Stearns County Special Election Voting Underway

(KNSI) — Direct voting for the November 4th special election is underway.

The election covers Stearns County Commissioner District 4 and School District 742. Direct voting lets people cast their absentee ballot in person and drop it right into the ballot box, basically the same experience as voting on election day.

The County Commissioner seat is open following the resignation of Leigh Lenzmeier in April. The District 742 seat is vacant after Bruce Hentges stepped down. Both are dealing with health issues.

For the District 4 commissioner race, Amin Ali and Bob Johnson advanced from the August 12th special primary and are the candidates moving forward. You can find their contact information on the county website by clicking here. The candidates in District 742 are Gina Acevedo, Al Dahlgren, and Peter Hamerlinck.

People living in Commissioner District 4 can vote early in person. That district includes Waite Park and parts of St. Cloud. Anyone in School District 742 across Stearns, Benton, and Sherburne counties can also vote absentee in person at the Stearns County Service Center Election Office, which is located at 3301 County Road 138 in Waite Park. The office is open for voting Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., plus Saturday, November 1st, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Residents in the Wright County portion of District 742 can vote absentee at the Government Center at 3650 Braddock Ave NE in Buffalo instead.

There’s also the option to vote absentee by mail. Absentee ballot applications can be requested online by clicking here, or by contacting the Auditor-Treasurer’s office to have one mailed. Once the application is filled out, send it back to the Auditor-Treasurer’s office and they’ll send a ballot.

Anyone with questions can reach the Stearns County Auditor-Treasurer’s office at 320-656-3920 or send an email to elections@co.stearns.mn.us.

___