HREI Virtual Town Hall Meeting on
Racial Disparities is June 30

Join the Hopkins Race and Equity Initiative (HREI) on Tuesday, June 30, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. for a virtual town hall meeting, "Racial Disparities: [Not] In My Neighborhood?!" The town hall will feature a conversation on racial dispartities in West Metro neighborhoods,
featuring a panelist discussion moderated by Diversity and Inclusion Consultant Bill Wells. Panelists include:

• Al Nuness, Para-Professional and Director, Invictus Leadership Group
• Astein K. Osei, Superintendent, St. Louis Park Public Schools
• Bishop David E. Johnson, Senior Pastor, Grace Apostolic Church
• Dr. Kirsten Delegard, PHD, Director/Co-Founder, Mapping Prejudice Project
• Julia Ross, Joint Community Police Partnership, Hopkins Police Department
• Kissy Coakley, City Council Member, City of Minnetonka

Applications for Small Business Grants Now Open

The Minnesota Small Business Relief Grant Program, approved by the Legislature and signed by Governor Walz, was set up to provide $10,000 grants to small businesses that can demonstrate financial hardship due to COVID-19. Applications will be accepted June 23 through July 2. Learn more and apply here.

Vote Early by Mail: Absentee Voting for
Primary Election is Underway

In Minnesota, you do not have to wait until Election Day to vote. Request an absentee ballot application at MNVotes.org or by calling Hopkins election officials at 952-548-6302. 
City Clerk Amy Domeier reminds those who vote by absentee ballot to follow these steps:

• Complete your 2020 Minnesota Absentee Ballot Application. Check the box labeled “Both 8/11 and 11/3 Elections” to receive a ballot for each election. Return the completed application in the prepaid envelope.
• After your absentee ballot application is approved, Hennepin County election officials will mail your absentee ballot materials June 26. If you apply after this date, your ballot will be sent when the application is received.
• Review the instructions carefully. Any mistakes like forgetting your signature could cause your ballot to be rejected.
• You’ll need a witness who must be a Minnesota Registered Voter or a Notary to help you complete your materials and make sure only you filled out your ballot. Your witness must also sign and provide their address.
• If you are not registered to vote, you’ll show your witness one of many identification options to prove your name and current residence. Your witness must mark the ID you showed them on your ballot materials.
• Once you’re done, package everything up in the prepaid envelope and return it right away to Hennepin County. If your ballot is received after Election Day, your vote will not count.

Hennepin County election officials will check that you and your witness filled out the signature envelope correctly. If you did not fill out the signature envelope correctly, election officials will mail you replacement materials, including an explanation why your signature envelope was rejected. If it’s within five days of Election Day, election officials will send you a replacement ballot and try to contact you. If this happens, you can hand deliver your completed replacement ballot to Hopkins City Hall by 3 p.m. Election Day or you can vote in person at your polling place. Your rejected ballot will be recorded as rejected.

If your signature envelope is correct, election staff will mark your ballot as accepted. Your ballot will be stored securely. Starting 14 days before Election Day, Hennepin County election officials will open your signature envelope and run your ballot in the ballot counter like you would have done on Election Day.

You can track the status of your ballot online to make sure it was received and counted at mnvotes.sos.state.mn.us/AbsenteeBallotStatus.aspx.

Find more information about voting early with an absentee ballot here.

Meetings & Events

• July 3 - City Offices Closed
• July 14 - City Council Meeting

Quick Links

Ask the City |  City of Hopkins Website | Think Hopkins Website