Elections
February 7, 2012 precinct caucuses Information
Who
Precinct caucuses are open to the public. Only eligible voters who reside in the precinct are allowed to vote or become a delegate.
What
Precinct caucuses are political party-organized meetings marking the beginning of the election process. These meetings bring neighbors together to discuss and vote on policy positions (resolutions) to create the parties' platforms. Precinct caucus attendees also elect precinct officers, delegates, and alternates.
When
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 7:00 pm
Where
After January 18, 2012, you will be able to find the location closest to you by clicking here caucusfinder.sos.state.mn.
Why
This is one of the best ways for citizens to engage in the political process and make their voices heard. Citizens are strongly urged to participate in this influential and important step in the democratic process.
City elections in Cottage Grove are held in November of even-numbered years. City Council elections are non-partisan and candidates run for their seats at large. National, state,
and county general elections also are held in November of even-numbered years. School District 833 elections are
held in November of odd-numbered years.
National, state, and county primaries are held in August of even-numbered years.
Minnesota has a consolidated primary ballot that allows voters to make a secret choice of a major party primary.
The 2012 primary election will be held Tuesday, August 7, 2012.
The 2012 general election will be held Tuesday, November 6, 2012.
To vote by Absentee Ballot please contact Washington County Elections at (651) 430-6790 or go to the Washington County Service Center, 13000 Ravine Parkway in Cottage Grove and for all election information including voting locations.
2012 Elections
The following election information is available on this page:
Election Districts
The City of Cottage Grove is located in the following political districts:
Voting Locations
Cottage Grove is divided into 12 precincts. Each precinct has a designated polling place:
Precinct No. 1 - Fire Station No. 3, 7500 Langley Avenue South
Precinct No. 2 - Pinehill Elementary School, 9015 Hadley Avenue South
Precinct No. 3 - National Guard Armory, 8180 Hadley Avenue South
Precinct No. 4 - Cottage Grove Elementary School, 7447 65th Street South
Precinct No. 5 - Crestview Elementary School, 7830 80th Street South
Precinct No. 6 - Park Senior High School Gymnastics Room - 8040 80th Street South
Precinct No. 7 - 833 District Service Center Board Room, 7362 East Point Douglas Road South
Precinct No. 8 - 833 District Program Center Lunch Room, 8400 East Point Douglas Road South
Precinct No. 9 - Light the Way Church, 7000 Jamaica Avenue South
Precinct No. 10 - Grey Cloud Elementary School, 8525 Indian Blvd South
Precinct No. 11 - The Alley (formerly Cross Roads Church), 7955 Ivystone Avenue South
Precinct No. 12 - Washington County Service Center- Cottage Grove, 13000 Ravine Parkway South
Find My Precinct
(1) Go to: http://pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us/
(2) Enter Zip Code: 55016
(3) Enter Your House # and Street Name
Voter Registration
To vote, you must be:
- A U.S. citizen.
- At least 18 years old.
- A Minnesota resident for at least 20 days on Election Day.
- Properly registered.
At least 20 days before the Election Day, Complete a Voter Registration Application, available at City Hall or online. You can download a Voter Registration Application at the Secretary of State's Web site (97KB PDF).
Register in person, or mail the application to the Washington County Elections Office.
To register at the polling place on Election Day, you must have authorized proof of residence:
- Valid Minnesota Driver's License, Learner's Permit or receipt of either with current address located in precinct.
- Valid Minnesota I.D. or receipt with current address located in precinct.
- A registered voter in the precinct who can vouch for you.
- Registration in the same precinct indicating a previous address.
- Mailed notice from the Registration Office indicating late registration.
- Students can show their address in the precinct by using a current fee statement and an I.D. card.
- A tribal I.D. with name, address, signature, and picture of the individual.
A voter may also register using a combination of one approved photo ID (column 1) and one approved utility bill (column 2):
Column 1 |
Column 2 |
Minnesota driver's license with current name (licenses from out-of-state are not acceptable).
Minnesota state I.D. card (I.D.s form other states are not acceptable).
U.S. Military I.D.
U. S. passport.
Minnesota Tribal I.D. |
- Electric bill.
- Gas bill.
- Water bill.
- Sewer bill.
- Solid waste bill.
- Cable television bill.
- Telephone bill.
|
You must re-register if:
Your name or address changes.
You have not voted in four years.
How Do I Vote Absentee
If you are unable to vote in person on Election Day, Cottage Grove residents can vote by absentee if they are:
- Absent from precinct
- Ill or disabled
- An election judge serving in another precinct
- Unable to go to the polling place due to a religious holiday or beliefs.
