Tue. Nov 5th, 2024

A voter takes an ‘I Voted’ sticker at the Brackett Recreation Center in Minneapolis. Photo by Max Nesterak/Minnesota Reformer.

Minnesotans who haven’t voted yet have a final chance today.

Voters here and nationwide will decide if Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who served a dozen years in Congress, will return to Washington as vice president under Kamala Harris.

Democratic presidential candidates have won Minnesota in 12 consecutive elections, and a victory here by former President Donald Trump would deal a devastating blow to Harris’ chances nationwide.

Some questions, answered:

How do I vote?

Here’s where to find your polling place. Use the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website to find where to vote and learn which candidates are on your ballot. You can register in person at your polling place on Election Day.

Most polling places in Minnesota are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. As long as you’re in line by 8 p.m., you can cast your ballot.

Find more information about the election, registering to vote, what kind of identification is needed (if any), and what candidates are on your ballot here.

What if I don’t have a car?

Some transit agencies throughout Minnesota will provide free rides to the polls. They include Plymouth Metrolink, Southwest Transit, Minnesota Valley Transit Authority, Duluth Transit Authority, Fargo-Moorhead Matbus, and Arrowhead Transit.

What are some key races?

In addition to Walz seeking to become Minnesota’s third vice president, DFL U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar is running for a fourth term.

She faces nominal competition in Republican Royce White, who has pleaded guilty to theft and disorderly conduct; fallen behind on child support; denigrated women and LGBTQ people; and allegedly violated campaign finance laws by illegally spending thousands in campaign donations on strip clubs and mysterious wire transfers.. He also called himself an antisemite on his own Twitter profile.

Minnesotans in the 2nd Congressional District will have a say in the state’s most competitive U.S. House contest, which could play a role in determining which party controls the lower chamber: Rep. Angie Craig, a Democrat, is seeking her fourth term, taking on first-time candidate Joe Teirab, a former county and federal prosecutor.

For many Minnesotans, the most consequential contest culminating Tuesday may be for control of the Minnesota House. All 134 House districts are on the ballot. Those races — especially about 15 battleground districts and a special state Senate election in the west metro — will determine control of the Legislature.

Lawmakers next year will make big decisions on issues like money for schools and child care, transportation, health and human services and parks, while considering legalization of sports gambling and gun regulations.

Voters will also decide on a ballot question that if passed would keep the status quo on how we spend the proceeds of Minnesota Lottery revenue for another 25 years. The money currently goes to the environment and natural resources trust fund.

A number of judicial races are also on the ballot.

How many people have voted so far?

The Legislature has made it much easier to vote early in the past decade, and many Minnesotans are taking advantage of the new convenience. The Secretary of State reports that 1,174,224 Minnesotans’ ballots have been accepted.

How many registered voters do we have in Minnesota?

Minnesota currently has nearly 3.7 million registered voters.

How many people voted in 2020?

Nearly 3.3 million voters turned out, which was a nation-leading 80% of eligible voters.

Freelance reporter Jiahong Pan contributed reporting to this story. 

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