Get ready to rank your vote for city elections this fall

The following article was submitted by FairVote Minnesota:

This fall, Minneapolis has important city council races on the ballot which voters decide using ranked choice voting (RCV). In a ranked-choice election, instead of choosing just one candidate, you have the opportunity to rank your first, second, and third choices. If a candidate has more than 50% of the first-choice votes, they win. If not, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and those voters have their second choice counted. This process continues until one candidate reaches a majority and wins. Remember: Your second choice only counts if your first choice is eliminated. Rank all the candidates to give your vote as much power as possible.

Ranked choice voting eliminated local August primaries; so you only have to come to the polls once and can consider all the candidates in a single election.

Find out what’s on your ballot at myballotmn.sos.state.mn.us/ and learn more about ranked choice voting and this year’s elections at rankyourvote.org and vote.minneapolismn.gov. Early voting is open, and election day is November 7!

WPCC board approves election bylaw and calendar changes

At its Sept. 29 board meeting, the Waite Park Community Council formally adopted a bylaw change related to board elections and also approved changes to its meeting calendar for the remainder of the year.

The board of directors gave notice in July of its intent to amend its bylaws, clarifying that nominations to board seats may be made "from the floor" of its annual meeting, a long held practice that was not reflected in the organization's bylaws. The board also added a provision that it will provide a virtual or dial-in option for members who cannot attend elections in person.

Both changes were initiated to comply with new city rules for neighborhood organizations that receive city funding.

The board scheduled a series of work sessions in October to complete its application for city funding in 2023 and 2024. The application asks for details on the organization's progress engaging underrepresented groups in the neighborhood. It also requires a proposed budget for the two-year period.

The Waite Park Community Council is expected to be allocated $11,198 per year from the City of Minneapolis in 2023 and 2024, with $1,198 per year reserved for work related to improving engagement with underrepresented groups.

Board members will meet virtually on Oct. 11, in-person on Oct. 23, and, if necessary, virtually on Oct. 25 to complete the funding application and budget. Members who wish to attend may contact info@waiteparkcc.org for more information.

The council also voted to cancel its regularly scheduled board meetings in late November and December, and replace them with a single meeting on Thursday, Dec. 8, 7pm on Zoom. Agenda and login information will be posted to waiteparkneighborhood.org a few days before the meeting.

Other discussion items at the Sept. 29 meeting:

• The 2022 Waite Park Fall Festival was another success, with attendance estimated around 1,500 people. Thank you to our sponsors Turbo Tim's, Stinson Wine Beer and Spirits, Eastside Co-Op, and Larsen Dental, as well as Ready Meats for donating hot dogs and Fair State Brewing Cooperative for hosting an afterparty fundraiser.

• The neighborhood engagement survey concluded with around 300 responses. The survey consultant was compiling results to share at the Equitible Engagement Committee's meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 4.

• One property in the neighborhood (3300 Buchanan) appears on Hennepin County's tax forfeited property list. WPCC Vice President Nick Stroozas plans to attempt contact with owner and explore whether board should make recommendation to city on the resolution ahead of board's October meeting.

• The board discussed holding a neighborhood wide forum in November featuring an elected official or a panel focused on a specific topic. President Dan Haugen will reach out to Councilmember Elliott Payne's office.

The Waite Park Community Council's next regularly scheduled board meeting will take place 7pm, Thursday, Oct. 27, on Zoom.

Questions about ballot issues? City clerk explains proposed charter changes at neighborhood forum

The Waite Park Community Council invited neighbors to attend an online informational meeting on Thursday, Oct. 14, to learn about the three proposed charter amendments on the Nov. 2 city election ballot.

City Clerk Casey Carl presented information on each of the proposals before taking questions from attendees. Waite Park Community Council's aim for the meeting was to provide neighbors with information about the ballot language. The meeting was not be a forum to debate how attendees should vote.

About Casey Carl:

Casey Carl is the Minneapolis city clerk, a position he has held since August 2010. As clerk, his most important responsibility is administering elections and ensuring all voters have access to the ballot box. As the City’s records custodian and responsible authority, he also is tasked with providing management of the City’s information assets and making government data accessible to the public. Finally, he serves as the clerk and parliamentarian of the City Council and manages its legislative process.

Casey is a member of several professional industry organizations, including the International Institute of Municipal Clerks, the International Association of Governance Officials, the National Association of Election Officials, the National Association of Parliamentarians, and the Minnesota Clerks & Finance Officers Association, among others.

—Megan Ausen

Early voting underway for the Nov. 2 municipal election

Early voting is underway for the Nov. 2 municipal election. Ballots may be cast early by mail or in person at the Early Vote Center, 980 E. Hennepin Ave.

The City is mailing thousands of requested mail-in ballots to Minneapolis voters. All mail ballots need to be received by Election Day (Nov. 2) for them to count. 

If voters choose to deliver their ballot in person to the Elections & Voter Services office, it still must be returned by 3 p.m. on Nov. 2. Mail ballots cannot be dropped off at polling places on Election Day. Read more.

Find more information about voting on the City website.

If you’ve never voted before and need to register, now is the perfect time. If it’s been more than four years since you last voted, or you’ve moved or changed your name since you last registered, you’ll also need to re-register. The Office of the Secretary of State has a simple online tool to see if you are registered to vote at your current address.

As of Sept. 24, Minneapolis had 254,174 registered voters. That’s about 80% of the estimated number of voting age citizens (18 or older) in the city, which means approximately 62,000 potential Minneapolis voters are not yet registered. This includes 17-year-olds who will turn 18 on or before the Nov. 2 election and therefore can vote.

To register to vote in Minnesota, a person must be:

• A U.S. citizen.

• At least 18 years old on Election Day.

• A resident of Minnesota for 20 days.

• Finished with all parts of any felony sentence.

• You can vote while under guardianship unless a judge specifically has revoked your right to vote.

• You cannot vote if a court has ruled that you are legally incompetent.

Unlike in many states, voters can wait until Election Day to register in Minnesota. The City of Minneapolis encourages voters to register before Election Day to save time at the polling place. Voters can register online up until 11:59 p.m. Oct. 12. If a voter is dropping off a paper registration, it is due by 5 p.m. Oct. 12. If a voter misses this deadline, they may register in person at the Early Vote Center or at their polling place on Election Day.

When registering either at the Early Vote Center or on Election Day, a voter must bring proof of residence.

Find more information at vote.minneapolismn.gov

—City of Minneapolis