Help Wanted

mizzlaurajean's GOTV effort finds itself in desperate need of bodies. So, if you can afford to take time off and help do the good work, she'd love to see you ASAP at the Walker Community Church in South Minneapolis (at the corner of 16th Ave and 31st Street.

A Message From My Chair Judge

Greetings fellow citizens!


It's that time of year again for my annual non-partisan spam to Everyone
In My Address Book on where to vote and how to learn about the
candidates and resolutions, particularly those lower on the ballot.
Feel free to forward this to Everyone In Your Address Book!


When to Vote:
Most polls open at 7am, and all close at 8pm. Remember, your employer
has to let you off work to vote. If only this was a national holiday,
like it should be!


Where to Vote, Who's on the Ballot:
This year I'm loving the Strib site for its convenience and
comprehensiveness. Type in your address, and you get your polling place
address AND a sample ballot for your precinct. There are links for
almost all the candidates, indicating their profiles and endorsements:
http://ww2.startribune.com/news/politics/elections/myvote/pf.php?do=star
t_over


Who to Vote For:
Well, that's your call, but here are some interesting resources.


The League of Women Voters asks standardized questions for candidates.
Check them out by going to their pollfinder:
http://www.lwvmn.org/EdFund/Election.asp
After you've entered your zip code and got your ballot, click on the
"Candidate Info" tab to see your candidates and their answers. It's a
bit long and unruly, but can be informative.


Endorsements are interesting if not necessarily definitive.
- Star Tribune:
http://www.startribune.com/opinion/editorials/
- Pioneer Press: http://www.twincities.com/opinion
- Also check the editorial page of your city's
newspaper for local races.
- You can also try Googling " Minnesota Election
Endorsements" . Click on the website for an organization that you
resonate with.


And everyone should pay attention to the judge races. Minnlawyer.com
has an interesting site. Below are links for the statewide races.
* Supreme Court, Justice 3
o http://www.minnlawyer.com/elections/2008/anderson.cfm
o http://www.minnlawyer.com/elections/2008/tingelstad.cfm
* Supreme Court, Justice 4
o http://www.minnlawyer.com/elections/2008/gildea.cfm
o http://www.minnlawyer.com/elections/2008/hedlund.cfm
* Court of Appeals, Judge 16
o http://www.minnlawyer.com/elections/2008/griffith.cfm
o http://www.minnlawyer.com/elections/2008/Stoneburner.cfm
* For district races, see the links on the left of the site.


Registering to Vote:
We are blessed to live in Minnesota, one of only 9 states with Election
Day Voter Registration. So even if you expect to be on the roster
already (i.e. voted once in past 4 years at the same polling place), or
even if you pre-registered, do show up with your driver's license with
your current address just in case - that is all you need to register.


If you moved recently and your license does not have your new address,
bring it along with a utility bill noting your new address, with a due
date within 30 days of election day (from 10/5 to 12/4). You can now
use a copy printed off from the web.


If you think you need to re-register, you can fill out the application
now and bring it with you if you wish, just to speed up your process:
http://www.sos.state.mn.us/docs/english_voter_registration_application_w
ith_return_address.pdf
You can get more information on registration and eligibility at the
Secretary of State website:
http://www.sos.state.mn.us/home/index.asp?page=134


Thanks for reading this far, and Happy Voting!
--David