.jpg)
Voters have been on the receiving end of everything from television advertisements and billboards to social media blasts and a never- ending array of mailbox flyers.
But this week, it’s their turn.
An election season full of vitriol, at least at the national level, culminates with balloting on Tuesday.
That’s when voters weigh in on everything from bitterly- contested presidential and congressional races to legislative and local contests.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. across the state and locally as well, although, many area residents have already voted.
As of Wednesday morning, the city of Ely had already accepted 534 absentee ballots.
Neighbor ing Morse Township had accepted 149 absentee ballots.
Early or absentee voting took off in 2020 amid the Covid-19 pandemic and a push by political parties to encourage voters to cast their ballots early.
While those numbers are down compared to four years ago, more area residents are casting ballots prior to election day than was done prior to 2020.
Turnout locally and across Minnesota is always strong, particularly during presidential years, and it’s not uncommon to see voter turnouts ranging from 80 to 90 percent in some area precincts.
The early voting figures to lessen some of the load for area election officials, who will oversee area polling places on Tuesday.
Same-day voter registration is allowed in the state, and polling places will be open in Ely (Senior Center), Morse (Town Hall), Fall Lake (Town Hall) and Winton (City Hall/Community Building) and Eagles Nest Township (Town Hall) Tuesday.
Voters will help determine the winners in many races.
Among the key contests are:
• The presidential race as former President Donald Trump (R) squares off with the Democrat nominee - current Vice President Kamala Harris.
While the state does not appear to be the battleground it was in 2020 and 2016, when Trump and surrogates visited the state including Duluth and Hibbing campaign stops four years ago, recent polls have shown a tighter-than-expected contest.
Minnesota hasn’t voted for a Republican candidate for president since 1972, and Harris has chosen Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate.
Trump came within 1.5 percentage points or taking the state eight years ago, but President Joe Biden scored a more comfortable victory in 2020.
Two polls released this week gave Harris a three percentage point lead in the state, although the Eighth Congressional District, which includes northeastern Minnesota, is expected to go heavily for Trump.
• Incumbent U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D) is facing former pro basketball player Royce White (R) a battle for a six-year term.
Klobuchar, who has Ely family ties, is seeking a fourth term in the Senate and hasn’t faced a serious challenge since winning office in 2006.
• After becoming only the second Republican to represent the Eighth District in a half-century by winning in 2018, U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber (R) has scored decisive re-election wins ever since.
Stauber is being challenged by Democrat Jen Schultz in a rematch of the 2022 campaign. The former Duluth legislator is looking to make history of her own by being the first woman to represent the Eighth District which extends south to the Twin Cities suburb and west to the Brainerd area.
• State Rep. Roger Skraba (R) of Ely is looking for a second term in office, and he’s looking to turn back the challenges of Democrat Harley Droba and Independent Rich Tru.
Skraba, a former Ely mayor and council member, won his seat by a mere 15 votes two years ago when he unseated Democrat incumbent Rob Ecklund.
Tr ump’s exp e c t e d strength across the district, which extends to some heavily Republican precincts in Itasca County, could give Skraba a boost as he looks to return to St. Paul.
• Ely has several local races on the ballot.
Mayor Heidi Omerza is unopposed in her bid for another two-year term, but there are five candidates for three city council positions.
Incumbents Jerome Debeltz and Paul Kess, who together have more than 50 years of city council experience, face challenges from John Lahtonen, Emily Roose and Frederica Musgrave.
The top three vote-getters win four-year terms on the council.
Three people will be elected to the Ely School Board but only two names are on the ballot - incumbents Tom Omerza and Hollee Coombe. Erin Moravitz is seeking a school board seat as a write-in candidate.
