‘Voting and Elections’ Archives
Public Safety is On the Ballot Again This Year
Third article in a series on the 2022 Midterm Elections By the League of Women Voters Minneapolis In November, you won’t see an obvious question on the ballot like last year’s ballot Question 2. Nonetheless, almost every federal, state and local public office in the general election affects policing and public safety in Minneapolis. The mayor and police chief have direct authority over the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD), but those powers are limited by state and federal policies. When you vote, think about how these elected offices impact your community’s safety. CONGRESS instituted “qualified immunity” that protects public employees from being sued for actions taken on the job. Congress has the authority to make changes at the federal level. Since 2009, more than half of the cases brought against police officers have been dismissed based on qualified immunity. The GOVERNOR, STATE SENATORS and STATE REPRESENTATIVES set the parameters for police union [...]
When You Vote in the Primary on August 9, Stay in Your Lane!
ARTICLE #2 IN A SERIES OF ARTICLES ABOUT THE 2022 MIDTERM ELECTIONS, BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTER OF MINNEAPOLIS The Primary Election on August 9 will determine the candidates for the General Election. The top vote-getter in each Primary race will appear on the ballot in November. In Minnesota, any registered voter can participate in the Primary, but there’s a catch. You must stay in your lane. In some states, voters must “declare” their party affiliation in order to receive the corresponding Primary ballot. But, in Minnesota, voters are not required to declare their party. Instead, candidates for all major parties appear on every ballot. But note: If you cross political party lines by voting, for example, for a Democrat in one race and a Republican in another, your ballot is “spoiled” and will not be counted! Candidates in the same party will be listed in the same column, so stay in your lane as you vote down the ballot. You don’t have to vote in [...]
What happened to my old polling place? Redistricting!
Article #1 in a series about the 2022 midterm elections; brought to you by the League of Women Voters of Minneapolis Left: 2022 State House district boundaries of Phillips Right: 2022 City Council wards in black, former boundary in red It’s spring — flowers are blooming, birds are singing, and the Hennepin County Elections office is sending postcards to registered voters. You may find that your voting district and polling place have changed. What happened? In 2022, many people will experience a change in their voting district. This process is called redistricting, and it happens every ten years, as states, counties, and cities across the country adjust their political boundaries to fit new census numbers. Because the population of Minnesota has changed, the sizes and boundaries of congressional, state, and local districts need to adapt so that each has approximately the same number of people. That will ensure that the value of each vote remains equal. In [...]
