Voters in School District 197 will be asked to go to the polls on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, to elect four school board members, vote on a capital project technology levy renewal, and vote on a new operating levy.

Absentee voting begins on September 22, 2023. Any voter may vote absentee—you do not need a reason.

In order to vote in this election you must be:

A U.S. citizen
At least 18 years old on Election Day
A resident of Minnesota for 20 days
A School District 197 resident
Not currently incarcerated for a felony conviction
As long as a judge has not restricted your right to vote through a court order, you have the right to vote.

School District Elections Contact

Mary Amidon
Executive Assistant to the Superintendent/School Board
mary.amidon@isd197.org
651-403-7002

What is on the ballot?

General Election/School Board Seats: Voters will select up to four individuals to fill four open seats on the ISD 197 School Board. The following candidates have filed their Affidavit of Candidacy to appear on the ballot in November (names in alphabetical order):

Tim Aune, Mendota Heights
Rowen Elsmore, West St. Paul
Barbara Kessler, West St. Paul
Byron Schwab, West St. Paul
Morgan Steele, West St. Paul
Randi Walz, West St. Paul

Special Election/Referendum: Voters will vote yes or no on a Referendum Revenue Authorization and a renewal of an expiring Capital Project Levy Authorization for Technology.

Learn more here.

Register to Vote

Voters must be registered with their current name and current address. Voters who have moved or changed their name since the last election must re-register. Voters are encouraged to pre-register so your name will appear on the voter registration list of voters at the polls. This will save you time at the polling location. Register at least 20 days before the election for your name to appear on the voting roster.

You may register, or update your registration, on the Secretary of State website here.

Or you may fill out a Paper Voter’s Registration Application and mail it back. To register, a person must be:

A U.S. citizen
At least 18 years old on Election Day (you can pre-register to vote as a 16 or 17 year old in Minnesota but you must be 18 years old before voting)
A resident of Minnesota for 20 days prior to the election
Finished with all parts of any felony sentence
Not under court-ordered guardianship where a court has revoked your voting rights
Have not been ruled legally incompetent by a court of law

Voters can also register at their polling location on Election Day if they miss the pre-registration date. Click here for the identification required.

Voting Resources

Absentee Voting

Absentee voting begins September 22. Voters do not need a reason to vote by absentee ballot. Absentee ballots can be completed by mail - or in person at the School District 197 District Office OR at one of the Dakota County government centers located in West St. Paul or Hastings.

To absentee vote by mail, voters may download an application HERE and mail the completed application as directed in the application materials. Once an application is received and processed, an absentee ballot will be mailed to the voter along with instructions for completing and returning their ballot in the postage-paid envelope that is provided with the ballot. If the person applying for an absentee ballot is not registered to vote, a “Voter Registration Application” will be mailed with the absentee ballot, and the completed voter registration application should be returned along with the ballot. Voter registration can also be completed online at www.mnvotes.org.
To absentee vote in person, voters may do so at one of the following locations:
- School District 197 District Office, 1897 Delaware Avenue, Mendota Heights, MN 55118 (entrance is through the high school parking lot, back by the tennis courts)
  - Monday through Friday / September 22 to November 3 / 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  - Saturday, November 4 / 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
  - Monday, November 6 / 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  - The following additional dates will be open for extended-hour voting:
    - Saturday, September 30 / 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
    - Thursday, October 12 / 4:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
    - Thursday, October 26 / 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Dakota County Northern Service Center, 1 Mendota Road West, West St. Paul, MN 55118
  - Monday through Friday / September 22 to November 6 / 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Dakota County Administration Center, 1590 Highway 55, Hastings, MN 55033
  - Monday through Friday / September 22 to November 3 / 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  - Saturday, November 4 / 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
  - Monday, November 6 / 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Direct Balloting

Direct balloting (where you are able to insert your completed ballot directly into the ballot tabulator) will be offered October 20 through November 6 at the following locations (direct balloting is not offered at the School District 197 District Office):

Dakota County Northern Service Center in West St. Paul / 1 Mendota Road, West St. Paul, MN 55118
- Monday through Friday / October 20 to November 6 / 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Dakota County Administration Center in Hastings / 1590 Highway 55, Hastings, MN 55033
- Monday through Friday / October 20 to November 3 / 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Saturday, November 4 / 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- Monday, November 6 / 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Sample Ballot

Where do I vote on Election Day?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 7, 2023. Polling locations are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Please
see the list of combined polling locations below. If you are not sure of your specific precinct, please go to
Minnesota Secretary of State polling place finder at: https://pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us:

School District Precinct	Combined Precinct	Polling Place Location
Combined Precinct 1	West St. Paul: W-1 P-1; W-2 P-1; W-3 P-1	Heritage E-STEM Magnet School 121 W. Butler Avenue West St. Paul, MN 55118
Combined Precinct 2	Inver Grove Heights – Precincts 9 & 11; Sunfish Lake; West St. Paul: W-1 P-2; W-2 P-2; W-3 P-2	St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church 1575 Charlton Street West St. Paul, MN 55118
Combined Precinct 3	Lilydale; Mendota Heights – Precincts 1, 2 &3	Two Rivers High School 1897 Delaware Avenue Mendota Heights, MN 55118
Combined Precinct 4	Mendota City; Mendota Heights – Precincts 4 & 5	Friendly Hills Middle School 701 Mendota Heights Road Mendota Heights, MN 55120
Combined Precinct 5	Eagan – Precincts 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 & 7	Eagan Community Center 1501 Central Parkway Eagan, MN 55121

Click Here for Precinct Map

Campaign Financial Reports

A committee or a candidate who receives contributions or makes disbursements of more than $750 in a calendar year shall submit an initial report to the filing office within 14 days of either. Once a committee or a candidate submits an initial report to the filing office, committees or candidates
shall continue to file the reports within designated timelines until a final report is filed. A Certification of Filing for all committees and candidates is due seven days after a general election. Details are outlined in the State of Minnesota Campaign Manual. All reports will be posted on the district
website here.

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