by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
What voting precinct do you live in?
Unless you’re some kind of political geek, you probably don’t know.
That is why residents of the Sartell-St. Stephen School District will soon get postcards in the mail showing/explaining which precinct they live in and which of the three polling places where they should vote in the May 24 school-bond referendum.
That was announced May 3 by District Superintendent Dr. Jeff Schwiebert during a public information meeting about the school-bond issue at Oak Ridge Elementary School. (See related story.) Schwiebert said he and others on the school-facilities committee were surprised at how many people do not know their precinct number or where they should vote. Not surprising since in the upcoming school-bond referendum, polling places will be different than in previous years of general elections.
About 24 residents and about a dozen school-staff members attended the meeting, which was led by Schwiebert.
The polling-place information is vital because many people, apparently, have no clue what their precinct number is or which polling place to vote at. That is because for the school-bond election, there are only three polling places that are not necessarily the ones people voted at in previous elections. For the May 24 election, for example, the Sartell City Hall will not be a polling place as before. The only three polling places will be at Celebration Lutheran Church, LeSauk Township Hall (by the Sartell Fire Station) and St. Stephen City Hall.
An easy way to find out which precinct you are in and which polling place you will vote at is to go to the school district’s website at: www.sartell.k12.mn.us/bond-2016
Then go to the grid boxes just below the photo and click on the box that says “Voting Information.” The precincts and polling locations are listed. Beneath that grid of boxes it says “Click here to find out where you live.” So click. A “Polling Place Finder” will appear. Enter either your zip code or your county. Then hit “Go.” Enter your house number and your street. Click “Go” and your precinct and polling place – voila! – will be revealed.
