INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 16
GENERAL ELECTION
November 6, 2007

VOTING TIMES AND LOCATIONS

Voting Times

The General Election on November 6, 2007 will take place between the hours of
7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Voting Locations

a.  All residents of Spring Lake Park District 16 living in the City of Blaine shall
     vote at Westwood Intermediate School, located at 701 - 91st Avenue NE,
     Blaine.   Directions: From Highway 65/Central Ave., go west on 89th Ave.  Turn
     right on Jackson St.  Proceed to 91st Ave. NE and turn left.  Go one block, turn
     right on “Westwood School Road.” Click here for MAP

b.  All residents of Spring Lake Park District 16 living in the Cities of Spring Lake
     Park and Fridley,  shall vote at Woodcrest Elementary School, located at 880
     Osborne Road, Fridley, MN.  Directions: Take Highway 65/Central Ave. to
     Osborne Rd.  Go west for two blocks.  Turn left on Van Buren St. to enter the
     parking lot. Click here for MAP

If you are unsure of your voting location or school district, you can find that information at www.sos.state.mn.us, click on election center, click on voting, and complete the information requested.

QUALIFICATIONS OF VOTERS

General Qualifications

Voter eligibility requirements for Minnesota elections are specified in M.S. 201.014 to 201.018.  An individual who meets the stated requirements at the time of an election is eligible to vote.  The individual must:

  • be 18 or more years of age;
  • be a citizen of the United States;
  • be a resident of the school district; and
  • maintain residence in Minnesota for 20 days immediately preceding the election.  (M.S. 201.014, Subd. 1).

The following persons are NOT eligible voters:

  • Any person who has been convicted of treason or any felony, whose civil rights have not been restored;
  • Any person who is under a guardianship of the person;
  • Any person who is found by a court of law to be legally incompetent;
  • Any person who is not properly registered.   (M.S. 201.014, Subd. 2; 208.018.

VOTER REGISTRATION

An individual wishing to vote in a school district election must register under the permanent voter registration system contained in M.S. Chapters 201 and 203B. (M.S. 201.018, Subd. 2).  The law establishes a permanent system of voter registration by county with a single, official, centralized, interactive computerized statewide voter registration list defined, maintained, and administered at the state level that contains the name and registration information of every legally registered voter in the state, and assigns a unique identifier to each legally registered voter in the state.

Method of Registration

An individual may register to vote in person or by mail except during the 20 days immediately preceding any regularly scheduled election.  A registration that is received no later than 5:00 p.m. on the 21st day preceding any election shall be accepted.  (M.S. 201.061., Subd. 1).  A person not registered to vote may register on election day by completing a voter registration application, making an oath as prescribed by the Secretary of State and providing proof of residence.  (M.S. 201.061, Subd. 3).  A person may prove residence on election day only 

  • by presenting
    a.  a valid Minnesota driver's license, learner's permit, or a receipt for either
         that contains the voter's valid address in the precinct;
    b.  a valid Minnesota identification card issued by the Minnesota Department
         of Public Safety or a receipt for the identification card that contains the
         voter's valid address in the precinct; or
    c.  a current student identification card that contains the student's valid
         address in the precinct, a current student fee statement that contains
         the student's valid address in the precinct, or a copy of a current student
         registration card that contains the student's valid address in the precinct;
  • by having a valid registration in the same precinct under a different address;
  • by presenting notice of late registration mailed by the county auditor or municipal clerk; or
  • by having a person who is registered to vote in the precinct or who is an employee employed by and working in a residential facility in the precinct and vouching for a resident in the facility sign an oath before an election judge stating that he or she personally knows the individual is a resident of the precinct.

An eligible voter may also prove residence by presenting an approved photo identification card and one of the authorized additional proofs of residence specified below.  The following documents are acceptable photo identification cards if they contain the voter's name and photograph:

  • a Minnesota driver's license or identification card;
  • a United States passport;
  • a United States military identification card or
  • a student identification card issued by a Minnesota post-secondary educational institution.  An original bill for gas, electric, telephone, cable television, solid waste, water or sewer services is acceptable as an individual proof of residence if:
    a.  the bill shows the voter's name and current address in the precinct; and
    b.  the due date on the bill is within 30 days before or after election date.

ABSENTEE BALLOTS

Who May Vote by Absentee Ballot

a.  Unable to Go to Polling Place.  An eligible voter who reasonably expects to be
      unable to go to the polling place in the precinct where the individual maintains
      residence because of absence from the precinct, illness (including illness or
      quarantine under applicable federal law) , disability, religious discipline,
      observance of a religious holiday or service as an election judge in
      another precinct may vote by absentee ballot.  (M.S. 203B.02, Subd. 1(a))

b.  An eligible voter may apply to a county auditor or municipal clerk for status as an
     ongoing absentee voter who reasonably expects to meet the requirements of
     section 203B.02, subdivision 1.  Each applicant must automatically be provided
     with an absentee ballot application for each ensuing election other than an election
     by mail conducted under section 204B.45, and must have the status of ongoing
     asentee voter indicated on the voters registration record. 

     Ongoing absentee voter status ends on:  (1) the voter's written request; (2) the
     voter's death; (3) return of an ongoing absentee ballot as undeliverable; (4) a
     change in the voter's status so that the voter is not eligible to vote under section
     201.15 or 201.155; or (5) placement of the voter's registration on inactive
     status under section 201.171.

c.  Declaration of Emergency.  If the Governor has declared an emergency and filed
     the declaration with the Secretary of State, and if the declaration states that the
     emergency has made it difficult for voters to go to the polling place on election
     day, any voter in a pr4ecinct covered by the declaration may vote by absentee
     ballot.

d.  Military Service; Temporary Absence.  An eligible voter who is either in the
     military, or is a spouse or dependent of an individual serving in the military, or
     who is temporarily outside the territorial limits of the United States may vote by
     absentee ballot.  (M.S. 203B.02, Subd. 2).  (See section below.)

e.  Permanent Residence Abroad.   A United Sates citizen living permanently
     outside the United States who is eligible under federal law to vote in federal
     elections in Minnesota may vote by absentee ballot but is not eligible to vote in
     school district elections.  (M.S. 203B.16, Subd. 2).

f.  Absent Voters in the Military or Outside the United States.  M.S. 203B.16 to
     203B.27 provide alternative voting procedures for eligible voters who are
     absent from the precinct where they maintain residence because they are
     either in the military or the spouses or dependents of individuals serving
     in the military or are temporarily outside the territorial limits of the United
     States.

Application for Absentee Ballot

An application for an absentee ballot is available through Anoka County Elections.  Office of the Secretary of State, or from Kathy Serpinas at the District Office located at 8000 Highway 65 NE, Spring Lake Park, MN  55432, or by clicking on the absentee ballot application form below.  Absentee voting begins October 5, 2007.  The last day to apply for an absentee ballot is the day prior to the date of election.

Absentee Ballot Application Form

ELECTION CONTACTS

If you have any questions or need clarification regarding the General Election, contact Kathy Serpinas at (763) 785-5513 or contact the following:

Minnesota Secretary of State - Elections
100 Constitution Avenue
180 State Office Building
St. Paul, MN  55155-1299
(651) 215-1440
www.sos.state.mn.us/election

Anoka County Elections
325 East Main Street
Anoka, MN  55303
(763) 323-5275
www.co.anoka.mn.us