You haven't voted yet and now there's a governor's race, a U.S. Senate seat and a stack of judges between you and the end of campaign season. Bloomington still gives you a few more chances to vote before the Election Day lines, and they're all at the same address: Bloomington Civic Plaza, 1800 W. Old Shakopee Road.
Early voting runs 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays, which leaves Thursday, Oct. 29, and Friday, Oct. 30. Civic Plaza is also open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31, and Sunday, Nov. 1. The last early-voting day is Monday, Nov. 2, with hours stretched to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 30 polling locations around the city.
Early voting this cycle has been open longer than most people realize. The city said in-person absentee voting started Sept. 18. Starting Oct. 16, early voters could feed their ballots straight into the tabulator, the same way they would at a precinct. Civic Plaza also stayed open until 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27, for people who couldn't get there during work hours.
Do you have a mail ballot sitting on the counter? The city said Bloomington residents can drop off voted absentee ballots at City Hall from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. If you're returning someone else's ballot, you'll have to show ID, and the voter has to be a Bloomington resident. Questions go to the City Clerk's Office at 952-563-8728 or [email protected]. Hours and links are on the city's voting information page.
The ballot is long. At the top are the U.S. House District 3 seat, 1 U.S. Senate seat, and governor and lieutenant governor. Next come secretary of state, state auditor and attorney general, followed by state House and Senate districts. Then you'll vote for Hennepin County sheriff and county attorney, plus the District 5 seat on the Three Rivers Park District board. Nonpartisan judicial races fill out the back. You can preview your sample ballot and look up your precinct at mnvotes.org before you go.
Not registered? You can still vote. Minnesota allows same-day registration. To be eligible you have to be a U.S. citizen, be at least 18 on Election Day and have lived in Minnesota for at least 20 days before the election. To register, bring something that shows your current name and address. That can be a driver's license, a tribal ID, or a document from a utility or financial institution dated within 30 days of the election.
