Any U.S. high school student in a government class can tell you that elections are a cornerstone of democracy. By voting, people make their voices heard and choose their leaders. The City of Eagan and our elections staff place a high value on keeping the process clear and open. Many systems are in place to ensure fairness and trustworthiness of our elections.
Multiple layers of oversight safeguard our elections at the state, county, city, and precinct levels. Plus, many people and systems work to ensure that your vote counts. Whether it’s the secretary of state, county elections staff, our city clerk, or an election judge, each one serves a role.
Additionally, specific procedures check voter registrations, keep ballots secure, and review results. Supporting these practices requires a fleet of temporary workers: election judges.
The Role of Election Judges
These local residents dedicate their time to support the voting process and protect fair elections. Judges must be neutral, meaning they don’t take sides, and their job is to support a fair election.
Before the voting begins, election judges help get everything ready — testing machines and setting up voting materials. On election day, they run polling places plus help voters register, check in, and place their ballots securely in voting machines.
Lastly, on election night, judges finalize results, take down equipment, and securely and safely return election materials and vote ballots to City Hall.
Meet Your Election Judges
Eagan poll workers are your neighbors. The three featured below graciously told us a bit about their experience working on elections.
Ankit Mukhopadhyay
Q: Why serve as an election judge?
A: I knew I wanted to be an election judge from my background in politics and involvement in Youth in Government. It was also about helping my community and making our city a better place.
Q: Who would you encourage to consider being an election judge in the future?
A: Anyone who is interested in politics or government, or anyone who wants to be involved with their community.
Q: How do you think this work is important to the community?
A: I think it’s about fulfilling our civic duty. Unfortunately, I can’t vote yet, [Mukhopadhyay is too young to vote] but the best I can do is encourage voting in my community, which I can do by being an election judge.
Q: What do you like best about working as an election judge?
A: The people you work with are what make being an election judge the best thing possible. You’re with these people for 15 hours, and it can get boring. But you can make connections, talk, and maybe come back next time to do it all over again.
Kirsten Fong
Q: Why serve as an election judge?
A: I’ve thought about being an election judge for several years as I had a coworker who participated. After I retired from my federal position it was time to get involved. One of the most important rights of American citizens is the right to vote. I believe in being civic minded and helping out where I am able.
Q: What do you like best about working as an election judge?
A: I started with a primary, so it was a quieter day to learn the process. I met so many new and wonderful people at my precinct. From new voters just registering to people who have been voting for 50 plus years, we were able to make this location one that was safe and comfortable and willing to assist with whatever was needed.
Q: Anything else you’d like to tell readers?
A: We received training before election day and a manual to take with us so we could look back on how things are to be done. It was very well run, and I felt completely at ease being a first timer.
Bob Newman
Q: Why serve as an election judge?
A: When I moved to Eagan I became involved with my local precinct caucuses and was asked by leadership to apply to be either an election judge or a voter challenger. After hearing the job description for each position, I wanted to be someone who helps people vote.
Q: Who would you encourage to consider being an election judge?
A: Anyone who’s genuinely interested in working with others who share a passion for civic engagement should consider applying. The job is a great experience for those who may be a little skeptical about how our elections are run. They will experience firsthand the inner workings of our electoral system and see all the security and safety measures that are in place to ensure continued election integrity.
Q: What do you like best about working as an election judge?
A: It’s great to welcome and be in touch with the voters in Eagan. I especially like working in different precincts and working with a lot of different election judges. Most of all, the Eagan city election staff is great to work with and provides excellent training activities and materials which makes an election judge’s job very comfortable and fun.
Fire Prevention Week Open House
5–7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3 | Eagan Fire Station 2, 1001 Station Tr.
Join Eagan firefighters for children’s activities, and to see trucks, hoses, and other equipment up close. Learn about smoke alarm installation, choosing an alarm, testing and maintenance, replacement, and more at this year’s open house.
Help Keep Our Water Healthy
We value our water in Eagan and want to keep pollution out of our lakes, wetlands, and ponds.
Did you know that our water from storms drains directly to our water bodies, washing debris along with it? You can help protect and improve our water by raking your yard waste away from streets and keeping grass clippings, pet waste, and trash out of roads.
You can also take your help a step further by adopting a storm drain this fall. Adopt-A-Storm Drain is an opportunity for residents, groups, and businesses to clean up storm drain grates and surrounding areas.
MORE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Storm drain labeling: Help spread the message “Keep Pollutants Out, Drains to Lake” by gluing curb markers near street storm drains.
Lake cleanup: Water Resource staff can provide some direction as well as lend some trash grabbers and garbage bags.
To learn more about local volunteerism, visit cityofeagan.com/volunteer.
Fall Sweeping
Road crews are out sweeping this fall to help prevent debris from washing down our storm drains. To do your part, consider retaining clippings on your lawn — or bag them up. You can compost the leaves and grass at home or bring them to a compost site. Most garbage haulers also pick them up.
Remember: It’s illegal to put leaves and yard waste in the streets, even when the sweeper is coming.
Learn more about street sweeping online at cityofeagan.com/street-sweeping.
Water Line Update
Thank you for helping us complete our assessment to reduce the number of lead pipes (and exposure) carrying our drinking water. All the information we gathered can soon be found at the Minnesota Department of Health.
For updates and to learn more, visit
Snowplow Prep Tips
Garbage Cans
Keep garbage cans 3 feet back from the street
Mailbox
Be sure the post is steady
Mailbox should measure 48 inches high from bottom of curb to bottom of box
Front of mailbox is 10 inches behind the curb; paper boxes too
Stake Your Curbline
Help mark corners and curbs for plows
Six free stakes are available per house at Eagan Maintenance Facility (3501 Coachman Pt.)
