ISD 197 School Board Race: How To Vote Early

DAKOTA COUNTY, MN — As of last Friday, voters in Dakota County can cast their ballots for the Nov. 2 municipal election.

Residents of Independent School District 197, which encompasses Mendota Heights, Eagan and West Saint Paul, will be voting for school board members.

Patch Candidate Profiles

Patch has asked candidates running for office this fall to answer questions about their campaigns. We will be publishing candidate profiles over the coming weeks.

• Patch Candidate Profile: Robert Reese For ISD 197 School Board
• Patch Candidate Profile: Morgan Steele For ISD 197 School Board
• Patch Candidate Profile: John Chandler For ISD 197 School Board
• Patch Candidate Profile: Mark Grondahl For ISD 197 School Board
• Patch Candidate Profile: Marcus Hill For ISD 197 School Board
• Patch Candidate Profile: Tim Aune For ISD 197 School Board
• Patch Candidate Profile: Sarah Larsen For ISD 197 School Board
• Patch Candidate Profile: Jon Vaupel For ISD 197 School Board

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Key dates to know for early voting

• Early voting period: Sept. 17 — Nov. 1
• Early registration deadline: Tuesday, Oct. 12
• Suggested deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot: Tuesday, Oct. 19
• Election Day, deadline to return mail-in ballot: Tuesday, Nov. 2.
  • Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m
  • Mail-in ballots can be dropped off at County Administration Center in Hastings.
• Early in person voting: Oct. 26-Nov. 1

Register to vote online
Minnesota has same-day voter registration, which means you can register to vote at your polling place on Election Day. However, if you want to vote early by mail, election officials suggest registering as soon as possible online.Check or update your voter registration on the Secretary of State website.

Vote early in-person
Residents who want to vote early in-person can do so at Two Rivers High School, located at 1897 Delaware Ave. in Mendota Heights, or the County Administration Center on Highway 55 in Hastings.

Vote early by mail

• If you haven't requested your mail-in ballot yet but plan to vote by mail, you can do so here.
  • You can check the status of your ballot — from the time you request it all the way until it's counted — on the Minnesota Secretary of State website.
• Mail-in ballots will not count if they are received after Election Day and should be mailed about a month beforehand.
• You can mail your ballot to "Administration Center Attn: Elections 1590 Highway 55, Hastings, MN 55033-2343" or email the scanned document to elections@co.dakota.mn.us
• You may also drop off your mail-in ballot at Dakota County's Administration Center in Hastings or the Northern Service Center at 1 Mendota Road West in West St. Paul.

Agent delivery

• In special situations, the following residents may have somebody deliver their ballot for them:
  • Live in a nursing home, assisted living facility, residential treatment center, women's shelter or group home
  • Be hospitalized
  • Be unable to go to the polling place due to incapacitating health reasons or disability
• The person must be at least 18 years old, have a personal relationship to you and cannot be a candidate on the ballot.

See what's on your ballot ahead of timeMinnesotans can view a sample ballot by using the state's "What's on my ballot?" tool.

William Bornhoft contributed to this report.