2020 ELECTIONS - IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR VOTERS

THE FOUR MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES FOR 2020 ARE AS FOLLOWS: (in alphabetical order)
Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party
Legal Marijuana Now Party
Republican Party of Minnesota

For more information on each political party, click on the tab above titled "Political Party Info."

​PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION PRIMARY (PNP) - MARCH 3, 2020

In 2016, legislation was passed establishing a Presidential Nomination Primary (PNP), which will be held on Tuesday, March 3, 2020.  Results will determine Minnesota delegates for each major party.

Registered voters will be able to vote at their polling place on PNP day or by Absentee Ballot in the 46 days before the PNP, starting January 17, 2020.  Only major political parties will participate but only if they have nominees on the ballot.  Each major party chair will submit a list of candidates for their party at least 63 days before the Election - and will decide if there will be a write-in space on their party's ballot.  Each party will have its own ballot with only their candidates, so a voter must request the ballot of their party choice.  If a voter refuses to select a party, they will not be able to vote in the PNP.  Voters will be required to request only one party's ballot, and the ballot will only list nominees for President for the party the voter requests.

UPDATE OF 12/26/19:  Of the four major parties, only the Democratic and Republican parties have elected to participate in the 2020 Presidential Nomination Primary.  Even though the Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis and the Legal Marijuana Now parties have elected not to participate in the PNP, they will maintain their major party status in Minnesota. 

A voter's choice of party ballot will be recorded and is private data.  However, a list of who voted in a PNP and the political party each voter selected will be provided to the chair of each major political party.  How a voter voted on the ballot will be secret.  Every effort will be made by absentee and polling place officials to refrain from showing to others and/or from speaking out loud a voter's major party ballot choice.

UPDATE OF 12/26/19: Even though the Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis and the Legal Marijuana Now parties are not participating in the Presidential Nomination Primary, all four party chairs will receive the list of PNP voters and their party ballot choice.

For more information on the Presidential Nomination Primary (PNP) and other election information, visit the Minnesota Secretary of State's Office at https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/how-elections-work/presidential-primary/ or contact West St. Paul City Clerk Shirley Buecksler at 651-552-4102 or sbuecksler@wspmn.gov.

In-Person and Absentee Voting Timeline for the Presidential Nomination Primary

​January 17 to      Absentee voting period for the March 3, 2020 Presidential Nomination Primary
  March 2, 2020

February 12 to    Period in which Election Officials provide in-person absentee voting at qualified health care
  March 2, 2020  facilities (as defined in Minnesota Statute 144.50)

                           Qualified health care facilities in West St. Paul include:
                                Southview Acres Health Care CE, 2000 Oakdale Ave
                                Walker Methodist Westwood Ridge II, 1 and 61 Thompson Ave W
                                Living Well East Emerson, 41 Emerson Ave E

March 3, 2020    Presidential Nomination Primary 

ABSENTEE VOTING

All voters are allowed to vote early with an absentee ballot. Voters no longer need a valid excuse to vote by absentee ballot. All Absentee Voting is done through Dakota County. Get more information on absentee voting here!

VOTING DAY REGISTRATION

Option 1: Valid ID with Current Name and Address. Accepted IDs include: Valid Minnesota driver’s license, Minnesota learner’s permit, Minnesota ID card—or a receipt for any of these, Tribal ID card with your name, address, photo and signature.

Option 2: Photo ID with old address plus a bill due or dated within 30 days with Current Name and Address.

Option 3: A registered voter from your precinct can go with you to the polling place to sign an oath confirming your address. A registered voter can vouch for up to eight others.

Option 4: College Student ID—If a Student Housing List Was Provided. College students can use a student photo ID card if their college provided a student housing list to election officials.

Option 5: Valid Registration in the Same Precinct. If you were previously registered in the precinct, but changed names or moved within the same precinct, you only need to tell the elections official your previous name or address — no additional documentation is needed.

Option 6: Notice of Late Registration. If you pre-registered too close to election day, you may have received a Notice of Late Registration in the mail. This notice can be used to register.

Option 7: Staff Person of a Residential Facility If you live in a residential facility, a facility staff person can go with you to the polling place to confirm your name and address.

