Welcome to the City of Saint Peter election information page!  In this section, you’ll learn:   Election Information – Just who is in charge of elections in Saint Peter? Who is eligible to vote – What does the law say about who can and cannot vote. Where do I vote – Depending on which precinct I live in, where do I go to cast my ballot? Registering to vote – What do I need to register both before the election and on election day Absentee voting – How do I vote if I can’t go to the polls on election day? Filing for office – If I want to be on the City Council, how do I start? Serving as an election judge – How can I help out on election day?

ELECTION INFORMATION:

Elections are held in the City of Saint Peter every year in cooperation with the Nicollet County Auditor/Treasurer’s office. 

The City Administrator’s office administers elections.  During even years, the ballot includes federal, state, and county races. 

During odd years, the ballot includes City Council (Mayor and Councilmembers) and School District races.

As provided for in State Statute, polls are open from 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. each election day.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE?

You may vote in Minnesota on the next election day if you

• will be at least 18 years old on election day;
• are a citizen of the United States;
• will have resided in Minnesota for 20 days immediately preceding election day;
• are not under court-ordered guardianship in which the court order revokes your right to vote;
• have not been found by a court to be legally incompetent to vote; and
• have the right to vote because, if you have been convicted of a felony, your felony sentence

has expired (been completed) or you have been discharged from your sentence.

WHERE DO I VOTE?

Please click here http://www.saintpetermn.gov/city/wherevote.php or the link at the top of this page to see information on where to vote.

REGISTERING TO VOTE:

 
To vote in Minnesota, you must first register as a voter and there are a couple of ways to do so depending on when you register.

Before the election.  At least twenty (20) days before the election, voters may register to vote by completing a voter registration application either by mail or in-person. 

·         By mail. Voter registration applications are available on-line at the Secretary of State’s website at http://www.sos.state.mn.us/home/index.asp?page=204.

                  The registration application must be completed and returned to the address indicated by no later than twenty days before the election. 

·         In person.  Voter registration applications are available at City Hall (227 South Front Street) or at the Nicollet County Government Center (501 South Minnesota Avenue).

On Election Day.  If you miss the deadline for pre-registration, you can still vote however. To register at your polling place on Election Day, you must

have one of the following with your current name and address in the precinct to verify your residence:

• A valid Minnesota driver’s license, learner’s permit, Minnesota ID card, or receipt for any of these
• A valid student ID card including your photo, if your college has provided a student housing list to election officials
• A Tribal ID card that contains your picture and signature 
• A valid registration in the same precinct under a different name or address 
• A notice of late registration sent to you by your county auditor or city clerk
• A registered voter in the same precinct as you who can confirm your address with a signed oath
• An employee of the residential facility where you live who can confirm your address with a signed oath

Alternatively, you may provide both 1) a photo ID from the list below, and 2) a current utility bill with your current name and address in the precinct. 

(Note….the utility bill must be in the voter’s name to be used.)

ABSENTEE VOTING:

You can vote by absentee ballot if you are unable to vote in person on Election Day because you are:

• away from home
• ill or disabled
• an election judge serving in a precinct other than your own
• unable to go to the polling place due to a religious observance or belief.

The easiest way to vote by absentee ballot is to do so in person before the election.  Absentee ballots are available during even year elections from the Nicollet County Auditor (501 South Minnesota Avenue) or at the City Administrator’s Office at City Hall (227 South Front Street) for elections occurring during odd numbered years.  Ballots are usually available 30 days prior to Election Day. 

To obtain an absentee ballot, you must first complete an Absentee Ballot Application and return it to either the County Auditor or the City Administrator’s office.  Your ballot will be sent to you as soon as ballots are available. 

The Secretary of State’s office has also set up a special website to help military and overseas voters vote by absentee ballot.  That site is https://minnesota.overseasvotefoundation.org/overseas/home.htm.

FILING FOR OFFICE:

Residents interested in filing for the offices of Mayor (2-year term) or Councilmember (4-year term) must do so at the City Administrator’s office during the filing period prescribed by State law.  (This is a two week period that begins 70 days before the election.)  The filing fee is $2.  Elections for these positions are held during odd numbered years.

Residents interested in filing for other offices should call the County Auditor for further information (507-934-0348).

SERVING AS AN ELECTION JUDGE:

The City is always looking for residents to serve as election judges.  To be eligible for appointment as an election judge, an election judge must be:

·         eligible to vote in the State of Minnesota; and

·         affiliated with a major political party; and

·         able to read, write and speak English; and

·         appointed by the City Council; and

·         trained and currently certified as an election judge.

An election judge cannot be:

·         a candidate in that election (i.e. be running for an office on the ballot used in that precinct); or

·         the husband, wife, parent, child, brother, or sister of a candidate or another judge in the same precinct; or

·         a challenger.

We love kids!  High school students aged 16 and 17 can be trainee judges and we love to work with them. (Students 18 and over can serve as full-fledged judges.)  Students must be in good academic standing, and have permission from their school and parents. Trainee judges perform most of the same duties as the adult judges (except those requiring judges of different political affiliations) and are paid for their service.  Trainee judges cannot work past 10:00 p.m.

All Judges must attend a mandatory training session before the election and are paid at the rate of $7.75 per hour for their service.  While most judges work all day on election day, part-time positions are sometimes available.

If you would like to be considered for appointment as an election judge, or for more information on how you can serve your community in this way, please contact the City Administrator’s office at 934-0663 or send us an e-mail at barbaral@saintpetermn.gov.