Wednesday, September 25, 2024

Announcing: Nevis City Council Candidate Forum: Oct 2nd


The League of Women Voters Park Rapids Area will hold a Candidate Forum for all candidates for the Nevis City Council on October 2nd beginning at 6:00 pm. It will be held at Nevis City Council Chambers, 102 Main Street West, Nevis, MN. 

 
The purpose of the Candidate Forum is to give City of Nevis voters an opportunity to hear their candidates discuss the issues of importance to them in this election.

 The candidates that have filed for Nevis City Council are: 

Jamie Caughey,
Teresa Leshovsky,
Mark Koebnick
Mary Carrier.
Sue Gray is running unopposed for mayor.   

The event is free and open to the public. The candidates will answer written questions from the public during this moderated event.

Voters attending the forum have two opportunities to submit questions to the candidates. Written questions will be accepted throughout the forum. Voters encouraged to submit questions via email by Sunday September 29th to LWV Park Rapids Area email: lwvparkrapids@lwvmn.org.

By League of Women Voter policy, the identity of the person asking the question is confidential. Any questions submitted via email will remain confidential with all identifying information removed before the event. The email option for submitting questions creates an opportunity for voters to ask questions in a more private manner because it guarantees anonymity. All questions are screened by a neutral committee to ensure that questions are applicable to all candidates, are forward looking, not personal in nature, and are addressed to subjects relevant to this forum.

League of Women Voter Candidate Forums follow the nonpartisan, unbiased and impartial format established by the League of Women Voters Minnesota. LuAnn Hurd-Lof, an LWVPRA member will moderate the forum. The League does not support or oppose political parties or candidates for public office.

Specific rules governing the Candidate Forum were given to each candidate along with information on how to prepare for the Forum.  We will be audio and video recording this Forum and making it available to voters on YouTube.
If you have any questions about this forum, please email lwvparkrapids@lwvmn.org 

Thursday, September 19, 2024

Absentee/Early Voting for the November Ballot start 9/20/24

 

Absentee/Early Voting has been a reliable way to vote in Minnesota for over a century. Absentee Voting is secure and convenient.

    As of June 1, state residents can ask to be added to a Permanent Absentee Voter List. People on the list will automatically receive a ballot in the mail for all national, state and local elections for which they are eligible to vote.
    You can ask to be added to this list when you register to vote. If you are already a registered voter, you can update your information and ask to be added to the list. Registering and updating can be done online at mnvotes.sos.mn.gov. You can also download a paper application from the Secretary of State website.

Another option to register or update your voting preference is in person at your County Election Office. You will need a Minnesota driver’s license or State ID card.

Absentee/Early ballots can be used to vote by mail or in person. Early voting for the Nov. 5 General Election starts Sept. 20.

  • In Minnesota mailed ballots must be received, (not just postmarked), on or before Election Day.
  • Absentee ballots cannot be accepted at your local polling place on Election Day. If you have not turned in your absentee ballot before election day (Nov 5th), you should destroy that absentee ballot and go to your precinct to vote in person. ( The roster at your precinct will note that you have not turned in an absentee ballot)
  • We have 9 Precincts that are Mail In-Ballot Precincts in Hubbard County. The courthouse is their precinct polling place. They can come in person to vote on Nov 5th starting at 7 am and closing at 8pm.   You can also drop that completed ballot off at the courthouse even on election day until 8 pm.
  • Any ballots received after Nov 5th will not be counted.

Absentee and Early voting in Minnesota is very secure. When your ballot is received by the County Elections Office, it is reviewed by at least two people on the Absentee Ballot Board. Trained election judges and other trained auditors serve on the Ballot Board. The review ensures the person is eligible to vote and the person voting is the one who requested the ballot. After the ballot is accepted, it is placed on the Statewide Voter Registration System (SVRS). The System ensures that someone cannot vote again on Election Day or request an additional absentee ballot.

Voters can track their ballot and confirm it was received and counted. Sign up for ballot tracking at sos.state.mn.us.

A reminder to all voters:  Over 30 years ago, Minnesotans voted to dedicate a portion of state lottery proceeds to conservation. Since then, it’s provided over $1 billion for our Great Outdoors. In November, a question to renew this funding will be on the front of every Minnesotan’s ballot. To ensure this critical funding source remains dedicated for the Great Outdoors, over 50% of voters must vote “YES.” Leaving the question blank counts as a “No” vote. If it doesn’t pass, the constitutional protection for this important conservation funding will expire.  For more information: https://www.mngreatoutdoors.org/

In the past couple of years there have been changes to Minnesota voting rules. As with any change, people have questions. The League of Voters Park Rapids Area is a non-partisan organization and a source of accurate information about voting. If you have specific questions, email lwvparkrapida@lwvmn.org. The League of Women Voters of Minnesota has been a trusted source of voter information for over 100 years, and serves communities across the state to ensure free, fair and secure elections.

FYI: Early Voting In Person Location & Hours:
Hubbard County Courthouse - 301 Court Ave., Park Rapids
September 20, 2024 through November 4 -

Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 26, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 2, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 3, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Monday, November 4, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.