VOTING ELIGIBILITY

You are eligible to vote if you meet all three of the following criteria:

• • U.S. Citizen
• • At least 18 years old on election day
• • A resident of Minnesota for 20 days or more

There are special rules for those who received a sentence for a felony, have been declared legally incompetent by a Court and individuals under guardianship. Please contact the Secretary of State’s office or go to their website www.sos.state.mn.us for more details.

Election Judges

Would you like to learn more about the election process and the upcoming elections?  If so, consider becoming an Election Judge for the City of West St. Paul!

Election Judges are an important part of the election process and may serve as:

Head Judge - In charge of the polling place.
Greeter Judge - Directs traffic flow and maintains order in the polling place.  Provides timely information regarding a voter's correct poll location and Election Day registration documents.
Roster/Registration Judge - Signs in voters who registered in advance of Election Day.  Also registers voters who did not register in advance.  Refers voters to correct poll location if current location is incorrect.
Demonstration Judge - Explains to voters how to mark their ballot.
Ballot Judge - Provides official ballots for voters.  Explains spoiled ballot procedures.  Monitors and maintains supply of official ballots and secrecy covers.
Ballot Counter Judge - Oversees the ballot box area and gives out "I Voted" stickers.
Health Care Facility Absentee Ballot Judge - Delivers ballots to voters who reside in a health care facility or hospital.
Absentee Ballot Board Judge - Serves on a special board that processes absentee ballots.
Student Election Judge Trainees - Students age 16 and 17 can be Election Judge Trainees.  To serve, students must be a U.S. Citizen in good academic standing at a Minnesota high school (or home schooled).  They must also obtain school and parental permission and serve in the county where they reside or in an adjacent county.  Like other judges, they do not have to serve the entire day and cannot work past 10:00 p.m.  Trainees are assigned the same duties as other judges, with the exception of tasks requiring party affiliation.  Trainees do not designate party affiliation.  Trainees are not counted towards the minimum number of Election Judges required to be present.  The number of trainees may not be more than one-third of the total Election Judges present.  Trainees must attend and complete the same training as other judges.

Complete the application below or contact the West St. Paul City Clerk at 651-552-4102 for more information.

​ To be a part of this great team of Election Judges, 

​Apply here

!

Training and Certification:
You must complete an Election Judge training course before you may serve as an Election Judge.  You wil attend a class at least two hours in length, and your certification is valid for two years.  Renew your certification by repeating the course every two years.  The City Clerk/Local Election Official will keep proof of your training on file.
Head Judges and Health Care Facility Judges are required to complete an additional hour of training.  Judges assigned to an Absentee Ballot Board must also receive extra training.

Election Judges are paid for training and time worked.  Consider joining the West St. Paul team of Election Judges today!

Shirley Buecksler
City Clerk
(651) 552-4102
sbuecksler@wspmn.gov

Learn About How Elections Work in Minnesota Information is available on the Minnesota Secretary of State's Office regarding how elections work in Minnesota, including nominating a candidate, counting votes, answers to ballot questions, and more. Click here to be directed to the Secretary of State's website.

Precinct Caucuses

With the Presidential Nomination Primary, some may ask if there will be precinct caucuses in 2020.  Precinct caucuses and local and state nomination conventions will still take place for other party business.  Precinct caucuses are meetings run by the state political parties.  They are the first in a series of meetings where parties may endorse candidates, select delegates, and set goals and priorities (party platforms).

2020 Precinct Caucuses will be held on Tuesday, February 25, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.  Voting locations will be posted at www.mnvotes.org shortly before the caucus date.

MAJOR PARTIES

See Minnesota Statutes 200.2, Subd. 7 for a definition of "Major Party." Click on the party name below to open a new tab and be directed to their website.

Democratic Party

255 E. Plato Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55107
Ph: 651-293-1200

Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party

2114 E 35th St
Minneapolis, MN 55407
Ph: 651-280-7922 ​

Legal Marijuana Now Party

1835 Englewood Ave
 St. Paul, MN 55104
 Ph: 651-266-3827

Republican Party of Minnesota

525 Park St. #250
St. Paul, MN 55103
Ph: 651-222-0022

MINOR PARTIES

See Minnesota Statutes 200.02 Subd. 23 for a definition of "Minor Party." Click on the party name below to open a new tab and be directed to their website.

