Basic Voting Information
Election Day Voting
Tuesday, November 8th is general election day in Minnesota, this year. The polls will be open from 7 AM until 8 PM.
Many Bloomington polling locations have changed due to redistricting. Check the Minnesota Secretary of State's polling place finder to confirm your voting location. (You should also have received a postcard from the Hennepin County Clerk earlier this year letting you know your polling place for this election.)
Registration is allowed at your polling place on the day of the election. Non-registered voters must provide proof of residence. More info is in the FAQ on this page.
Early Voting
Early Voting by Mail
You can request a mail-in absentee ballot on this page at MNVotes.org. Your absentee ballot must be received by election day to be counted. (It may be hand-delivered.) If you have an absentee ballot, make sure that you have the ballot envelope signed by a witness before you mail it!
(Note: At this point, it’s too late to request an absentee ballot.)
Early Voting in Person
Early in-person voting is available from now until the day before the election at Bloomington Civic Plaza, 1800 West Old Shakopee Road.
In person voting hours are:
· Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
· 10 a.m to 3 p.m. Saturday, November 5
· 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, November 7
Sample Ballot
You can view your sample ballot at My Ballot on the Secretary of State's website.
General resources
These are links to useful voting information sources that you may wish to reference:
Minnesota Secretary of State “Minnesota Votes”
Just about everything that you need to know about voting in Minnesota is available, here.
The city has posted election maps, voting locations by precinct, voting hours and other useful information
Minnesota League of Women Voters: Vote411
Minnesota Campaign Finance Board: Candidate Fundraising and Financial Reports
Candidate Information
In the following section you will find information specific to Steve and his opponent.
Bloomington League of Women Voters Candidate Videos
Websites
steve Elkins
Steve’s Website (you’re here)
Beth Beebe
Click the image to go to Beth’s web site
On Beth’s website, and in her campaign literature, she makes several false statements about Steve.
Claim: Steve is influenced by out-of-state interests. Fact: All of the groups that have endorsed Steve are Minnesota organizations. Steve’s only out-of-state campaign contributions were from a cousin in Florida and his father’s widow in Utah.
Claim: Steve supported the “Defund the Police” movement. Fact: This is completely false. (See “Public Safety”, below.)
Steve and Beth on the issues
Reproductive Freedom
Steve is Pro-Choice and fights to defend women’s reproductive freedom. Steve is endorsed by Planned Parenthood Action fund and Pro-Choice Minnesota.
Beth is Pro-Life and endorsed by the anti-abortion group Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life. She answered “yes” to all of these questions posed in their candidate survey:
Gun Violence Prevention
Beth’s website is silent on this issue.
Steve strongly supports common sense gun violence prevention measures like universal background checks and “Red Flag” laws to keep guns out of the hands of people who pose a danger to themselves or others. He believes that AR-15-style assault weapons have no place in civil society. “Straw Buyers” should be vigorously prosecuted. Steve has been named a Mom’s Demand Action “Gunsense Candidate” and an “Orange Star Candidate” by Protect Minnesota.
Public Safety
Beth engages in fear-mongering despite the fact that crime in Bloomington is currently at a four year low. Bloomington residents justifiably feel safe in their neighborhoods.
Steve supports our respectful, professional and well-trained police force — he is currently enrolled in the Bloomington Police Citizen’s Academy! Steve has voted for additional funding to support the recruitment and retention of peace officers and for legislation to ban the possession of detached catalytic converters, statewide. He is actively working to close gaps in crime data that enable “catch and release” policies. Steve is the chief author of legislation to improve safety on public transit.
Free and Fair Elections
Beth is an “election denier” who spreads misinformation about election integrity in Bloomington. (Listen to her comments during the Bloomington League of Women Voters Candidates Forum.)
Steve believes that Minnesota’s elections are free and fair and that our dedicated election volunteers and staff work to ensure that our votes are accurately tabulated. Steve will fight to defend our democracy.
Equal Rights for All
Beth supports the intolerant policies of the right-wing Minnesota Family Council. Click here.
Steve believes that everyone deserves equal rights and respect, regardless of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation.
Inflation
Beth complains about it.
Steve is actively legislating to reduce the cost of housing and health care, which are two of the largest components of the Consumer Price Index. (Read more on the Legislative Work page.)
Education
Steve and Beth agree that the State should pay the full cost of providing federally mandated special education and English as a second language instruction to relieve local property taxpayers of that burden. (Steve would actually vote to provide that funding from the current state budget surplus.) Both Steve and Beth support passage of the Bloomington Schools Safe & Innovative Schools levy renewal referendum that is on the ballot this year.
Transportation Finance
Beth believes that transportation should continue to be primarily financed using property taxes and other general taxes. (Property taxes are currently the largest single source of funding for roads and bridges in Minnesota.)
Steve regards transportation as a public utility that should be financed primarily with user fees. (Read more on the Legislative Work page.)