Good morning. Now that filings have closed, with 95 candidates for 25 seats and one, possibly two ballot questions, it is a good time to let you know what’s happening in our office and provide you with some useful information as you plan for National Night Out.

First, regarding RCV information for your constituents, the excellent staff at 311 have undergone RCV training and this is a good number to call for general information. The operators will also collect feedback information from the callers as well. Also, for those wishing to contact us regarding RCV, they can reach us at: rcv@ci.minneapolis.mn.us. Finally, tomorrow, Friday, the Minneapolis RCV website will be up and running with information as well. The web address is: voteminneapolis.org.

For the National Night Out, we will have our initial brochure available. The PDF of the brochure is attached for your convenience. You, and all candidates, may pick up quantities of these printed brochures, as well as sample instructional ballots at our offices in City Hall Monday and Tuesday (8/3&4) during business hours, or at 2323 East Franklin Friday and Saturday, nine to six (7/31-8/1) as well as Monday, nine to nine, and Tuesday nine to five. We have contacted the block club leaders to offer these brochures, and while some have contacted us, we have not heard from all. So, if you plan to visit neighborhood parties in your ward, please feel free to bring along some brochures.

We have lined up speakers or representatives for quite a number of the parties, and below is the link to a map of the party locations for your information. The red flags indicate that we have someone lined up; blue and green, not yet. http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=114258483031909851406.00046eeca2b65f52e68fe&ll=45.003651,-93.247833&spn=0.040297,0.07021&z=13

We are working with a six sigma consultant on the hand count process redesign. In mid August, we will take a dozen experienced counters off site for a week long workshop to redesign the process. As you may know, our goal, at minimum is to have the counting completed by late December, so that the winning candidates can be seated on time, January 4th. Our wish, however, is to complete the count thirty days from the election. Wouldn’t that be great? By the way, our work on this hand count redesign is valuable because even if we have certified automated tally equipment by the next municipal election, this hand count process would be available to Minneapolis as well as any jurisdiction in the event of recounts.

If you have any questions, or would like any additional information, please don’t hesitate to call me at 673-2073. Thank you.

Patrick O'Connor
Interim Elections Director, City of Minneapolis
350 S. 5th St. #1B, Minneapolis, MN 55415
Phone: 612-673-2073
Fax: 612-673-2756
E-Mail: mailto:patrick.o’connor@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
www: www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/elections