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Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 7 — when Minnesotans will go to the polls to vote for mayors, school boards, city councils and referenda. 

Here's everything you need to know about where to vote, when to vote, how to register and what's on your ballot.

How and where to vote

Ranked-choice voting

Major initiatives and races

 on the Minnesota Secretary of State's office website.

Polling places throughout most of Minnesota are open from 

Just make sure you're in line by 8 p.m. According to state law, if you're in line by the time the polling place is scheduled to close — even if you're not at the front of the line by then — you're still eligible to vote.

If you haven't registered yet, don't worry. You can still register at your polling place on Election Day if you meet 

• You've been living in Minnesota for at least 20 days


• You don't have a court order deeming you ineligible to vote


• If you've been convicted of a felony, your sentence has been completed or discharged

To register at your polling place on Election Day, you need to bring proof of residency:


• A utility bill (dated 30 days from Election Day), a lease or a current student fee statement AND a photo ID


• A college student ID AND housing list


• A registered voter who can confirm your address


• A valid registration in the same precinct


• A staff person from a residential facility to vouch for you

Any resident registered to vote can vote absentee, or early. 

How to vote absentee

If you plan to vote absentee, keep in mind that all ballots must be turned in on or before Election Day. Absentee voting began Sept. 22. 

 You can avoid the lines and vote early in person at the city's Early Vote Center, located at 217 Third St. South. On-site voter registration is available. 

Absentee voting for Minneapolis residents

If you have already sent in your absentee ballot by mail, you can 

 through Nov. 6. You can register to vote on-site. 

Mayoral elections in St. Paul and Minneapolis are conducted through ranked-choice voting.

Under the cities' ranked-choice voting systems, also called instant runoff voting, voters choose up to three candidates and rank them — first choice, second choice, third choice (and all the way up to sixth choice in St. Paul).

In order for a candidate to win an election outright, he or she must win a majority of first-choice votes — 50 percent of all votes cast, plus one — in the first round.

If no candidate reaches that criteria, an assessment called "reallocation" will happen. According to the Ramsey County department of elections and voting: 

Major initiatives and races: Who's — and what's — on the ballot?

Voters across the state will see local referenda, vote for mayors and city council members and elect township officers and municipal board members in the voting booth Tuesday.

Sixteen candidates are running to be the next mayor of Minneapolis, including incumbent Betsy Hodges. Several sought the DFL endorsement but the party could not pick a candidate.

Who's running — and why

Candidate forum

Voters will also be electing city council members for their wards, two Board of Estimate and Taxation members, three Park and Recreation Board commissioners at large and a member for the Park and Recreation Board's districts 1 through 6. 

Ten candidates are on the ballot to become mayor of St. Paul. Incumbent Mayor Chris Coleman is not seeking re-election, opting instead to run for governor. Several candidates sought the DFL endorsement, but the party failed to pick a candidate at its city convention.


Voters will also choose among six candidates running for spots on the city's school board. 

Voters will choose two city council members at large and a council member for its 2nd and 4th districts. There are 

 running for the Duluth Public School Board in the general election. 

Voting in Duluth

Voters will have the chance to approve or deny a referendum to impose a .05 percent increase in 

 for up to 25 years. The money generated would go toward the city's street improvement program. 

$13 million operating levy renewal and increase request

. The operating levy was approved in 2007 and is set to expire at the end of the school year. Operating levy funds are used to cover the district's daily expenses, prevent budget cuts and to give students the tools they need to succeed. Approval would lead to an increase in property taxes. 

 are running to fill three open spots on the Mankato Area Public School board. 

Voters will get the chance to approve or deny an 

 increase of $365 per student while keeping up with inflation, which would result in increased property tax for Mankato residents. The increase in the levy will help day-to-day operations, prevent budget cuts and support students. 

 on the Moorhead school board, after school board member Laurie Johnson resigned last year before her term was up. 

This year's special election is required, because of the resignation. Otherwise, the city's elections are typically held in even-numbered years.

 are running to fill three open seats on the Roseville Area Schools  board. 

Voters will also be asked to approve or a deny 

 for a bond referendum of up to $144 million. 

The bond money would be used to keep up with growing enrollment rates, improved facilities and construction and maintenance projects. If approved, there would be an increase in property taxes.

South St. Paul voting

The first measure is to increase the district's operating levy by $1.3 million to help retain staff, decrease budget cuts and fund programs that help struggling students. 

The second asks to renew the district's technology levy to maintain use of up-to-date technology in classrooms, help with staff training and to give students access to technology. The last time a levy increase was approved in St. Paul was in 2009.  

Politics and Government News

NewsPartners

Cassidy Kieck

Author

Your all-inclusive guide to help you dot your I's, cross your T's and get yourself set for Election Day: Nov. 7, 2017.

Your guide to voting in Minnesota's 2017 municipal elections

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