SW Minnesota Today

While everyone is focused on voting for the president, there are still down-ballot races for state and local government office, which are just as important.

Down-ballot races include electing officials for cities, counties, school boards, park boards and other elected offices, the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder reported. 

"In many ways, down-ballot races have a larger impact on daily life than the presidential election," Mary Turck wrote in her report for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. "For example, the biggest decisions about your child or your grandchild’s education are made by the school board. The school board has more power over schools than the president, governor or anyone else."

This year, every seat in the Minnesota State Legislature is on the down-ballot. This means every Minnesotan voter can choose who they want for a Minnesota State Senator and a Minnesota State Representative. 

There will also be some school board votes for the St. Paul School Board and the Minneapolis School Board in addition to votes for one Minnesota Supreme Court Justice and four state appeals court judges. 

Minnesotans will also have the chance to vote for all eight Congressional representatives for the U.S House seats and a third of the U.S. Senate seats, Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder reported.