After a busy midterm election season, a huge thank you is in order to the Blaine City Clerk's Office and all election workers for their hard work. While election administration may be the most visible role of the city clerk, this team does much more than just elections.

The city clerk’s office is a central department in any city government and is often the first stop for information. Whether a city is large or small, the clerk’s office has a wide variety of duties and responsibilities regarding statutory and City Charter requirements, including:

• Maintaining all Council proceedings and official records such as minutes and resolutions
• Publishing legal notices and newly adopted ordinances
• Coordinating board and commission vacancies
• Administering business and other licensing such as tobacco and alcohol
• Maintaining and responding to inquiries regarding the City Code

The Blaine Clerk’s Office also includes the new customer service center that provides the public one stop for information on many items, including paying a utility bill, getting information on a park shelter, contact information for a councilmember, board and commission meeting agendas, and much more.

Another key role for the department is election administration for local, state, and federal elections, including absentee voting for residents who wish to vote prior to election day. With the 2020 census and the City’s increased population to over 70,000, the 2022 redistricting resulted in the addition of two new polling places for a total of 26 precincts. While a core function of the Clerk’s Office, successfully-run elections only happen as a result of much work and partnership with many others, including over 280 election judges, the use of schools, places of worship, fire stations, and other locations for polling places, and from almost every City department including Public Works who deliver all materials and equipment to polling places, election judge payroll, communications, GIS mapping, information technology, and so many others. Blaine is very fortunate to have a fantastic team and the Clerk’s Office is ready to help.

For more information, visit BlaineMN.gov/CityClerk and BlaineMN.gov/Elections.