Polk County is currently accepting filings for the Polk County 1st District Commissioner after the unfortunate passing of Commissioner Gerald Jacobson on January 15 and is looking for candidates to fill his seat with a special election. The filing period for candidates will go from February 7 until Tuesday, February 21. Currently, the county has had three candidates file for the candidacy. The three candidates that have already filed their candidacy are former Polk County Director of Property Records Michelle Cote, Crookston Ward 1 City Councilmember Kristie Jerde, and Fertile rural resident Travis Johnson.
With more than two candidates submitting their candidacy for the Commissioner position, the county has two special elections that will be held in the spring and summer. “With three people filing, the primary election will be held on Tuesday, May 9. With more than two people filing, we have to have this primary which will be used to narrow it down to the top two candidates,” Election Administrator Sam Melbye explained. “After that, the general election will be held on Tuesday, August 8, for the top two candidates, which will be when we fill the seat. Whoever wins the election will take office as soon as the election is certified.”
A little over a month after the filing period ends, the county will begin Absentee voting for the election. “Absentee voting will begin 46 days prior to the actual elections, which will be on Friday, March 24. We’ll be able to start sending out absentee ballots, and people can apply now,” said Melbye. “It works just like a normal election, so we would get the applications in either the office here, through the mail, to the Government Center at 612 North Broadway in Crookston, or you can email the applications. They can go to Elections at www.co.polk.mn.us.” The elections will be held at all previous election precincts. For Crookston, citizens in Wards 1 & 5 will participate in this election and vote at the First Presbyterian Church on both election days. Citizens can also apply for Absentee voting when it becomes available. If anyone serving in the military wishes to vote, the county has options available to have ballots sent to them.
To file an affidavit for the election, candidates must meet a certain set of requirements in order to be qualified to run. “You come in and fill out an affidavit of candidacy. It asks for your name, address, and what office you’re running for,” Melbye explains. “Then you have to affirm that you’re eligible to vote in Minnesota, you haven’t filed for the same or any other office at an upcoming primary or general election, you are or will be 21 years of age when you assume the office, and you’ll maintain residency within the district for at least 30 days prior to the General Election.” Candidates can get the affidavit form from the Secretary of State’s website at https://www.sos.state.mn.us/media/1027/affidavit-of-candidacy.pdf and pay a $50 filing fee at the Government Center.
The county will also hold a public accuracy test for the election two weeks before the primary election in May, on the first floor or basement of the Polk County Government Center, which is open for the public to attend with signs placed in the building to help guide anyone to the election room. The county will also post and publish the testing results when they are completed. If you wish to file for the District 1 Commissioner seat and live within District 1, the filing date is open until Tuesday, February 21.
Stay tuned to KROX and kroxam.com for more updates on new candidates and the election.
