Ready of not, here it comes.
The 2024 fall election is officially underway, with absentee voting starting as of Sept. 20 in Minnesota and closing Monday, Nov. 4. Polls close on Election Night Tuesday, Nov. 5. Local absentee voting locations include the Cottage Grove Service Center at 13000 Ravine Parkway South and Woodbury City Hall at 8301 Valley Creek Road. Voter registration details and polling information are available online at the Minnesota Secretary of State website (www.sos.state.mn.us), as well as through local municipal clerks.
As for local candidates, there are plenty.
On the ballot unopposed for Cottage Grove Mayor is Myron Bailey (incumbent), with three council candidates (David Clausen, Justin Olsen, and Tony Khambata) vying for two council seats and a separate special election for council member on the ballot as well (Monique Garza).
Three city questions will also be on the ballot in Cottage Grove, each one tied to the City’s “Preserve. Play. Prosper” parks initiative but divided by funding recipient: Hamlet Park (Question 1, yes or no on a 0.5 percent sales tax to raise $17,000,000); Mississippi Dunes Park (Question 2, yes or no on a 0.5 percent sales tax to raise $13,000,000); and River Oaks Golf Course (Question 3, yes or no on a 0.5 percent sales tax to raise $6,000,000).
Each question is yes/no as to possible responses. A simple majority is needed for each to pass.
In Newport, meanwhile, Mayor Laurie Elliot is running for re-election unopposed, while four candidates are on the ballot for two Newport council seats: Josh Schmidt, Paul Hansen, Brian Xiong, and Marvin Taylor.
St. Paul Park does not have municipal elections this year.
As for township races, Grey Cloud and Denmark both have candidates. Filed with the Minnesota Secretary of State are the following: Richard ‘Dick’ Polta (Grey Cloud Supervisor), Jakes Jones (Grey Cloud Supervisor), and Keshia Jones (Grey Cloud Treasurer). The candidates for Denmark Township are Peter J. Flock, John Strohfu, and Hassan Sahouani, all for Supervisor posts.
On the ballot at Woodbury for Council meanwhile there are eight names: Timothy Brewington, Temmy Olasimbo, Dave Hoelzel, Michael Burke, Donna Stafford, Kim Wilson, Murid Amini, and Benjamin Sherrard.
Of the eight names, two will ultimately advance to a council seat come November.
Woodbury will also have a city question, asking voters for a 0.5 percent sales and use tax to raise $50 million in funding for public safety campus improvements, with a maximum of 20 years imposed.
For county races, there is a county commissioner post. Contesting the District 3 County Commissioner seat are Bethany Cox and Mark Wiens.
As for state level offices on the ballot this year, Minnesota House District 41A will have Wayne Johnson (R) facing off with Lucia Wroblewski (DFL), while in Minnesota House District 41B Tom Dippel (R) will face Jen Fox (DFL). In House District 53B, incumbent Representative Rick Hansen (DFL) will face Aaron M. Brooksby (R) for another term. The race for House District 47A will see Teresa Whiteson (R) contend with Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger (DFL), while District 47B will see Dwight Dorau (R) contend with Ethan Cha (DFL).
On the ballot at state level will also be a proposed state constitutional amendment, worded as follows:

“Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund Renewal
Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to protect drinking water sources and the water quality of lakes, rivers, and streams; conserve wildlife habitat and natural areas; improve air quality; and expand access to parks and trails by extending the transfer of proceeds from the state-operated lottery to the environment and natural resources trust fund, and to dedicate the proceeds for these purposes?”
A failure to vote will have the same effect as voting ‘no’ on the above question.
As for judgeships on the ballot this November, voters will have a choice for State Supreme Court Chief Justice between Natalie E. Hudson and Stephen A. Emery, while Karl Procaccini and Matthew R. Hanson will contend for the post of associate justice, Anne McKeig running unopposed for a separate associate judge post. Also on the fall ballot are numerous Court of Appeals Judges.
In federal races this year, U.S. House District 2 will see current Representative Angie Craig (D) contend for her seat with Joe Teirab (R) along with Thomas William Brown (Constitutional Conservative), while U.S. House District 4 will be contested between May Lor Xiong (R) and Betty McCollum (DFL). The United States Senate race will split four ways, with Amy Klobuchar (DFL), Joyce Lynne Lacey (Independence- Alliance), Royce White (R), and Rebecca Whiting (Libertarian) all on the ballot.
Closing out the ballot is the U.S. presidential race, in which Kamala Harris and Tim Walz (D) will face Donald Trump and J.D. Vance (R).
Several third parties are also listed on the Minnesota ballot for the U.S. Presidency, including the Libertarian Party (Chase Oliver and Mike ter Maat), We the People (Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Nicole Shanahan), Green Party (Jill Stein and Samson Kpadenou), Socialism and Liberation (Claudia De La Cruz and Karina Garcia), Socialist Workers Party (Rachele Fruit and Dennis Richter), Justice for All (Cornel West and Melina Abdullah), and the Independent Party (Shiva Ayyadurai and Crystal Ellis).