Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023.
Not all areas of Minnesota will have elections in 2023, but several school districts are asking voters to approve ballot questions seeking increases in taxes to cover operations and/or building projects. Some County Boards have seats to fill or are similarly asking voters to approve a ballot question. In Beltrami County, for instance, that question involves adding a local option sales tax to fund the county jail.
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Contributed/Beltrami CountyThe vote on Tuesday, Nov. 7, will ask how to fund a planned 242-bed facility: a five-eighths percent sales tax or an increase in property taxes. -
Contributed/RDNE Stock project via PexelsStudents are improving in reading proficiency with a different approach, officials say. But a budget-cutting proposal on the table could eliminate interventions if the referendum fails.
Use the Polling Place Finder to see what elections, if any, are coming up for your address.
Or view a list of cities and school districts with regularly scheduled elections in 2023. A map of scheduled and special elections taking place across Minnesota is also available.
Special elections are used to fill vacant offices or decide ballot questions. They can be scheduled at various times during the year and may be held in conjunction with a regularly scheduled election.
View the full list of upcoming special elections.
County offices and ballot questions
Beltrami County
Beltrami County voters will see a sales tax question on their ballots in November.
The local option sales tax, at five-eighths of a percent, is requested of voters to offset the costs of the Beltrami County Jail project.
In 2019, Beltrami County received an order from the Minnesota Department of Corrections to find a long-term solution to address the current jail's numerous deficiencies.
Built in 1989, the Beltrami County Jail’s current design requires additional staffing levels for correctional officers to have visual sightlines of the incarcerated population. The new design, according to the lead contractor Justice Planners, will address this deficiency as well as offer additional space for programming.
The county is currently finalizing the transfer of a donated parcel of property in Bemidji’s industrial park as the new jail site.
The local option sales tax, if approved by voters, would not add additional tax to food, clothing or motor vehicles.
Koochiching County
Koochiching County has a special election in November to fill a vacancy on the County Board.
The vacancy was created when former District 5 Commissioner Wayne Skoe died in February.
Two candidates advanced from the special primary election in August: Dale N. Erickson from Birchdale and Rich Mastin from Big Falls.
Koochiching’s District 5 is by far the largest geographically, also including the communities of Loman, Mizpah and Northome and a portion of International Falls.
Lake County
In Lake County, a District 1 primary contest among six candidates yielded the top two: Jack Nelson of Finland (27.62%) and Joe Baltich of Ely (22.27%). When Baltich and Colby Abazs tied at 99 votes each, a recount yielded one more vote for Baltich, reported the Star Tribune.
The seat to be filled by Nelson or Baltich comes following the death of Commissioner Pete Walsh in January.
District 1 stretches across the eastern portion of Lake County and includes the area along the northern border with Canada.
School district candidates and ballot questions
Bagley School Board special election
Voters in the Bagley School District in Clearwater County will see one special election for the local school board. Amy Fontaine is the only candidate who filed to fill a vacancy on the Bagley School Board.
Fontaine has served as an interim school board member this year.
Barnum School Board special election
Tony Newman of Barnum and Patrick S. Poirier of Moose Lake are the two choices in the special election for a seat on the Barnum School Board.
Poirier has served on the board since April, when he was appointed to a vacant seat. He previously served on the Barnum School Board until 2020, when he did not run for reelection.
Carlton School Board special election
Ryan Leonzal and Steven Schmidt, both of Carlton, are competing to fill a seat on the Carlton School Board in a special election.
The Cloquet Pine Journal reported the vacancy occurred following the resignation of longtime board member Tim Hagenah, who served 23 years.
Leonzal is serving as an interim board member after his appointment in September.
Clearbrook-Gonvick School District referendum
In the Clearbrook-Gonvick district, voters can cast ballots on a bond issue.
The $28.37 million general obligation school building bond, if approved by voters, would fund the construction of a new gymnasium, a new roof, and numerous other building improvement projects.
Clearbrook-Gonvick serves 402 students, where more than half the student body qualifies for free and reduced meals.
The tax impact of the referendum if passed is expected to be $10 per month for the average valued home of $125,000.
Crosby-Ironton School District referendum
The school district in Crosby-Ironton is seeking to increase its tax revenue by $975 per pupil for a period of ten years beginning tax year 2024.
The district is expecting a $718,000 deficit in next year’s budget, according to its website on the referendum. And over the past several years, the district has made $1.5 million in budget cuts to balance the budget. Still, the projected fund balance for the district would drop to zero by June 2026, based on a budget forecast.
If approved, the monthly cost for a $200,000 home would be $10 a month and for a $300,000 home would be $14 a month, according to the district.
The district serves 1,011 students and 51.9% qualify for free or reduced-price meals.
Deer River School District referendum
The Deer River School District is requesting 20-year obligation bond funds of no more than $24,195,000 for facility and learning environment improvements.
