A Voter's Guide to Election Day 2012 in Edina

Election day is almost upon us—Tuesday, Nov. 6, is the big day—and Patch wants to make sure you're not only equipped with information, but also the logistics of voting. Every vote matters. We want to make sure you get your red sticker.

Where to Vote

Edina has 20 precincts in total, which you can see via our handy interactive map. All precincts will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. To find the precinct in which you will vote, check the secretary of state's website, which has a very easy-to-use polling place finder.

Here is a quick rundown of the polling places in Edina:

More Voting Information

The state of Minnesota has a Voters Bill of Rights and has a wide range of allowances for people to get out and vote.

• Employers are required by law to allow employees (you) to be absent from work for the purpose of voting. You cannot be docked wages, personal leave, vacation time or otherwise penalized in any way for taking the time needed to cast a ballot. So get out there and vote.
• Long lines? Getting late? If you are in line at your polling place any time before 8 p.m., you have the right to vote, even if your ballot is cast after the polls close.
• Nowhere to leave the kids? No worries: You have the right to bring your minor children into the polling place and into the voting booth with you.
• Need help to vote? You have the right to request special assistance when voting, and if you need assistance, you may be accompanied into the voting booth by a person of your choice, except by an agent of your employer or union or a candidate.

Other Details

The Minnesota Secretary of State's website has a number of other useful election day tidbits for those with questions about:

• Getting rides to your polling place
• Polling place and ballot accessibility
• Voting challenges
• Protecting election integrity
• Information in other languages
• Frequently asked questions
• Voting for people under guardianship
• Voting for students
• Voting when you are in the hospital
• Voting when your home is in foreclosure
• Voting when you are homeless
• Voting when you fear for your safety
• Voting challenges
• Protecting election integrity

Register to Vote on Election Day

If you are not registered to vote where you currently live, you may do so at your local polling location on Election Day as long as you can provide proof of residence. 

To register at your polling place on Election Day, you must bring one of the following with your current name and address to verify your residence in the precinct:

• A valid Minnesota driver’s license, learner’s permit, Minnesota ID card or receipt for any of these.
• 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 voter registered 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.
• Both 1) a photo ID from the list below, and 2) a current bill from the list below with your current name and address in the precinct.
  • Bills can include any utility bill due within 30 days of election day.
  • Rent statement dated within 30 days of election day that itemizes utilities.

Sample Ballots

Edina will have several different ballots, with the main differences coming in the form of legislative races. Check out your sample ballots here. Remember, if you need to, you can bring a sample ballot with you inside the voting booth.

Who/What is on the Ballot?

Just about everything is on the ballot this year, from U.S. president to constitutional amendments to soil and water commissioners. Need some help sorting through all the candidates and questions?

Click on the blue links below to learn more about each candidate. An asterisk (*) denotes incumbents.

Mayor of Edina

• Jim Hovland
• Linda Masica (nonpartisan)

Edina City Council (two seats)

• Mary Brindle
• Ann Swenson
• Chad Bell (nonpartisan) 
• Wayne Dvorak (nonpartisan) 

Minnesota Senate

Senate District 49

• Keith Downey (Republican)
• Melisa Franzen (DFL)

Minnesota House of Representatives

House District 49A

• Ron Erhardt (DFL)
• Bill Glahn (Republican)

House District 49B

• Terry Jacobson (Republican)
• Paul Rosenthal (DFL)

Hennepin County Board of Commissioners

District 6

• Jan Callison (nonpartisan) *
• Dave Wahlstedt (nonpartisan)

U.S. House

Third Congressional District

• Erik Paulsen (Republican) *
• Brian Barnes (DFL)

Fifth Congressional District

• Keith Ellison (DFL) *
• Chris Fields (Republican)

U.S. Senate

• Amy Klobuchar (Democrat) *
• Kurt Bills (Republican)
• Stephen Williams (Independence)
• Michael Cavlan (Minnesota Open Progressives)
• Tim Davis (Grassroots)

Presidential Race

• Barack Obama (Democrat)/Joe Biden *
• Mitt Romney (Republican)/Paul Ryan
• Gary Johnson (Libertarian Party)/Jim Gray
• James Harris (Socialist Worker Party)/Maura Deluca
• Virgil Goode (Constitution Party)/Jim Clymer
• Dean Morstad (Constitutional Government)/Josh Franke-Hyland
• Jill Stein (Green Party)/Cheri Honkala
• Jim Carlson (Grassroots Party)/George McMahon
• Peta Lindsay (Socialism and Liberation)/Yari Osorio
• Ross C. "Rocky" Anderson (Justice Party)/Luis J. Rodriguez 

Constitutional Amendments

Recognition of Marriage Amendment

A yes or no question: Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to provide that only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Minnesota? 

Marriage between two gay individuals is not currently recognized by Minnesota law. A ballot cast with no vote on this question will count as a "no" vote. This amendment would also invalidate common-law marriages for straight couples.

• See what supporters say: Minnesota for Marriage
• See what opponents say: Minnesotans United for All Families

Voter Identification Amendment

A yes or no question: Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to require all voters to present valid photo identification to vote and to require the state to provide free identification to eligible voters, effective July 1, 2013?

• See what supporters say: Protect My Vote
• See what opponents say: Take Action MN

Three Rivers Park District, District 4

• John Gunyou
• Leigh Harrod

Soil and Water Conservation District

District 1

• Eleonore Wesserle
• Jeremy Haefs

District 3

• Marjorie Holsten
• Brian T. Peterson

District 4

• Richard B. Strong
• Andrew K. Moller

District 5

• Danny Nadeau

4th District Court Judicial Races (Hennepin County)

Judge - 4th District, Seat 2

• Francis Magill (running unopposed)

Judge - 4th District, Seat 6

• David Piper (running unopposed)

Judge - 4th District, Seat 15

• Phil Carruthers (running unopposed)

Judge - 4th District, Seat 17

• Denise D. Reilly (running unopposed)

Judge - 4th District, Seat 22

• Steven E. Antolak
• Elizabeth V. Cutter

Judge - 4th District, Seat 29

• Nancy E. Brasel (running unopposed)

Judge - 4th District, Seat 33

• M. Jacqueline Regis (running unopposed)

Judge - 4th District, Seat 35

• Daniel Mabley (running unopposed)

Judge - 4th District, Seat 40

• Jamie L. Anderson (running unopposed)

Judge - 4th District, Seat 44

• Marc Berris
• Lois Conroy

Judge - 4th District, Seat 45

• Marilyn Brown Rosenbaum (running unopposed)

Judge - 4th District, Seat 46

• Mary R. Vasaly (running unopposed)

Judge - 4th District, Seat 48

• John Q. McShane (running unopposed)

Judge - 4th District, Seat 49

• Lyonel Norris (running unopposed)

Judge - 4th District, Seat 50

• Bruce A. Peterson (running unopposed)

Judge - 4th District, Seat 59

• Patrick Robben (running unopposed)

Statewide Judicial Races

Chief Justice - Supreme Court:

• Lorie Skjerven Gildea *
• Dan Griffith

Associate Justice - Supreme Court 1 (Seat 1):

• Barry Anderson *
• Dean Barkley

Associate Justice - Supreme Court 4 (Seat 4):

• David R. Stras *
• Tim Tingelstad

Judge - Court of Appeals, Seat 6:

• Renee L. Worke (running unopposed) *

Judge - Court of Appeals, Seat 7:

• Jill Flaskamp Halbrooks (running unopposed) *

Like Edina Patch on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Sign up for our daily newsletter