FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: John Aiken
(651) 297-8919

ST. PAUL, Minn.—October 21, 2009—On Tuesday, Nov. 3, nearly half a million people will go to the polls to elect municipal officers, school board members and vote on local referenda. Secretary of State Mark Ritchie urges Minnesota voters to participate in their local elections and encourages voters to use Polling Place Finder, a free, online service created by the secretary of state's office, which provides Minnesotans their polling place locations. If local election officials forwarded candidate information to the secretary of state's office, Polling Place Finder will also give voters a listing of candidates who will appear on their ballots.

"Not everyone will have an election in their area this year, but our Polling Place Finder lets Minnesotans know if they have an election and where they must go to vote," Ritchie said. "I encourage Minnesota voters to visit http://pollfinder.sos.state.mn.usto locate their polling location and review information about the candidates on their ballot."

To use the Polling Place Finder, voters simply enter in their residential address information at http://pollfinder.sos.state.mn.usand are provided the specific location and address of their polling place location. The service also provides voters the ability to generate a map to pinpoint the location of their polling place and may also provide a list of candidates that will appear on the ballot for their precinct.

Minnesota has Election Day Registration, which allows voters to register at the polls on the day of the general election. For more information about voter eligibility and candidates appearing on your ballot, visit the secretary of state’s office online at http://www.sos.state.mn.us.

Most polling locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The media is encouraged to post http://pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us on their Web sites to assist voters in locating their polling locations.

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