Early Voting In St. Michael: What To Know For 2021 Election

ST. MICHAEL, MN — St. Michael voters can cast their ballots now for the Nov. 2 municipal election, with early voting underway since last month.

No candidates are seeking offices in St. Michael during the 2021 election, but the St. Michael-Albertville School District is asking voters to approve a 10-year, $7.9 million levy to help the district stave off a “perfect financial storm” brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

Officials said the district lost $7 million in unrealized revenues and extra costs due to the pandemic, and “future budget projections are bleak” without voters’ support.

“Low state funding, pandemic-related costs and stabilizing enrollment have wreaked havoc on the district’s bottom line,” St. Michael-Albertville School District officials wrote in a fact sheet about the proposed levy.

St. Michael-Albertville ranks the lowest in the state for the funding it receives per student, according to the district.

If the levy is not approved, St. Michael-Albertville officials said the district could be forced to lay off 60-70 staff members, which would increase class sizes. The district has laid off about 70 employees since the start of the pandemic. Officials said they would look to rehire most of them if the levy is approved by voters, the Press & News reports.

A rejection of the levy could also lead officials to eliminate activities at the middle school and some at the high school, as well as art and music programs.

The proposed levy would see property tax rates on a $250,000 home rise about $59 per month, district officials said.

Here is the question voters will see on their ballots:

"The board of Independent School District No. 885 (St. Michael-Albertville) has proposed to increase its general education revenue by $1,195 per pupil. The proposed referendum revenue authorization would increase each year by the rate of inflation and be applicable for ten years beginning with taxes payable in 2022, unless otherwise revoked or reduced as provided by law.

Shall the increase in the revenue proposed by the board of Independent School District No. 885 be approved?"

Residents can find more information about the proposed levy here.

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. at St. Michael-Albertville Middle School West

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 the St. Michael-Albertville District Office at 11343 50th St. NE, Albertville.

• Residents do not need a reason to vote early
• Masks are required

Early voting is available at the district office from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays through Oct. 29 and from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 1.

Vote early by mail

• If you haven't requested your mail-in ballot yet but plan to vote by mail, applications are available online or at the St. Michael-Albertville School District Office at 11343 50th St. NE, Albertville.
• 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