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St. Louis Park council declares municipal election results, selects two precincts for hand-count review
Summary
The St. Louis Park City Council adopted a resolution declaring the results of the Nov. municipal election, named the winners in four ward races, and selected precincts 4 and 5 for a post-election hand-count review tentatively scheduled for Nov. 20, contingent on county absentee ballots.
St. Louis Park City Council on Tuesday adopted a resolution declaring the results of the recent municipal election and set a tentative Nov. 20 date for a post-election review of two precincts.
"Tonight, you're being asked to adopt a resolution declaring the results of the November election and to set the date and time for our post-election review," City Clerk Melissa Kennedy said as she presented the canvass materials and city-required statistics to the council.
Kennedy told the council the city served as the canvassing board under the charter and Chapter 10 of the city code, and reviewed vote-counting materials included in the packet: the number of ballots cast citywide (about 8,800), the number of spoiled ballots (58, roughly 1% of ballots cast), and that early/absentee voting accounted for just over 25% of ballots. She also announced the declared winners in four ward contests: Daniel Bashore (Ward 1), Jim Engleking (Ward 2), Sue Budd (Ward 3) and Tim Brossen (Ward 4).
A council member asked why Ward 2 ballots showed three ranking choices despite only one candidate on the ballot; Kennedy replied that the city's ranked-choice ballot style uses three ranking positions as a fixed implementation choice and that voters may rank one, two or three candidates as they prefer.
After discussion the council moved and seconded the resolution. The council then drew precincts for the post-election review; Marcus Paul, the city's election specialist, identified precincts 4 and 5 to be included. Kennedy noted the Nov. 20 hand-count review is tentative and contingent on receipt of absentee ballots returned by mail from the county so they can be included in the review.
Votes at a glance - Motion to approve meeting agenda: moved, seconded, approved (oral vote recorded as "aye"); details not separately itemized in the packet. - Motion to approve consent items: moved, seconded, approved (oral vote recorded as "aye"). - Resolution declaring election results and setting post-election review: moved, seconded, approved (council proceeded to select precincts and schedule the review).
The council also took time to thank elections staff and the many election judges who worked the polling places, and to congratulate those who ran and those who were elected. The meeting concluded with a brief communications item noting city offices will be closed tomorrow for Veterans Day and then adjournment.
