City Council Meeting Date: July 22, 2025
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: Lynette Peterson, City Clerk
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Absentee Balloting and Election Services - 2026 Planning Discussion
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Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council will receive a presentation outlining the absentee balloting process and the associated costs. City staff will seek guidance from the Council regarding both the procedures and related expenses.
Summary Report:
Since 2016, the City of Northfield has served as a "remote" absentee voting site for Rice County, operating from City Hall under a contract with the County. In 2022, Northfield received $10,000 from Rice County for these services. Following a review of expenses, staff negotiated an increase to $20,000 for the 2024 election cycle.
To operate absentee balloting, the City hires temporary election staff. Costs for staffing during a primary and general election typically total around $30,000. This estimate reflects recent legislative changes impacting absentee site staffing requirements.
New in 2026, Minnesota law allows colleges to request an on-campus voting day. Cities must honor such requests. In 2024, Carleton College made this request, and voting was successfully conducted on campus for five hours. The City submitted a reimbursement request to the State grant program for associated expenses. Staff estimates the cost for conducting college voting days at both Carleton and St. Olaf to be $5,000.
In addition to staffing costs, the City incurs mileage expenses when delivering absentee ballots to Rice County offices in Faribault. Staff estimates this cost, including travel time and mileage, at $1,000. Northfield maintains a Joint Powers Agreement with Dakota County for absentee voting services for its one Dakota County precinct. Under this agreement, Dakota County provides a courier service for ballot transport.
Estimated Costs for 2026:
* With absentee voting at City Hall: $97,...
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