Saint Joseph, Minnesota Public Records

Minnesota residents can register to vote online at https://mnvotes.sos.state.mn.us up until 21 days before an election. After that deadline passes, the state's same-day voter registration law allows eligible residents to register at their polling place on Election Day by showing proof of residence such as a valid Minnesota driver's license, state ID, or utility bill with their current address. The state doesn't require photo ID to vote; various documents serve as acceptable proofs of residence. Voters must be U.S. Citizens, at least 18 years old on Election Day, Minnesota residents for 20 days, and have completed any felony sentence. Municipal elections in Saint Joseph determine the mayor and city council positions. The mayor serves a four-year term, while council members serve four-year staggered terms. Minnesota typically holds these municipal elections on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November during odd-numbered years. The city's next municipal election is scheduled for November 2025, when voters will decide city council seats and possibly the mayoral race depending on term expirations. Information on candidates, local ballot questions, and procedures is available through City Hall and the Stearns County elections division. Residents can locate their assigned polling place using the Polling Place Finder on the Minnesota Secretary of State website at https://pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us by entering their address. The system displays the specific location, hours (polls are open 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Election Day statewide), and current registration status. Under Minnesota law, voter registration lists are public data available for election related purposes. Campaign finance reports for state and local candidates are accessible through the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board at www.cfb.mn.gov, showing contributions and expenditures. Candidate filings for county and municipal offices are maintained by the Stearns County elections office and city clerks respectively. Election results broken down by precinct are published after each election and archived on the elections website. In the November 2024 presidential election, Stearns County reported voter turnout of approximately 75-78% of registered voters, reflecting high engagement in federal contests. Specific precinct-level results for the city showed strong participation consistent with Stearns County's overall turnout patterns. Looking ahead to the November 3, 2026 general election, Saint Joseph and Stearns County voters will decide several major races. Minnesota's U.S. Senate seat currently held by Tina Smith is not up in 2026 (the Amy Klobuchar seat, Class III, is scheduled), but the governor's race will appear on the ballot along with all constitutional officers including Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, and State Auditor. All 134 seats in the Minnesota House of Representatives will be contested, along with approximately half of the 67 State Senate seats depending on district rotation. At the Stearns County level, various Stearns County Board seats, county attorney, sheriff, and other county offices will appear based on term schedules. Any municipal ballot questions or special district elections will be included if placed by city authorities. Minnesota offers no-excuse absentee voting, meaning any registered voter may request an absentee ballot without providing a reason. Absentee ballot applications can be submitted online through the Secretary of State's portal at https://mnvotes.sos.state.mn.us starting 46 days before an election. Voters can have ballots mailed to their address or vote absentee in-person at the Stearns County elections office or designated satellite locations during the early voting period. Completed absentee ballots must be returned by mail (postmarked by Election Day and received within days after) or delivered in person to the Stearns County elections office by 3:00 PM on Election Day.