Connecting the Dots Between REI and Sustainability
Race Equity & Inclusion in Eagan
Eagan’s greatest asset is its people. According to the 2020 Census, our community is becoming more diverse in terms of race, ethnicity, and language. Nearly a third of Eagan residents — and 46% of our children — are Black, Indigenous, and people of color.
In 2022, the City started looking at how past practices may have prevented us from meeting the needs of everyone in our community. Working together with City leaders, staff, and community members, we reviewed City services, programs, and policies to see how well they serve people who live, work, and play in Eagan. Through this work, we created a vision: The City of Eagan is inclusive and equitably serves our racially diverse community so everyone can thrive.
The Work Continues
The City is committed to continuing to learn and grow over the coming months and years. In addition to our ongoing workforce strategies, next steps rely on community outreach and engagement with residents and stakeholders. This fall, community members will come together to talk about what it looks like to thrive in Eagan, focusing on ending racism as a barrier to success and belonging.
How to get involved
- Join us for a roundtable discussion and talk with your neighbors over dinner
- Sign up to host a smaller event in your own home, community room, or other gathering space of your choice
- Help run the conversations — we’ll train you in the art of facilitation
Watch cityofeagan.com/rei-convos for know that the time to act is now. dates and locations of upcoming events and let us know how you want to get involved.
Sustainability
At the same time that we’ve been working on our REI initiative, the City has been focused on another opportunity imperative to our community’s future and health, and one that residents have shared as a top priority: our natural environment.
As Mayor Mike Maguire said in his State of the City address, nothing is more essential to our collective health than our air and water. That’s why Eagan has launched a sustainability initiative to help future generations enjoy the same high-quality, natural environment we value today.
Many projects aim to support this value, including our annual tree sale (which has planted 12,000 trees during the past 30 years) and our water volunteer program (which protects and preserves Eagan’s 1,200 water bodies). We’re always working to shrink the City’s carbon footprint too. In fact, the new Eagan Art House will be the City’s first fossil-fuel-free building, relying on solar panels and a geothermal system for heating and cooling.
Looking ahead, Minnesota state climatologists are warning about changes in temperature and precipitation. For example, by 2050, Eagan’s average temperatures will likely have increased by about seven degrees. In the meantime, heat waves are the deadliest severe weather event in the United States each year. Summers in Minnesota are getting hotter, with more extreme swings from drought to large rain events, and winters are getting warmer and icier.
When it comes to both building climate resilience and lessening our impacts, we know that the time to act is now
How to get involved
Sustainability is a key priority for Eagan residents — that’s why the first step in creating this plan is to gather as much community input as possible. The City of Eagan has created a community survey to collect input from community members. Fill out your survey at cityofeagan.com/climate to help us better understand your interests, ideas, and concerns.
The Connection: REI and Sustainability
The City is taking on these two essential initiatives, REI and sustainability, which will provide complex and continuous work. And rather than being isolated initiatives, race equity and sustainability are closely connected. In fact, for either effort to be successful, we must explore their connection.
We know that climate impacts are more severe for our vulnerable community members, who may be hit harder by the economic and health consequences of environmental instability. For example, existing data shows a strong correlation between areas in the community experiencing the effects of micro heat islands and areas with greater concentrations of people of color. The City is engaging with community members to hear personal stories about how climate change is impacting daily life and exacerbating existing disparities.
These initiatives and issues are huge — and nuanced. We know that sustainability and race equity are key issues that impact our community, and they are two of the most important public policy issues we face.
Keep up with our work at cityofeagan.com/rei and cityofeagan.com/sustainability.
Reminder: Election Sign Placement Rules
While you’re welcome to share political affiliations via election signs, remember that signs can’t be placed on public property, whether in a park or on a boulevard. Please make sure signs are at least five feet from curb, or one foot from sidewalk or trail in front of your house.
Improperly placed signs will be laid down or brought to City Hall where they can be retrieved
Fall Events in Eagan
Eagan Community Center Open House
Thursday, Oct. 3 | 7 a.m.–7p.m.
Eagan Community Center | Free
Join us and explore our gym equipment and amenities at no cost. Enjoy a complimentary breakfast bar and coffee from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., a free yoga class at 3 p.m., and free access to the fitness center, track, and ECC Group Fitness classes from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Living Your Best Life Senior Expo
Thursday, Oct. 3 | 2–5 p.m.
Eagan Community Center | Free
Join Eagan 50+ Seniors and explore ways to live your best life.
Halloween Trail Walk
Saturday, Oct. 26 | 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
Viking Lakes | 2685 Vikings Cir.
$6/child, adults are free with food donation to The Open Door
Visit trick-or-treat stations, enjoy music, and play Halloween-themed games throughout the plaza. This event takes place rain or shine. Preregistration is required at discovereagan.com.
Eagan's Indoor Market
Select Wednesdays, starting Nov. 13 | 4–7 p.m.
Eagan Community Center, The Oak
Pick up fresh local items like breads, sauces, soaps, frozen meats, and pastries. Join the Eagan Market Fest email list at cityofeagan.com/subscribe.
Free Pumpkin Recycling
Saturday & Sunday, Nov. 2 & 3
Eagan Community Center parking lot
Drop off your pumpkins at our compost collection event. Find details at dakotavalleyrecycling.gov.
Parent Night Out: Health and Wellness Edition
Friday, Nov. 15 | 5:30–8:30 p.m.
Eagan Community Center, performance studio + The Oasis Room | $35/person
Do you need time to prepare for Thanksgiving? We’ve got you covered!
Join us for a special Parent Night Out, designed to give you the time you need to get ready for the holidays while your kids have a blast with a variety of fun and educational activities. Preregistration is required at discovereagan.com.