How the 2012 Election works
Ranked Choice Voting will not be used in 2011 or 2012. These elections will be conducted using the traditional voting method in which a voter votes for one candidate for each office to be elected. Ranked Choice Voting is only used for Minneapolis municipal offices: Mayor, Council, Board of Estimate and Taxation, and Park Board. The Minneapolis School Board is not a municipal office. The next Minneapolis municipal election is in 2013.
Candidate filing is May 22 through June 5, 2012. The deadline for candidate withdrawal is 5 p.m. June 7, 2012.
Primary – Tuesday, August 14, 2012
The August Primary Ballot will contain both partisan and possibly non-partisan offices. There are no write-ins in a Primary.
Partisan Offices
Voters nominate candidates to the General Election from those who filed within the three major parties. In Minnesota the three major political parties are the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, Independence Party and Republican Party. In Minneapolis, the Partisan Primary ballot will be on the front of the ballot.
Privately voters must vote within only one political party but are not required to publicly declare their party choice. In some other states, voters register to vote by political party and receive only the ballot with that party on it. In Minnesota all voters receive the same ballot and privately vote within the one party of their choice.
Minor party candidates and independent candidates go directly to the General Election ballot.
Non-Partisan Offices – Hennepin County, Minneapolis School Board & Judicial offices
If more than two candidates file for an office, there will be a Primary contest. Voters may vote for any candidate in a non-partisan contest.
Minneapolis School Board – At-Large Member – one seat to be elected
Minneapolis School Board – District Members for Districts 2, 4 & 6 – one seat for each district
General Election – Tuesday, November 6, 2012
The November General Election Ballot will contain both partisan and non-partisan offices as well as a space for write-ins for each office.
Partisan Offices
The General Election ballot includes the winners from the three major parties for each partisan office as well as candidates of minor political parties. Voters may vote for any candidate regardless of party affiliation.
Non-Partisan Offices
The top two vote-getters for each office from the Primary Election will run in the General Election. The ballot will also include offices that did not require a Primary.
Minneapolis School Board – At-Large Directors – one seat to be elected
Voters may vote for up to one candidate, and the top vote-getter will be elected.
Minneapolis School Board – Districts 2, 4 & 6 – one seat each
Voters may vote for up to one candidate, and the top vote-getter is elected. Elections for Districts 1, 3 & 5 will take place in 2014. Scroll down to “Background on Board Membership” at How to File for Office for more details.
Last updated Jul. 9, 2012