St. Louis Park residents who want to beat the March 5 presidential nomination primary rush have a green light starting today. Early voting kicked off on Jan. 19, with locals able to cast their votes well in advance of the official primary date. St. Louis Park City Hall is opening its doors for all early birds looking to tick off their civic duty early, according to a bulletin released by the city.
The City's website stated that from Jan. 19 through March 4, those opting to vote in person can head down to the city hall between 8 a.m., and 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday. To accommodate last-minute early voters, the city clerk's office is pulling out all the stops with extended hours on Saturday, March 2, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., and Monday, March 4, the eve of Election Day, from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
For those not keen on facing the elements, absentee voting by mail is a convenient option. The city council encourages voters to squat an absentee ballot by completing an application. As detailed in their instructions, after receiving the ballot, it is crucial to follow the procedure to the letter – one that includes getting a registered Minnesota voter or a notary public to witness and sign the return envelope.
For the punctual among us, all mailed-in ballots must find their way back to city hall by 8 p.m. on Election Day, either by the post, a delivery service, or hand-delivered by a trusted person. Remember, if you're eyeing to hand over the absentee ballot in person, your local polling place won't take it – it's city hall or bust, and tardiness isn't tolerated; a minute past 8 p.m., and your ballot's out of the game, as emphasized in the announcement.
If the process leaves you scratching your head or if uncertainty looms, St. Louis Park's election staff are on standby, ready to clear the haze. Questions can be directed to the elections team either by dialing 952.924.2503 or sending your queries to [email protected]. Further information and details regarding early voting can be found on their website.