These improvements include upgrades, renovations, and improvements to accessibility, security, mechanical, electrical, roofing, windows, doors and instructional space.
The tax impact on an average home price of $150,000 is $13 a month, should the referendum pass.
The district is hosting two informational open houses about the referendum: 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11, and Tuesday, Oct. 17, at Deer River High School.
The Deer River district serves 885 students, 45.4% of whom are American Indian. A total of 69.7% of students qualify for free and reduced-price meals.
Goodridge School District referendum
In nearby Goodridge School District No. 561, voters will see a yes-no question for a bond issue.
Goodridge Schools are requesting $21.35 million in general obligation school building bonds for additional classrooms, a new gymnasium, and various upgrades to the district campus buildings including its boiler and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.
The estimated tax impact of the referendum, should it pass, is $35 per month on a residential home worth $100,000.
Goodridge Public School serves 263 students, and more than half qualify for free and reduced lunch.
Grand Rapids School District referendum
In the Grand Rapids School, voters will be asked to consider three referendums, which the district says will stabilize its finances and restore programming.
The primary ballot question seeks an $1,100 per pupil operating levy. This would add $4.6 million annually to the district's budget and help to avoid deeper budget cuts, according the district.
If this question fails, the others will automatically.
Question 2 asks for a $2.5 million annual capital projects levy to restore programs and provide for school safety, technology and school buses.
And Question 3 seeks another $300 per pupil to maintain small class sizes, enhance career and technical education, and more. This question only passes if the second does.
On a home valued at $200,000, the tax impact of the referendum would be $19 per month on Question 1, an additional $6 per month with Question 2, and $5 more with Question 3.
If all three ballot questions pass, a home valued at $200,000 would see an estimated property tax increase of $30.75 per month starting in 2024. A home valued at $300,000 would see an estimated increase of $46.75 per month.
The district does not currently rely on any voter-approved funding for support. It serves 4,023 students, 48.6% of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals.
International Falls School Board special election
Voters along the border will cast ballots for a vacancy on the International Falls School Board.
Dale Johnson is the only candidate that filed to fill the vacancy for a term that expires on Jan. 6, 2026.
Laporte School District special election and referendum
Voters in Laporte Public School District No. 306 will see two sections on their ballots.
One candidate, Kyle Sanders, filed for the vacancy on the Laporte School Board on a term that expires Jan. 4, 2027.
Laporte district voters will also be asked for approval on a bond issue. The $5.75 million general obligation school building bond, if approved, would finance roof replacement and various deferred maintenance projects at school sites and facilities.
The district asked voters to approve a referendum in 2019, and both questions failed with 64-66% voting no.
Laporte Public School serves 352 students in an area where at least 40% of students are economically disadvantaged.
Mountain Iron-Buhl School Board special election
In a special election to fill a school board seat in the Mountain Iron-Buhl School District, just one candidate filed: Clay Krueger of Mountain Iron.
Krueger currently serves on the School Board.
Nashwauk-Keewatin School Board special election
Two candidates are vying to join the School Board in a special election in Nashwauk-Keewatin.
Pam Brons and William Hendricks, both of Nashwauk, will be on the ballot.
Nett Lake School Board special election
Danelle Porter is the only candidate running for the Nett Lake School Board in a special election. Porter currently serves as clerk on the board.
Thief River Falls School District referendum
Voters in Thief River Falls School District No. 564 will see three questions on their ballots. Thief River Falls Schools, according to the “Plan for Our Prowlers” website, are facing larger class sizes and other budget cuts without additional revenue into its budget.
The first question, if approved, would authorize a new $750 per pupil operating levy over a 10-year term, providing $1.37 million annually.
This funding would be used to temporarily prevent budget cuts, retain quality staff, and invest in school security, mental health services and career and technical education programming, the website stated.
The second question would authorize a capital projects levy of $800,000 a year, if approved, and would complete funding for the district’s technology plan, ensuring all students have access both at school and at home.
The third question would authorize an additional operating levy of $407 per pupil, collecting $746,273 annually over the 10-year term, to further stabilize the operational budget.
Thief River Falls serves 1,806 students and nearly 40% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Pequot Lakes School District referendum
Voters in the Pequot Lakes School District will consider two ballot questions — a 10-year, $500,000 annual capital projects levy and a $76.5 million bond referendum — to expand and renovate school buildings and sites. The second question can only pass if the first question passes.
According to the district, enrollment is increasing and the capacity of current facilities is being challenged.
A home valued at $250,000 would see a tax increase of $15 per month, if both questions gained voter support.
Pequot Lakes serves 1,797 students, 36.9% who qualify for free or reduced-price meals.
Local municipalities
Aurora
In the city of Aurora, voters will choose between current Mayor Doug Gregor and challenger Richard Hess.
Two seats are also up for election on the City Council, but no one filed to fill those seats.
White Township
Jon Skelton is the sole candidate for town supervisor, and he is seeking reelection.
