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STAFF REPORT <br />TO:Mayor Keis and Members of the City Council <br />FROM:Heidi Heller, City Clerk <br />DATE:May 13, 2020 <br />RE:2020 Elections – Early Voting <br />ACTION TO BE CONSIDERED: <br />Discuss and provide direction on whether to offer early voting at Little Canada City Hall for the <br />2020 United States Primary and General Elections. <br />BACKGROUND: <br />Staff has begun planning for the upcoming 2020 Primary Election (August 11) and the United <br />States General Elections (November 3). The Secretary of State has proposed changes to voting <br />related to the COVID-19 pandemic, however Ramsey County staff has indicated that they do not <br />expect the Legislature will make changes to the overall 2020 election process. <br />If the Primary and General Elections are conducted as usual, staff expects more residents will <br />vote Absentee by mail to avoid going to the polls. Minnesota voters also have the opportunity to <br />vote early in-person with an absentee ballot the week prior to an election. The Ramsey County <br />election office is required to provide this service, and the City of Little Canada has also offered <br />in-person absentee voting in recent years. Early voting could also be busier than usual if people <br />feel they are safer voting during this time versus on Election Day. <br />Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, staff anticipates there will be less people willing to serve as <br />election judges this year. Ramsey County plans to provide early in-person voting locations for <br />Ramsey County residents at most, or all, of the suburban county libraries. The County will not <br />be providing a location in Little Canada, so the City must determine if they wish to provide Early <br />Voting at City Hall or direct Little Canada residents to other nearby Ramsey County locations. <br />These locations include the Roseville Library and possibly the Maplewood Library. <br />If the City were to offer Early Voting, it could bring more than 200 people to City Hall for the <br />Primary Election, and over 500 people for the General Election. The Council Chambers would <br />need to be used for the Early Voting and at least three Election Judges hired. Early Voting draws <br />more voters every year so it cannot be conducted only by city staff, and there is not enough space <br />at the front counter for voters and other customers. City staff must determine how many election <br />judges will be needed and start recruiting in the coming weeks.