2020 campaign heading into final days
As the 2020 campaign winds down, the fate of the candidates is in the hands of the voters.
While election day is officially Tuesday, Nov. 3, a record number of Dodge County voters have already cast their ballots through the absentee voting process, county election officials say.
Those who have absentee ballots but have not filled them out have until November 3 to either take their completed ballot to the Dodge County Government Center in Mantorville or get it in the mail. Mailed ballots must be postmarked no later than November 3 and will be accepted for up to seven days after that date.
Voters can also cast their ballots in person this Saturday, October 31, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Government Services Center in Mantorville and until 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 2.
For those who prefer to cast their ballot the old-fashioned way, in-person, on election day, polls will be open in each precinct on November 3.
Most polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. although state law does allow some townships to have later start times.
In Dodge County those precincts opening at 10 a.m. include Ashland Township, Claremont Township, Ellington Township, Hayfield Township, Ripley Township and Westfield Township. All will be open until 8 p.m.
Most townships will have voting in their township halls. Wasioja Township will vote at the Wasioja Schoolhouse. Voters in Claremont, Dodge Center, Hayfield, Mantorville and West Concord will vote at their respective City Halls. All Kasson precincts will vote at Kasson-Mantorville High School.
Voters will find a lengthy ballot as there are races at the federal, state, county, city and school district levels.
Federal offices up for election include president, U.S. senator and U.S. representative. County residents in State Senate Districts 21, 24, 25 and 27 will be voting for senators and those in House Districts 21B, 24B, 25A and 27A and 27B will be voting for state representatives.
County races include County Commissioner Districts 1, 4 and 5 and County Soil and Water Conservation Districts 1, 2 and 5.
Mayoral races include Claremont, Kasson, Mantorville and West Concord. There are city council races in Claremont, Dodge Center, Hayfield, Kasson, Mantorville and West Concord.
School districts that include portions of Dodge County will have school board races in Hayfield, Byron, Kasson-Mantorville, Triton and Pine Island.
Voters in the Kasson-Mantorville School District will be voting on revoking an existing referendum revenue authorization and approving a new authorization.
Other races on the Dodge County ballot include Associate Justice 4 for the Minnesota Supreme Court; Court of Appeals Judges 3, 9, 13 and 15; and Third District Court Judges 4, 6, 7, 14, 17, 19, 20 and 22.