League members make voter education zines on July 28 ahead of the 2026 primary. Image via LWVRA on Facebook.

Primary Election Day is Tuesday, Aug. 11 and General Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3

By Lulu Jaeckel

With the upcoming primary and general elections, the League of Women Voters Roseville Area is preparing to educate voters and provide resources.

The League, which has more than 180 volunteers, offers voter services, candidate forums and programs on misinformation, election security and The Constitution.

LWVRA’s outreach efforts began increasing in April. League president Kris Olsen said the nonprofit organization helps citizens register to vote, learn who is on their ballot and create a voting plan.

“It will be something as simple as setting up at a farmers market to larger events like the Rice and Larpenteur Block Party,” Olsen said.

Voting materials are available in English, Spanish, Hmong and Somali.

LWVRA hosts candidate forums to give community members an opportunity to hear candidates discuss issues affecting the public. The forums are moderated by League members and streamed live, with recordings available afterward.

LWVRA will host a Senate District 40 candidate forum from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. Sept. 10 at the Roseville City Hall Council Chambers, followed by a House District 40B forum from 8 to 9:15 p.m.

The organization will also host a mayoral candidate forum from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 22, followed by a City Council forum from 7:45 to 9 p.m.

Pushing back against SAVE Act

In a July 16 primetime address, President Donald Trump raised claims about voting machine security and noncitizens on some states’ voter rolls that experts said lacked evidence, according to NPR.  

“This administration continues to push the SAVE Act,” said Olsen. “With regard to that speech, the League of Women Voters US came out immediately and condemned the claims questioning the security and integrity of US elections. And that’s continuously what we do too.”

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act is a federal bill that would require people registering to vote in federal elections to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in person.

Opponents of the bill say voter fraud is rare and eligible citizens may not have immediate access to the required documents, according to NPR. 

Olsen said voter rolls are updated every 24 hours and that multiple safeguards are in place to protect elections. 

“The strongest message that we continue to give is that our elections are safe and secure,” she said. “There’s no evidence for anything that (Trump) is saying.”

LWVRA also observes the recounting of votes.

Olsen said there are several ways voters can participate safely, including early voting and requesting an absentee ballot. Early voting is available until one day before Election Day. 

Olsen said she has heard concerns from voters about potential issues at polling places on Election Day, including fears that someone could try to prevent people from voting. She said those actions are illegal and that election officials have plans in place to prepare for a variety of scenarios. 

“They have a plan,” she said. “If there’s a snowstorm, if there’s a tornado they do scenario planning for all sorts of things.”

For information on upcoming election dates, registration deadlines and registering to vote, visit vote411.org/minnesota.

More information about LWVRA can be found on their website, lwvrosevillearea.org