By Rich Larson, News Director
Early voting continued through the weekend in Minnesota at an historic clip. According to Minnesota public radio nearly half of all the registered voters in the state, more than 1.7 million people, have cast their vote. By contrast, a total of 
676, 00 Minnesotans voted early in the last presidential election.
The early voting will conclude today, as tomorrow is election day. The voting office at Northfield City Hall will be open today between 8AM and 4:45PM. Northfield City Clerk Deb Little said, it’s okay if you haven’t registered to vote. You can show up and do it on site. “Minnesota does have election day registration. We just ask that you come to the polls be prepared. If you have a Minnesota ID or a valid Minnesota driver’s license with your current name and address, you are good. That’s the proof that you’ll need. If you don’t have that, you’ll need a photo ID, and there are several options to pick from like a passport, and then you’ll need something like a utility bill, a rent or lease statement, a mortgage statement, that type of thing. And you can show those documents on an electronic device.”
She also stressed the importance of following the Covid-19 guidelines, chief among them, if you are feeling sick, please do not enter the voting office or your polling place. Little said that Minnesota has a curbside voting provision, allowing for people to vote in their car if necessary. The state also allows for Agent Delivery. Should you be too sick to leave the house tomorrow, you can still fill out an absentee ballot application, and an agent delivery form. That designated person is then able to deliver the ballot to the voter, and then deliver the completed ballot to the voting office.
Be prepared for lines both today, and tomorrow, Little said. She asked that everyone remain kind, courteous and above all, patient. Minnesota regularly leads the nation in voter turnout, and Northfield is a particularly engaged town, she said. More than 74% of all registered voters in the state cast a ballot in 2016. The final turnout tally this year is expected to be higher.
And remember to visit the KYMN election guide on our website at kymnradio.net, where you’ll find everything required to be an informed voter, from information about each candidate, to the location of your polling place.
City Clerk Deb Little’s entire interview with Jeff Johnson can be found HERE.
Peterson to depart Northfield Arts Guild at the end of the year
The Northfield Arts Guild is looking for a new Executive Director. The Guild announced on Friday that current ED Tim Peterson has been named the new Executive Director and Chief Curator of the Center for Maine Contemporary Art in Rockland, Maine.
Peterson joined the Arts Guild as Executive Director in December of 2017, and during his tenure, he oversaw three consecutive years of budget surpluses. Arts Guild Board president Rolf Kragseth thanked Peterson for his service in a statement released Friday afternoon, saying “His vision, fundraising skills and financial management have strengthened the Guild and enabled us to further our work in service of our mission.”
In his own statement Peterson said “I am incredibly proud of the work we have accomplished together on behalf of our community. In my experience, there is no other place where passion for the arts runs as deeply as it does in Northfield.”
Peterson will stay on through the end of December to finish year-end work and help with the transition process. The board said the search for a new director with begin immediately.
Isolation Gowns Needed
And Northfield Shares has put out the call for homemade Isolation Gowns. Due to the Covid-19 outbreak at Three Links Care Center, there is an immediate need for a substantial number of the gowns used by medical and care professionals. Donations of microfiber material, Velcro, and double fold bias tape are being accepted at the Northfield Covid Response Supply Depot, which is located in the lobby of the Chamber of Commerce offices at 19 Bridge Square.
Full sewing patterns are available there as well for those who are willing and able to sew the gowns themselves.
