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Local elections

Local elections have a major impact on our communities—especially our public schools and the education profession.

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Education Minnesota can help your local create a campaign plan to win your levy or school board election this fall and in the future.

How Education Minnesota can help

Campaign planning

Education Minnesota will help you create a campaign plan to win your levy or school board election. Any successful campaign needs a plan of action.

Data

Education Minnesota uses the Voter Action Network (VAN) database to build targeted phone, door-knock and mailing lists. This is the same database that labor unions and political candidates in Minnesota use. We can create lists that target likely supporters and eliminate voters who may oppose your issue. Targeted lists reduce unnecessary work and help harvest supporters for your campaign.

Equipment

Depending on availability, locals can use Education Minnesota laptops and online phone lists. 

Designing and printing

Education Minnesota’s in-house print shop and graphic artists are available to create and print mailers and other documents for your campaign.  Education Minnesota will only print documents created by Education Minnesota.

Financial resources

Education Minnesota’s Political Action Committee makes funds available to locals for use in campaigns. To be eligible, at least 90 percent of a local’s members must be contributing to the Education Minnesota PAC. Qualifying locals are eligible to receive the following:

1. Referendum campaigns can send up to two mailings and school board campaigns can send up to four mailings. Mailings must be targeted and sent to likely general public voters, parents, and Education Minnesota members.
2. For non-mailing activities, each local is entitled to up to $2 of funds.
3. Two $400 stipends for members to administer phone calling programs.

To find out if your local is eligible or for how much, please contact Education Minnesota staff member Kait Peterson at kaitlyn.peterson@edmn.org.

Education Minnesota is now paying stipends to up to two members to be Phone Bank Coordinator positions for school board and referendum campaigns. Please contact Jim Meyer for referendums and Anna Brejle for school boards regarding stipends and job descriptions.

Local Elections Assistance Program (LEAP) Initial Reimbursement Application – All locals requesting financial help from the Education Minnesota PAC must fill out the Initial Reimbursement Application.

Local Elections Assistance Program (LEAP) Final Reimbursement Application (For Referendums and School Board Campaigns BEFORE Jan. 1, 2025) – Reimbursable expenses for referendums and school board campaigns need to be filed AFTER the election using the Final Reimbursement Application Before January 1, 2025.
 
Local Elections Assistance Program (LEAP) Final Reimbursement Application (For Referendums and School Board Campaigns AFTER Jan. 1, 2025) – Reimbursable expenses for referendums and school board campaigns need to be filed AFTER the election using the Final Reimbursement Application AFTER January 1, 2025.

ACH Deposit for Local Election Reimbursement – Education Minnesota highly recommends locals use ACH (having funds deposited directly in the locals account) for reimbursement payments.  Please complete the ACH Authorization form and email to accountspayable@edmn.org to receive payments electronically going forward.  Locals will receive their reimbursement quicker than by check.
– Contact the Education Minnesota Accounting Dept. at accountspayable@edmn.org with any questions regarding ACH deposits.
 
Any questions regarding either of these online forms, please contact Kait Peterson.

Working with other organizations

Parent group/Vote YES committees

It’s important for locals to work with parent groups and committees on levy campaigns. Two or three representatives are advised to help keep campaign on task and to stay updated of campaign activities.

School district/superintendent

It’s important that a local stays informed/involved when district officials begin planning a levy, including the exact wording of the ballot question. A poorly-written ballot question can sink a campaign. School districts cannot use district resources to advocate for a levy.

AFL-CIO Area Labor Councils (ALC)

All members and locals are affiliated with an AFL-CIO Area Labor Council. ALC organizers can also help locals with levy and school board campaigns. ALCs have the ability to screen, help plan, organize other unions for support and help with community relations. It is highly advised that locals reach out to their ALC. If you are unsure which ALC you are affiliated with, contact your Education Minnesota field representative.

Education Minnesota contact:

Levy/referendums:
Jim Meyer (jim.meyer@edmn.org)
651-292-4813, 800 652-9073 x4813

School Board elections:
Anna Brelje (anna.brelje@edmn.org)
651-292-4841

Set a goal, write a plan, execute!!!!