They turn out in sleet, snow and rain, sometimes waiting in line even before dawn to exercise their democratic right to cast a vote.

Come Nov. 4, they'll do it again at churches, schools, fire stations and town halls across Washington County.

More than 150,000 county residents have registered to vote on Election Day, and more than 70 percent of them are expected to mark a ballot in one of the county's 88 voter precincts.

"We have quite a long ballot this year for people to look at," said Jennifer Wagenius, who oversees the county's elections division.

Minnesotans will elect a governor, a U.S. senator, a state attorney general, a state auditor, a secretary of state and numerous legislators. In Washington County, voters in nine cities will elect mayors in contested races and decide among several City Council candidates. Four people are competing for two County Board seats. Mahtomedi voters will decide a school levy question.

The county's two top law enforcement officials — Sheriff Bill Hutton and County Attorney Pete Orput — appear on the ballot but are running unopposed.

In the Nov. 4, 1992, election that put Bill Clinton in the White House, “Heavy Snow Doesn’t Slow Heavy Turnout” was the headline in the Star Tribune, and it held true in Grant.

More than 3,000 voters already have cast absentee ballots at several Washington County locations, or by mail. The county's elections supervisor, Carol Peterson, said that number will grow steadily as Election Day nears.

Information about how to cast an absentee ballot and where to vote can be found on the county website at www.co.washington.mn.us. A precinct-by-precinct list of sample ballots is available there as well, and Wagenius said voters should take a look.

"It's nice to have an opportunity to make thoughtful decisions," she said.

Kevin Giles • 651-925-5037