2020 Election Update: Absentee Voting Starts Sept. 18

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As we approach the 2020 general election, here’s a quick update on who’s running, upcoming candidate forums and events, and how you can vote.

Who’s Running

Here’s a look at who is on the ballot for West St. Paul races:

Mayor

• Dave Napier (incumbent) (campaign site)
• Kimetha “KaeJae” Johnson (campaign site)

City Council Ward 1

• Bob Pace (incumbent) (campaign site)
• Julie Eastman (campaign site)

City Council Ward 2

• Anthony Fernandez (incumbent) (campaign site)
• Robyn Gulley  (campaign site)

City Council Ward 3

• Lisa Eng-Sarne (incumbent) (campaign site)
• David Meisinger 

Election News

• Candidate Forums: There are several opportunities to hear directly from the candidates.
  • Town Square Television will be hosting its Candidate Forum on Thursday, September 10 at 6:30 p.m. It will be available on cable channel 14, streaming online, and Facebook. You can submit questions for the forum online, but you need to get them in a week in advance (so today).
  • Dates haven’t been set yet, but Watch for individual forums organized by Women of West St. Paul. Update (Sept. 7, 2020): These forums are being organized by Women of West St. Paul, West St. Paul Greenway Coalition, and the Residents of Color Collective. They will be happening on Zoom October 1 and 2. More details are on Facebook. You can submit questions here.
  • We’ll also be sharing candidate Q&As like we did for the primary, so watch for those to start later in September.
• Connect With the Candidates: A number of candidates are organizing their own events, from front yard gatherings to city-wide events. Here are a couple of the larger events we’ve seen (this is not a complete list, but watch for more events as the election draws closer):
  • Wellness Walks – Wednesdays, September 9, 16, and 23 from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at various parks – Mayoral candidate Kimetha “KaeJae” Johnson encourages better health and a chance to ask questions during these weekly events.
  • Roll to the Polls – Friday, September 18 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Harmon Park – A get-out-the-vote party organized by ward 3 candidate Lisa Eng-Sarne, building on this summer’s Skate Against Hate event.
• Most expensive campaign: It’s still early in the campaign season and not every candidate has reported their expenses and contributions, but it’s likely we’ll see a record for campaign spending. So far ward 2 candidate Robyn Gulley has raised over $6,000 and is within a few hundred dollars of the most expensive City Council campaign in recent history.

How to Vote

There are several ways you can vote, but first make sure you’re registered. Minnesota does allow same-day voting registration on election day, though you will need to bring some form of ID or someone to vouch for you.

You can either vote by mail or in person, and you can do both options early.

• Absentee voting begins Friday, September 18. Absentee voting accounted for 57% of the total vote in the primary, so expect it to be high again.
• If you plan to vote by mail, you can request an absentee ballot, just be sure you get it back in time. Ballots must be postmarked on or before November 3, and must be received by November 10.
• You can also vote in person starting September 18 at Dakota County offices, the closest of which is the Northern Service Center. They’re open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• And of course you can vote on Election Day, November 3, at your local polling location from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Note: There is no early voting, absentee ballots, or ballot drop off at West St. Paul’s city hall. You have to go to the Dakota County Northern Service Center. (See our more detailed post on where and how to vote.)

Get full details on how to vote from the Minnesota Secretary of State or Dakota County.

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