Green Party of Minnesota

4200 Cedar Ave S, Suite 8
Minneapolis, MN 55407
Ph: 651-288-2820

Independence Party of Minnesota

P.O. Box 40495
St. Paul, MN 55104
Ph: 651-998-9156

Libertarian Party of Minnesota

1710 Douglas Dr N, Suite 225U
Golden Valley, MN 55422
Ph: 612-440-1776


Who represents me?

Campaign Financial Disclosures

Pursuant to Minnesota Statute 211A.02, Subdivision 6, campaign financial reports received by the City of West St. Paul will be available online for four years from the date posted.  Click on the report date under the candidate name to view the individual report.

CAMPAIGN FILING FORMS AND MATERIALS

2018 Campaign Manual                                                         Cybersecurity Memo, MN OSS
Address of Residence Form                                                   IRS Filing Requirements
Affidavit of Candidacy                                                             Map Order Form, Dakota County
Affidavit of Withdrawal                                                            Map Order Form, MN OSS
Auto Dialing Device Law, MN Attorney General Memo          Placement of Signs on Trunk Highway, MnDOT
Campaign Financial Report                                                    Polling Place List Request Form, MN OSS
Campaign Financial Report Certification of Filing                  Precinct Finder Request Form, MN OSS
Candidate Name Pronunciation Guide, Dakota County         Registered Voter List Request Form, MN OSS


2020 CITY OFFICES & CANDIDATES

Mayor

Ward I Councilmember

Ward II Councilmember

Ward III Councilmember

2018 CITY OFFICES & CANDIDATES

Mayor

Anthony J. Fernandez
09-05-18
10-25-18
12-06-18

Dave Napier
06-18-18
08-04-18
10-26-18
12-06-18
Certification of Filing 12-06-18
01-29-19
Certification of Filing 01-29-19

Ward I Councilmember

Richard Vitelli
Certification of Filing 12-06-18
Certification of Filing 01-29-19

Ward II Councilmember

John Justen
09-05-18
10-17-18
10-26-18
12-06-18
Certification of Filing

Jim Probst
08-03-18
10-26-18
12-05-18 and Certification of Filing

Ward III Councilmember

Wendy Berry
08-03-18
10-23-18
12-06-18
Certification of Filing

Lisa Eng-Sarne
07-09-18
08-03-18
08-04-18
10-26-18

David Meisinger
08-02-18
10-23-18
12-05-18

John Ramsay
08-02-18
08-22-18

2016 CITY OFFICES & CANDIDATES

Mayor

Jenny Halverson
Campaign Financial Report Certification of Filing
6/27/16_1
6/27/16_2
7/18/16
7/29/16
9/14/16
10/5/16
10/31/16
11/21/16
12-29-16(a)
12-29-16(b)

Morgan Kavanaugh
7/13/16
7/29/16
1-09-17

David Meisinger
7/28/16_1
7/28/16_2
10/24/16
10/28/16
12/5/16

Ward I Councilmember

Pat Armon
8/1/16
10/28/16
01-09-17

Bob Pace
Campaign Financial Report Certification of Filing
8/11/16
10/19/16
10-23-16
01-06-17

Cass Wendlandt
11-15-16

Ward II Councilmember

John Justen
Campaign Financial Report Certification of Filing
8/1/16
08-21-16
9/20/16
10/14/16
11/3/16
12-29-16

Anthony J. Fernandez
Campaign Financial Report Certification of Filing
08-04-16
10/14/16
11/17/16

Ward III Councilmember

Dave Napier
Campaign Financial Report Certification of Filing

John Ramsay
Campaign Financial Report Certification of Filing 10-28-16
12-31-16

2020 Notice of Presidential Nomination Primary

Notice of Public Accuracy Test

November 5, 2019 School District 197 Combined Polling Sites

Resolution No. 19-021 Designating Polling Places for Municipal Elections (for 2019)

West St. Paul Precinct Map and Locations