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Answering common questions about elections and voting

Columns

These are brief answers to commonly asked questions about elections and voting in Minnesota. For more information see www.Vote411 or www.sos.mn.gov/elections-voting. What are the qualifications for voting in MN? To vote in Minnesota, you must be: • A U.S. citizen • At least 18 years old on Election Day (16- & 17-year-olds can pre-register) • A resident of Minnesota for 20 days • Not currently incarcerated for a felony conviction • Not under a court order that revokes your right to vote When is identification required for voting in MN? Identification and ...

Because of my Catholic faith, I’m voting for Jake Johnson

Letters

Every Sunday morning growing up, my mom, my dad, and my nine siblings would tumble out of our Ford Club Wagon and cram into the same front pew in our small town church. On this particular morning in early Fall of 1996, my 10-year-old heart swelled with pride as my pastor stood behind the pulpit and praised our California State Senator, Dick Mountjoy, seated just a few pews back, for being “so vocally pro-life.” Later at home, my dad paused as he flipped through political mailers in our kitchen. “I think it’s really great that Dick Mountjoy is pro-life, but I won’t be voting ...

What has Finstad done to rein in Trump?

Letters

Representative Brad Finstad says his constituents complain a lot about fraud and wasteful government spending. Amen, brother! (President Trump) has used his presidency to enrich himself by at least $2 billion. He started a $65 billion war with Iran, costing the average household more than $1,000. His tariffs have cost households another $1,000. $10 trillion has been added to our national debt during his six years in office. Taxpayers will be expected to pony up for his $16 million reflecting pool boondoggle and his costly ballroom fiasco. Meanwhile, health care, food, housing, energy, ...

DIY distress

Columns

There are several three-lettered acronyms that invoke anxiety, such as FBI, IRS, and IOU. An acronym that should be added to that list is DIY. “Do it yourself” sounds seductively simple. While there are numerous things that people should definitely do themselves — such as blowing ...

Thumbs up/down

Editorials

THUMBS UP New Ulm named Minnesota Retail Community of the Year Back in July, New Ulm was named the 2026-27 Minnesota Retail Community of the Year by the Minnesota Retailer Association. This is an impressive achievement that deserves to be recognized. New Ulm received the award in part thanks to a submitted nomination that described New Ulm as a community that intentionally invests in retail success through collaboration, promotion and year-round community engagement. This is an accurate description of the New Ulm community. It does seem like every other weekend New Ulm is hosting some ...

It’s time to go but not completely

Columns

After more than 26 years at The Journal and passing what many consider retirement age, it’s time to move on at least to a degree. After working five or six days a week and holding one full-time job and up to three part-time jobs at the same time, it’s not easy to just cut loose from it ...