It’s decision-making time as voters around the state and across the country cast a ballot for a number of elected offices.

Polls in Minnesota will be open until 8 p.m. today for the General Election. People who are not registered to vote can register today at their polling place, if they have identification and proper proof of residency. 

This Election Day, Meeker County voters will cast a ballot for a number of local offices, including school board, city council, mayor, county commissioner, county auditor, county treasurer, county recorder, county sheriff, county attorney, soil and water supervisor, state representative, state senator, governor and lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state auditor, attorney general, Supreme Court associate justices, Court of Appeals judges, and U.S. representative.

The Independent Review will monitor vote totals tonight as they are posted and will keep readers updated online and provide more extensive coverage in the Nov. 4 edition of the newspaper.  

To offer information about local candidates, the Independent Review published a Voter’s Guide, which was included in the Oct. 21 edition, that lists answers to questions posed to candidates in many area races, as well as sample ballots. Extra copies are still available for purchase at the Independent Review office, 217 Sibley Ave. N., Litchfield.

Minnesota has a long-standing tradition of strong voter participation

and that is expected again as voters head to the polls. Minnesota

consistently leads the nation in voter turnout, and Meeker County

typically sees strong turnouts, as well, on Election Day. 

Polling places

Below are Meeker County polling places:

* Acton Township, the city of Grove City and Swede Grove Township vote at the Grove City Community Center, 210 W. Atlantic Ave., Grove City.

* The city of Cedar Mills and Cedar Mills Township vote at the Cedar Mills Rod & Gun Club, 62841 140th St., Hutchinson.

* Collinwood Township votes at Collinwood Town Hall, 21904 764th Ave., Dassel.

* The city of Cosmos and Cosmos Township vote at the Cosmos Community Center, 305 S. Milky Way, Cosmos.

* Danielson Township votes at Danielson Town Hall, 20289 530th Ave., Grove City.

* The city of Darwin and Darwin Township vote at Darwin Township and City Hall building, 305 Curran St., Darwin.

* The city of Dassel votes at City Hall, 460 Third St., Dassel.

* Dassel Township votes at Dassel Historical Building, 901 N. First St., Dassel.

* The city of Eden Valley votes at the Eden Valley Civic Center, 171 W. Cossairt Ave., Eden Valley.

* Ellsworth Township votes at the Ellsworth Town Hall, 19258 CSAH 9, Darwin.

* Forest City Township votes at Forest City Town Hall, 31505, 648th Ave., Litchfield.

* Forest Prairie Township and city of Watkins vote at the Watkins Community Center, 110 S. Central Ave., Watkins.

* Greenleaf Township votes at Beckville Lutheran Church, 20521 600th Ave., Litchfield.

* Harvey Township and Litchfield Township vote at Assembly of God Church, 28164 Minnesota Highway 22, Litchfield.

* The city of Kingston and Kingston Township vote at Kingston Community Center, 30840 722nd Ave., Dassel.

* The city of Litchfield, Wards 1 through 5, vote at Litchfield Armory, 525 N. Gilman Ave., Litchfield.

* Manannah Township votes at Manannah Community Center, 57211 351st St., Grove City.

* Union Grove Township votes at Union Grove Town Hall, 35975 515th Ave., Paynesville.

Polling Place Finder is a free, online service created by the secretary of state’s office, that provides polling place locations for Minnesotans. If local election officials forwarded candidate information to the secretary of state’s office, Polling Place Finder  also willgive voters a list of candidates who will appear on their ballots. To use the Polling Place Finder, voters simply enter in their residential address information at http://pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us and are provided the specific location and address of their polling place location.

Voter’s Bill of Rights

The following is Minnesota Voter’s Bill of Rights, according to Minnesota statute 204C.08, subd. 1b.

For all people living in Minnesota who meet federal voting eligibility requirements:

1. You have the right to be absent from work for the purpose of voting without reduction to your pay, personal leave, or vacation time on Election Day for the time necessary to appear at your polling place, cast a ballot, and return to work.

2. If you are in line at your polling place any time before 8 p.m., you have the right to vote.

3. If you can provide the required proof of residence, you have the right to register to vote and to vote on Election Day.

4. If you are unable to sign your name, you have the right to orally confirm your identity with an election judge and to direct another person to sign your name for you.

5. You have the right to request special assistance when voting.

6. If you need assistance, you may be accompanied into the voting booth by a person of your choice, except by an agent of your employer or union or a candidate.

7. You have the right to bring your minor children into the polling place and into the voting booth with you.

8. If you have been convicted of a felony but your felony sentence has expired (been completed) or you have been discharged from your sentence, you have the right to vote.

9. If you are under a guardianship, you have the right to vote, unless the court order revokes your right to vote.

10. You have the right to vote without anyone in the polling place trying to influence your vote.

11. If you make a mistake or spoil your ballot before it is submitted, you have the right to receive a replacement ballot and vote.

12. You have the right to file a written complaint at your polling place if you are dissatisfied with the way an election is being run.

13. You have the right to take a sample ballot into the voting booth with you.

14. You have the right to take a copy of this Voter’s Bill of Rights into the voting booth with you.