Voters in the Montevideo and Benson school districts are going to the polls today to decide bond referendums.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday in both districts. The Benson polling place is the City Armory, and the Montevideo polling location is the TACC Center.
At both locations, election judges will be available to handle curbside voting. Voters may also enter the polling places instead. Social distancing precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 will be taken at both locations.
Both districts have seen success in encouraging voters to take advantage of early and absentee voting. When reached before noon Monday, Superintendent of Schools Luther Heller reported that Montevideo had 853 early and absentee ballots requested.
In Benson, there had been 447 absentee ballots issued by Monday afternoon, according to Swift County Deputy Auditor Marlene Molden. At that point, some 357 had been filled out and returned.
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Montevideo School Board members are asking voters to approve two questions on the ballot. The first question asks voters to approve a $47.75 million bond to develop a new elementary school and remodel the Middle School. The second question asks approval for a $13.28 million bond to build a new fine arts performance center and auditorium.
Benson School Board members are asking voters to approve a $1.5 million bond to develop a multi-purpose activity building east of the high school football field.
Both districts made absentee ballots available beginning Feb. 28.
They are among three districts in the state that had scheduled referendums before the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded. Bertha-Hewitt is the third.
Only the governor has the authority to cancel or postpone an election, and Gov. Tim Walz has instructed the three to go forward.
