In a recent city council meeting, Apple Valley's city clerk provided an extensive overview of the upcoming general election scheduled for November 5th. With early voting already underway since September 20th, residents have multiple options to cast their votes, including in-person early voting at the Apple Valley Municipal Center and mail-in absentee ballots.

The city clerk detailed the early voting hours, which include extended hours on the Saturday before the election and the Monday prior, ensuring accessibility for voters. Voters can also register on election day, provided they bring proof of residence. The city has set up 16 polling locations for election day, differing from the early voting site.

As of the meeting, 36,607 registered voters in Apple Valley had a turnout of 21.4%, with 7,840 ballots already cast. The breakdown of these ballots shows that approximately 30% were cast in person at City Hall, 33% by mail, and 37% at county service centers.

The city has appointed around 350 election judges, all of whom have undergone training to ensure a smooth voting process. The clerk emphasized the collaborative efforts with Dakota County, which has centralized absentee voting services, enhancing the efficiency of the election process.

In preparation for the election, the city conducted preliminary testing of voting equipment and held a public accuracy test to ensure transparency and reliability in the voting process. The results from the election will be reported on votes.gov, with a reminder that all ballots must be counted before results are officially released.

With the election fast approaching, the city clerk expressed enthusiasm for the community's engagement and the collaborative efforts that have been made to facilitate a successful voting experience for all residents.