Shakopee Snapshot: Spring 2024

Continued from page 3 “People really seem to enjoy the flexibility of being able to drop by City Hall to vote early,” said City Clerk Lori Hensen, who oversees the election process for the City of Shako pee. “Whether you want to avoid a wait at the polls or are going on vacation over Elec tion Day—the option to vote early can come in handy for a lot of reasons.” Mail-in voting is also available. Voters can request an absentee ballot for mail-in vot ing by contacting the Secretary of State at mnvotes.sos.mn.gov . Mail-in ballots must be received by the Scott County Govern ment Center by the day before the election and can be mailed to: Scott County, MN HOW EARLY VOTING WORKS Visit www.ShakopeeMN.gov/elections and click on the red “Absentee/Early Voting” But ton to view early voting hours. Typically, early voting is available from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays leading up to election days, with additional hours the weekend prior to the election. Early voters will enter City Hall and take an immediate right to find the polling stations down the hall. The front desk receptionist will also be happy to assist if needed. Early voters must complete a ballot applica tion on site, which typically takes less than three minutes. The City’s trained election judges will review and process the application and provide instructions on how to properly fill out and submit the ballot. The City has several voting booths available for voters to complete their ballot selections. When the voter is finished, they must place the ballot in a locked ballot tabulator; if it’s an absentee ballot, it will need to be sealed Government Center 200 Fourth Ave. W. Shakopee, MN 55379

in an envelope before being placed in a locked ballot box. The entire process typically takes less than

“Early voting really opens up the election process to be more inclusive so anyone who wants to cast a ballot has ample opportunity to do so, as opposed to an 11-hour window one day of the year,” Hensen said. “At the end of the day, I just want as many people as pos sible to take advantage of their right to vote, and early voting can help facilitate that.”

10 minutes, according to Hensen. WHAT’S ON THE BALLOT

On a state and national level, the 2024 gen eral election will determine who will rep resent Shakopee in the U.S. House of Rep resentatives, U.S. Senate, and Minnesota House, as well as the presidency. On the local level, this year’s election will determine who will represent Shakopee on the Scott County Board of Commissioners, City Council, and School Board. Being that this is a presidential election year with high voter turnout anticipated, Hensen urges voters to take advantage of the early voting opportunities at City Hall.

Get civically involved! The City of Shakopee is seeking elec tion judges for the 2024 elections. Election judges help the election pro cess run smoothly by verifying voters are in the correct polling location, help ing register voters, obtaining signa tures, handing out ballots, and show ing how to use the ballot machines. Election judges are paid $12 an hour, with head judges paid $15 an hour. To serve as an election judge, you must be a U.S. citizen, at least 16 years old on Election Day, a resident of Minne sota for 20 days, and attend a required training session. High school students ages 16 and 17 can serve as student, or trainee, election judges and are also paid $12 an hour. Visit www.ShakopeeMN.gov/elections to fill out an interest form.

Several voting booths will be available at City Hall for those wishing to vote early in the 2024 primary and general elections.

#AsktheCity

CRIME PREVENTION SERVICES

While responding to incidents of crime is a big part of the Shakopee Police Department’s job, crime prevention is a high priority within the department and community.

Q: WHAT IS CRIME PREVENTION? A: Crime prevention involves proactive measures to deter criminal activities ranging from graffiti to burglary. Through education and awareness of one’s surroundings, we can help remove the opportu nity for crime to occur. Q: WHAT CRIME PREVENTION RESOURCES DOES THE SHAKOPEE PD OFFER? A: The department hosts events like Bark in the Park and Night to Unite to provide not only resources, but also opportunities to build rela tionships among community members and law enforcement officers. The department also provides home security assessments and crime

prevention presentations by request, and it has scholarships available for eligible community members seeking treatment for drugs or alcohol. Q: HOW CAN I HELP WITH CRIME PREVENTION? A: Our entire community plays a vital role by remaining mindful and vigilant in public, staying informed, and securing their homes and vehicles. That’s how we’ve achieved Shakopee’s lowest crime rate ever in recent years! The Police Department encourages a collaborative approach for community safety. To learn more about the City’s crime prevention efforts and associated programs, visit www.ShakopeeMN.gov/crimeprevention .

6 Shakopee Snapshot