By Cristof Traudes

For the second consecutive year, this city will play host to an historic election.

Sure, Nov. 3, 2009 won’t exactly have as many implications as Nov. 4, 2008 did. But there’s still plenty that makes this election unique.

That’s because on Nov. 3, ranked-choice voting arrives.

Also known as instant-runoff voting, Minneapolis’ new election system allows voters to rank their top three choices. It’s a give-and-take situation — taking away an extra day at the polls by eliminating the need for a primary, giving candidates a headache by asking them to wait longer to find out whether they’ve won or lost.

Nov. 3 also marks the day Minneapolitans decide the fate of one of the city’s few remaining independently elected boards — and, if you ask some, the fate of the quasi-independent Park and Recreation Board. Of course, there’s the question, too, of whether to again reelect Mayor R.T. Rybak, who has said he’s “very likely” to follow this election by jumping into the ever-growing pool of candidates for governor.

Plenty to think about.

The Southwest Journal has tried to pull together the information you'll need to make comfortable decisions on Nov. 3. Click on the llnks below for Election Day basics, information on ranked-choice voting, this year's ballot referendum, and candidate biographies, stances, forum recaps and more.

// Voting Day Basics

// Ranked-Choice Voting

// Charter Amendment

// Race for Mayor

// Race for City Council, Ward 6

// Race for City Council, Ward 7

// Race for City Council, Ward 8

// Race for City Council, Ward 10

// Race for City Council, Ward 11

// Race for City Council, Ward 13

// Race for Board of Estimate and Taxation (2 seats)

// Race for Park Board, At Large (3 seats)

// Race for Park Board, District 4

// Race for Park Board, District 6