Absentee ballots are available 30 days prior to an election at the Washington County Service Center- Cottage Grove, 13000 Ravine Parkway South.
Absentee voters must complete an absentee ballot application or provide a signed and dated letter
to receive an absentee ballot in the mail. If providing a letter, be sure to include ALL of the following:
- name
- address in Cottage Grove
- mailing address
- date of birth
- reason for absentee ballot (absent from precinct, illness or disability, religious discipline or observance
of religious holiday, or service as election judge in another precinct)
- type of absentee ballot(s) needed (primary election only, general election only, or both)
- sign and date the letter
Absentee voting also can be done in person at the Washington County
Government Center in Stillwater 30 days prior to the primary and general elections.
Campaign Sign Regulations
Minnesota Statutes, Cottage Grove City Code, Washington County Highway Department and the State of Minnesota Department of Transportation all regulate the placement of signs promoting the candidacy of a person running for governmental office.
Minnesota Statute
Minnesota Statutes 211B.045 states that in any municipality, whether or not the municipality has an ordinance that regulates the size or number of noncommercial signs, all noncommercial signs of any size may be posted in any number from 46 days before the State Primary in a State General Election year (Friday, June 25th) until 10 days following the General Election (Friday, November 12, 2010).
Cottage Grove City Code
The City of Cottage Grove City Code Title 9-8 regulates the placement of signs to promote the candidacy of a person running for office and prohibits signage in the following locations:
1. No sign may be erected that by reason of position, shape, movement, color or in any other manner interferes with the proper functioning of a traffic sign or signal or otherwise constitutes a traffic hazard.
2. Signs are not permitted within the public right of way of easements.
3. Signs shall not be tacked or otherwise attached to trees, fences, utility poles, or other such structures or supports;
4. Signs shall not be permitted within a triangular area of a corner lot. This restricted area is at the intersection of the project curb lines of two (2) intersecting streets, thence thirty feet (30’) along one curb line, thence diagonally to a point thirty feet (30’) from the point of beginning on the other curb line, thence to the point of beginning;
5. Do not place signs on private property without permission from the property owners.
6. As a general “Rule of Thumb”, please place campaign signs along City right-of-way, no closer than 15 feet behind the curb or side of the road. Campaign signs are not allowed on public property, including parks and open spaces.
Any signs placed on City property, including right-of-way and parks and open spaces will be removed and temporarily stored at the Public Works Department. To retrieve signs, call
651-458-2808.
If you have any questions or concerns relating to the placement of a sign on City property/right-of-way, please contact the Community Development Director, Howard Blin at 651-458-2824.
State and County Right of Way
Placing signs on State or County Right-of-way is prohibited. Minnesota Statute 160.27 prohibits advertising on highway right-of-ways. See attached letters from Minnesota Department of Transportation and Washington County Transportation Department.
Election Day Prohibitions
Section 211B.11,
Subdivision 1. Soliciting near polling places. A person may not display campaign material, post signs, ask, solicit, or in any manner try to induce or persuade a voter within a polling place or within 100 feet of the building in which a polling place is situated, or anywhere on the public property on which a polling place is situated, on primary or election day to vote for or refrain from voting for a candidate or ballot question. A person may not provide political badges, political buttons, or other political insignia to be worn at or about the polling place on the day of a primary or election. A political badge, political button, or other political insignia may not be worn at or about the polling place on primary or election day. This section applies to areas established by the county auditor or municipal clerk for absentee voting as provided in chapter 203B. The secretary of state, county auditor, municipal clerk, or school district clerk may provide stickers which contain the words “I VOTED” and nothing more. Election judges may offer a sticker of this type to each voter who has signed the polling place roster.
Subd. 2. Repealed, 1997 c 147 s 79
Subd. 3. Transportation of voters to polling place; penalty. A person transporting a voter to or from the polling place may not ask, solicit, or in any manner try to induce or persuade a voter on primary or election day to vote or refrain from voting for a candidate or ballot question.
If you have any questions or concerns relating to the placement of a sign on City
property/right-of-way, please contact the Community Development Director, Howard Blin at (651) 458-2824.
Any signs found in violation will be removed by the Public Works Department.
For additional information, contact:
City Clerk
Caron Stransky
7516 80th Street South
Cottage Grove, MN 55016
651-458-2814
Fax: 651-458-2897
cstransky@cottage-grove.org |
City Gov't