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Local elections

Local elections have a major impact on our communities—especially our public schools and the education profession.

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Education Minnesota can help your local create a campaign plan to win your levy or school board election this fall and in the future.

How Education Minnesota can help

Campaign planning

Education Minnesota will help you create a campaign plan to win your levy or school board election. Any successful campaign needs a plan of action.

Data

Education Minnesota uses the Voter Action Network (VAN) database to build targeted phone, door-knock and mailing lists. This is the same database that labor unions and political candidates in Minnesota use. We can create lists that target likely supporters and eliminate voters who may oppose your issue. Targeted lists reduce unnecessary work and help harvest supporters for your campaign.

Equipment

Depending on availability, locals can use Education Minnesota laptops and online phone lists. 

Designing and printing

Education Minnesota’s in-house print shop and graphic artists are available to create and print mailers and other documents for your campaign.  Education Minnesota will only print documents created by Education Minnesota.

Financial resources

Education Minnesota’s Political Action Committee makes funds available to locals for use in campaigns. To be eligible, at least 90 percent of a local’s members must be contributing to the Education Minnesota PAC. Qualifying locals are eligible to receive the following:

  1. Referendum campaigns can send up to two mailings and school board campaigns can send up to four mailings. Mailings must be targeted and sent to likely general public voters, parents, and Education Minnesota members.
  2. For non-mailing activities, each local is entitled to up to $2 of funds.
  3. Two $400 stipends for members to administer phone calling programs.

To find out if your local is eligible or for how much, please contact Education Minnesota staff member Kait Peterson at kaitlyn.peterson@edmn.org.

Education Minnesota is now paying stipends to up to two members to be Phone Bank Coordinator positions for school board and referendum campaigns. Please contact Jim Meyer for referendums and Anna Brejle for school boards regarding stipends and job descriptions.

Local Elections Assistance Program (LEAP) Initial Reimbursement Application – All locals requesting financial help from the Education Minnesota PAC must fill out the Initial Reimbursement Application.

Local Elections Assistance Program (LEAP) Final Reimbursement Application (For Referendums and School Board Campaigns BEFORE Jan. 1, 2025) – Reimbursable expenses for referendums and school board campaigns need to be filed AFTER the election using the Final Reimbursement Application Before January 1, 2025.
 
Local Elections Assistance Program (LEAP) Final Reimbursement Application (For Referendums and School Board Campaigns AFTER Jan. 1, 2025) – Reimbursable expenses for referendums and school board campaigns need to be filed AFTER the election using the Final Reimbursement Application AFTER January 1, 2025.

ACH Deposit for Local Election Reimbursement – Education Minnesota highly recommends locals use ACH (having funds deposited directly in the locals account) for reimbursement payments.  Please complete the ACH Authorization form and email to accountspayable@edmn.org to receive payments electronically going forward.  Locals will receive their reimbursement quicker than by check.
– Contact the Education Minnesota Accounting Dept. at accountspayable@edmn.org with any questions regarding ACH deposits.
 
Any questions regarding either of these online forms, please contact Kait Peterson.

Campaign Finance Changes for Referendums and School Board Elections Effective Jan. 1, 2025

All locals working with Education Minnesota on a referendum or school board election must register with the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board (CFB).  The 2024 MN State Legislature passed this law effective January 1, 2025 that requires any Education Minnesota local that exceeds $750 in expenditures or contributions received to register with the CFB.  Locals will also be required to open a separate checking account strictly for referendum or school board campaigns.

Locals need to make sure they file their campaign finance reports in the Campaign Finance Reporter Online (CFRO) system on time, or you will be fined $50 per day for being late.  ED MN will NOT cover CFB late fees.

Referendum Campaign Finance Requirements

Referendum campaign finance requirements document

Locals will also be required to open a separate checking account strictly for the “General Purpose Political Fund”. 

The bank account must be opened BEFORE you register with the CFB.
This info is required on the CFB registration form.

You can keep a nominal amount in the checking account until you are ready to start spending in the election. You will need to transfer money from your general fund to your political fund to pay for non-mailing expenses upfront. After the election you may submit your political fund expenditures for reimbursement to the ED MN PAC. After receiving reimbursement to your political fund, you can transfer the money back to your general fund.

Locals will register as a “General Purpose Political Fund”.   You can find the form here – https://cfb.mn.gov/filer-resources/complete-a-filing/campaign-finance-filings/registration/

After completing the form, you need to email it to cfb.reports@state.mn.us.  Also, save a copy for your own local records.  You will receive an email from the CFB with your registration number and info to access the CFB online report site.

Locals and Vote Yes committees will have to follow the filing schedule from the Campaign Finance Board.  The dates change every year.  The timelines will be posted on the ED MN website for locals.  They can share the info with the Vote Yes committee.  FYI, the reporting timeline is more intense for August and November referendums due to the August primary and November general election.  Locals and Vote Yes groups need to make sure they file on time, or you will be fined $50 per day for being late.  ED MN will NOT cover CFB late fees.

Minnesota state campaign finance board timeline

2025 fall elections campaign finance filing dates

  • September 23: Report of receipts and expenditures due. Period covered: 1/1/2025 through 9/16/2025.
  • October 21-November 3: Next business day reporting of large contributions ($1,000 plus). Contributions and loans from any one source totaling more than $1,000 to a political fund must be reported to the Board in person or by electronic means by the end of the next business day after receipt (this includes in-kind contributions).
  • October 27 report of receipts and expenditures due – Pre-general-election. Period covered: 1/1/2025 through 10/20/2025.
  • February 2, 2026: 2025 year-end report of receipts and expenditures due. Period covered: 1/1/2025 through 12/31/2025.

Education Minnesota will be covering the cost of 2 mailers to the targeted voter universe that Education Minnesota will create.  The cost of the 2 mailers will be paid by Education Minnesota and recorded as an “In-Kind Contribution” to the Vote Yes committee.  The Vote Yes will have to report the cost of each mailer as an “In-Kind Contribution from Education Minnesota” on their campaign finance report.  Education Minnesota will send the Vote Yes, a notice of the in-kind contribution to report on their campaign finance report.

Education Minnesota will be covering the cost of 2 mailers to the targeted voter universe that Education Minnesota will create.  The cost of the 2 mailers will be paid by Education Minnesota and recorded as an “In-Kind Contribution” to the local.  The local will have to report the cost of each mailer as an “In-Kind Contribution from Education Minnesota” on their campaign finance report.  Education Minnesota will send the local, a notice of the in-kind contribution to report on their campaign finance report.

Working with other organizations

Parent group/Vote YES committees

It’s important for locals to work with parent groups and committees on levy campaigns. Two or three representatives are advised to help keep campaign on task and to stay updated of campaign activities.

School district/superintendent

It’s important that a local stays informed/involved when district officials begin planning a levy, including the exact wording of the ballot question. A poorly-written ballot question can sink a campaign. School districts cannot use district resources to advocate for a levy.

AFL-CIO Area Labor Councils (ALC)

All members and locals are affiliated with an AFL-CIO Area Labor Council. ALC organizers can also help locals with levy and school board campaigns. ALCs have the ability to screen, help plan, organize other unions for support and help with community relations. It is highly advised that locals reach out to their ALC. If you are unsure which ALC you are affiliated with, contact your Education Minnesota field representative.

Education Minnesota contact:

Levy/referendums:
Jim Meyer (jim.meyer@edmn.org)
651-292-4813, 800 652-9073 x4813

School Board elections:
Anna Brelje (anna.brelje@edmn.org)
651-292-4841

Set a goal, write a plan, execute!!!!

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