Burnsville Voter's Guide: What to Know Before Hitting the Polls Nov. 6

Election day is nearly upon us—Tuesday, Nov. 6, is the big day—and Burnsville Patch wants to make sure you're equipped with information. Every vote matters. We want to make sure you get your red sticker.

For Election Night Results

First things first. Everyone votes for a reason: to see their candidates win. That's why we're going to offer robust election night coverage, heavy on real-time results from all the races you're following: Federal, senate, congressional and constitutional amendment results | Dakota County election results including judicial races | Local coverage: Lakeville | Burnsville | Eagan | Apple Valley/Rosemount | Northfield | Mendota Heights | Inver Grove Heights.

Who Is Eligible To Vote?

Eligible voters must U.S. citizens aged 18 years or older. To vote at a Minnesota polling place a voter must have maintained residence in the state for 20 days immediately preceding the election (if you don't fit that criteria you must vote via absentee ballot in the state of your previous residence).

There are some exceptions, which some Dakota County residents found out the hard way after the election in 2008 (those who knowingly violate this law could be charged with a felony). According to current Minnesota statute, the following people are not eligible to vote:

• Those convicted of treason or any felony whose civil rights have not been restored.
• Those under a guardianship in which the court order revokes the ward's right to vote. And
• Those found by a court of law to be legally incompetent.

Register to Vote on Election Day

It's too late to register early, but you can still register on at the polls on Nov. 6. If you are not registered to vote where you currently live, you may do so at your local polling location on Election Day as long as you can provide proof of residence. 

To register at your polling place on Election Day, you must bring one of the following with your current name and address to verify your residence in the precinct:

• A valid Minnesota driver’s license, learner’s permit, Minnesota ID card, or receipt for any of these
• A valid registration in the same precinct under a different name or address 
• A notice of late registration sent to you by your county auditor or city clerk
• A voter registered in the same precinct as you who can confirm your address with a signed oath
• An employee of the residential facility where you live who can confirm your address with a signed oath
• Both 1) a photo ID from the list below, and 2) a current bill from the list below with your current name and address in the precinct
  • Bills can include any utility bill due within 30 days of election day
  • Rent statement dated within 30 days of election day that itemizes utilities

More Voting Information

The state of Minnesota has a Voters Bill of Rights and allows for a wide range of allowances for people to get out and vote.

• Employers are required by law to allow employees (you) to be absent from work for the purpose of voting. You cannot be docked wages, personal leave, vacation time, or otherwise penalized in any way for taking the time needed to cast a ballot. So get out there and vote.
• Long lines? Getting late? If you are in line at your polling place any time before 8 p.m., you have the right to vote, even if you ballot is cast after the polls close.
• Nowhere to bring the kids? No worries: you have the right to bring your minor children into the polling place and into the voting booth with you.
• Need help to vote? You have the right to request special assistance when voting, and if you need assistance, you may be accompanied into the voting booth by a person of your choice, except by an agent of your employer or union or a candidate.

Other Stuff

The Minnesota Secretary of State's website has a number of other useful election day tidbits for those with questions about:

• Getting rides to your Polling Place
• Polling Place and Ballot Accessibility
• Voting Challenges
• Protecting Election Integrity
• Information in other languages
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Voting for People Under Guardianship
• Voting for Students
• Voting When You Are in the Hospital
• Voting When Your Home Is in Foreclosure
• Voting When You Are Homeless
• Voting When You Fear For Your Safety
• Voting Challenges
• Protecting Election Integrity

Sample Ballots

It doesn't hurt to study up before you get to the precinct. Get a sneak preview of the ballot here: 

• Burnsville 
• Savage

Who/What is On the Ballot?

Just about everything is on the ballot this year from U.S. President to constitutional amendments to soil and water commissioners. Need some help sorting through all the candidates and questions?

Click on the blue links below to learn more about each candidate. An asterisk (*) denotes incumbents.

Burnsville Mayor

• * Elizabeth Kautz
• Jerry Willenburg

Burnsville City Council (top two)

• * Mary Sherry
• Suzanne Nguyen
• Steve Cherney
• Bruce Johnson

Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School Board 

Four-year Term (Top three will be winners)

• *DeeDee Currier
• Steve Dove
• *Ron Hill
• Mark Korman
• Seema Pothini
• *Sandra Sweep
• Mark “MR. TEAK” Traikoff

Two-year Term

• Joshua Mathews
• Tom McCasey
• Robert VandenBoom

Prior Lake-Savage School District

Four-year Term

• Dan White
• Nathan Brening
• Thomas Anderson
• Chad Rittenour

Two-year Term

• Lee Shimek

Minnesota House of Representatives

House District 51A

• * Diane Anderson
• Sandra Masin

House District 56A

• * Pam Myhra (Republican)
• Dave John Jensen (Democrat)

House District 56B

• Roz Peterson (Republican)
• Will Morgan (Democrat)

Minnesota Senate

Senate District 51

• *Ted Daley (Republican)
• Jim Carlson (Democrat)

Senate District 56

• * Dan Hall (Republican)
• Leon Thurman (Democrat)

Dakota County Soil and Water Commissioner 

District 1 (Burnsville, Eagan, Inver Grove Heights)

• * Paul Thomas
• Joan M. Gabriel
• Scott A. Holm
• Williams Hoots, III
• John Ross
• Laura Zanmiller

Dakota County Commissioner

District 5 (Burnsville)

• Dave Giles
• *Liz Workman

Scott County Commissioner

District 5 (Savage) 

*Jon Ulrich 

U.S. House

Second Congressional District (Dakota County, including Lakeville)

• * John Kline, (Republican)
• Mike Obermueller, (Democrat)

U.S. Senate

• Amy Klobuchar (Democrat)*
• Kurt Bills (Republican)
• Stephen Williams (Independence)

Presidential Race

• Barack Obama (Democrat)*
• Mitt Romney (Republican)
• Gary Johnson (Libertarian)

Constitutional Amendments

Recognition of Marriage Amendment

A yes or no question: Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to provide that only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Minnesota? 

Marriage between two gay individuals is not currently recognized by Minnesota law. A ballot cast with no vote on this question will count as a "no" vote. This amendment would also invalidate common-law marraiges for straight couples.

• See what supporters say: Minnesota for Marriage
• See what opponents say: Minnesota United for All Families

Voter Identification Amendment

A yes or no question: Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to require all voters to present valid photo identification to vote and to require the state to provide free identification to eligible voters, effective July 1, 2013?

• See what supporters say: Protect My Vote
• See what opponents say: Take Action MN

Where to Vote

Burnsville has  three new ones thanks to legislative redistricting. As a result, you may have a new voting precinct. The Secretary of State's website has a very easy to use polling place finder. Otherwise, here are the new polling sites in Burnsville:

There are eight polling places in Savage. Note than many have changed, due to redistricting: