • City elections website: slpmn.us/elections • Elections hotline: 952.924.2503
Tuesday, November 8 Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
General Election 2016
E-poll books used by Hennepin County precincts for 2016 elections In 2014, the state legislature authorized the use of electronic poll books. These devices are secure tablet computers that replace the paper voter check-in process. The City of St. Louis Park is joining 43 other cities in Hennepin County to use e-poll books during the 2016 elections cycle. Paper records will still be available for backup, however election judges will only use them in case of technical difficulties. Each polling place has an average of four e-poll books; this may vary based on the size of the precinct. E-poll books have been piloted in multiple past elections in Hennepin County, including in Minnetonka. The e-poll books were also successfully used in St. Louis Park during the 2016 Primary election. Jurisdictions in 32 states currently use e-poll books. Our specific product, the KNOWiNK Poll Pad, has been used in 12 states and over 60 counties across the country. Our election judges have devoted a lot of time and effort to ensure they are trained on how to use the new e-poll books. Voters will see the following changes:
Benefits of e-poll books:
• Voters can choose any line to check in. They no longer need to find the specific line designated for their last name.
• Streamlines and standardizes voter check-in process and improves traffic management inside the polling place
• Election judges will check-in registered voters via iPad, rather than paper binders.
• Improves accuracy of check-in process
• Election judges will register new voters via iPad, rather than paper forms. • Voters will sign their name on a small slip of paper rather than in a binder.
• Improves voter privacy • Improves accuracy and efficiency of Election Day registration process • Provides greater clarity and instructions for election judges
Candidate information We understand that voters are interested in learning more information regarding the candidates that appear on their 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 on candidates: • Search candidate filings on the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website: candidates.sos.state.mn.us • The Sun Sailor typically runs information on local candidates. The timing and contents of this article is not under the city’s control. For more information contact the Sun Sailor directly.
3 • City elections website: slpmn.us/elections • Elections hotline: 952.924.2503
Tuesday, November 8
General Election 2016
Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Are campaign signs regulated?
Election Day travel tips
When elections season begins residents and visitors will begin 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).
On November 8 the polls will be open for voting from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Because record voter turnout is expected, here are a few helpful tips to keep in mind before you head to the polls on Election Day:
Keep in mind:
• Peak voting times are typically right away in the morning, 7 – 8 a.m. and immediately after work, 5 – 6 p.m. Try to visit the polls during non-peak voting hours whenever possible.
• Political 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. • Political signs should not be placed on the public right-of-way or on any publicly owned property, including boulevard trees and utility poles.
• Allow yourself more time for potential traffic delays on Election Day, especially during peak voting hours. • Allow yourself more time for parking – follow posted signage, be patient and BE SAFE!
• Political signs must not obstruct the vision at an intersection or otherwise create a hazard to public safety.
• Wait times at the polls will vary throughout the day. Election judges will move people in and out of the polling location as quickly as possible. However, given the high voter turnout that is expected, voters should expect to wait in line for a short time at their polling place.
Campaign Sign Help
• Be sure to know your precinct number and polling location (see page 1 of this insert) before you leave to vote. Look for signs showing the precinct number as you near your voting location.
If you have questions regarding campaign signs in St. Louis Park, please contact the Inspections Department at 952.924.2588. Campaign signs are NOT allowed on: Publicly owned land (schools, public building, parks, etc.)
Traffic Islands
Street Signs, Signals, Fire Hydrants
Utility Poles
• When you are ready to enter your polling place, look for the traditional “Vote Here” sandwich board signs. These will be located near the entrance you should use at your polling place.
4 • City elections website: slpmn.us/elections • Elections hotline: 952.924.2503