News & Events
Early voting for general election begins Oct. 18
Oct 14, 2024
Weekend hours available for direct balloting
Early voting for the statewide general election begins Friday, Oct. 18.
Voters can cast their ballot and feed it directly into a ballot counter at the Dakota County Administration Center, Northern Service Center and Western Service Center. Early voting is also available at most city halls.
Early voting, also called direct balloting, is available at the three Dakota County service centers during the following:
Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 26, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 29, 8 a.m.–7 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 2, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 3, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 4, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Absentee voting also is underway. You may request an absentee ballot, complete it according to the enclosed instructions and return it in the envelopes provided. Absentee ballots must arrive by Election Day, Nov. 5.
Voters can also cast their ballot in person on Election Day. Polling place hours are 7 a.m.–8 p.m.
Find your polling place and apply for an absentee ballot at MNvotes.org.
Register to vote
Go to MNvotes.org to check your registration status. Eligible voters who need to register may do so at the polling place.
For more information, contact Dakota County Elections at elections@co.dakota.mn.us.
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Contact:
Mary Beth Schubert, Dakota County Communications and Public Affairs Director
marybeth.schubert@co.dakota.mn.us
651-438-8179
Post Election Review Sign Up!
If you are interested in learning more about Minnesota's election verification process and countering the growing threat of election mis-and disinformation, please consider signing-up to observe the Post-Election Review with LWVMN! The PER is a public meeting where our participation as nonpartisan observation teams across the state can make a real difference. LWVMN, with support from Citizens for Election Integrity Minnesota (CEIMN), will overview a Code of Conduct and train observers on how to report the results. Sign-Up as a Volunteer PER Observer!
Addressing Threats and Strengthening Trust in Our Elections
On September 30th, Secretary of State Steve Simon spoke with LWVMN President Laura Helmer about the threats to our election system, including misinformation that has the potential to be amplified by new AI technologies, and what the Secretary of State's Office will be doing to fight back and strengthen the trust we have in elections. Sec. Simon answered timely questions from members and attendees after an informative 30 minute presentation for all. Please check out the recording.
Here are resources to address threats and strengthen trust in our elections.
Elections411 - How Elections Work including Trusted Sources & the Voting by Mail/Absentee process.
Researching Judicial Candidates in Minnesota
League of Women Voters Minnesota does not invite judicial candidates to participate in the Vote411 Voter’s Guide due to the number of candidates across the state and associated administrative costs. This, combined with the fact that most judicial candidates want to keep a low profile makes this a practical decision. Information about judicial candidates is harder to find than it is for candidates of other offices.
However, there are a few things voters can do to learn more about candidates and make their voices heard.
Understand the Process: In Minnesota, attorneys can become judges by being elected or appointed by the Governor. Selecting and appointing judges when vacancies arise on the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and the ten Judicial District Courts in Minnesota is one of the Governor’s most important constitutional responsibilities. An estimated 90% of judges are appointed by the Governor. Appointed judges must go through a lengthy selection process before being recommended to the Governor. If appointed, they must stand for election district-wide in the next general election that is more than one year after the swearing-in date. If a candidate files to run for election, there is no vetting process and it is especially important for voters to research candidates. An elected judge’s term is 6 years.
Make your Voice Heard: Voters can sign up for news releases from the MN Judicial Selection Commission to learn about who is being appointed and to participate in the public comment periods. Public comment periods are a citizen’s best opportunity to voice their opinions on judicial candidates before their names appear on the ballot.
Get Involved: Take steps to learn and stay in the loop!
● Interested citizens (lawyers and non-lawyers) are encouraged to join the nonpartisan MN Judicial Selection Commission. This commission reviews judicial applications and makes recommendations to the Governor.
● Sign up for news releases from the Judicial Selection Commission to learn about candidates and to weigh in during the public comment period.
● Do your research. Most judicial candidates want to keep a low profile. Sitting judges’ biographies can be found on the MN Judicial Branch website. To see if a judge has been reprimanded, check MN Board on Judicial Standards.
● For new candidates (not appointed) running for election, research where they worked before, look at their social media profiles (if they have them) and search local papers for stories related to cases the candidate worked on or other related information pertaining to the candidate in order to determine if the candidate possesses the right attributes and professional experience to be a judge.