“The purpose of the primary election in Minnesota is to allow voters who choose to affiliate with a major political party to select the nominees of the party for the general election ballot,” Secretary of State Joan Growe said. “Primary voters may vote in the primary of only one party, but are not required to make their party choice public. This year, voters may choose to vote in the primary for one of three major parties: Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL), Reform or Republican.”
In the 1998 state primary, a single ballot will include candidates for party nomination for U.S. representative, state representative, governor and lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state auditor, state treasurer and attorney general. In addition, voters will be selecting nominees for associate justice of the supreme court. Voters in some counties will also be choosing nominees for county commissioners, sheriff and voting on ballot questions.
Minnesota voters who will be absent from the precinct or unable to go to the polling place due to illness, physical disability, religious observance or service as an election judge may vote by absentee ballot.
Eligible voters may cast their ballots either by mail or in person at the county auditors’ offices. The county auditors will have extended office hours for absentee voting prior to the election day from 1 to 3 p.m on Saturday, Sept. 12 and from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 14.
Eligible voters may request an absentee ballot application from their county auditor or municipal clerk. In many counties, the application may be sent by fax, Growe added.
Voters in health care facilities may also designate a person to deliver their absentee ballot to them during the four days prior to election day and until 4 p.m. on election day.
Eligible voters may register to vote on election day. Every person who registers to vote on election day must provide proof of residence.
The following documents are the only forms of proof that will be accepted.
•A valid Minnesota driver’s license, learner’s permit or state identification card that contains the voter’s current address.
•A notice of late registration received from the county auditor or city clerk.
•A prior valid registration at another address in the same precinct.
•A bill for electric, natural gas, water, solid waste, telephone or cable television service with a due date within 30 days of election day that contains the voter’s name and current address and one of the following that contains the voter’s name and photograph...Minnesota driver’s license or identification card, U.S. passport, U.S. military identification card or identification card of a post-secondary education institution in Minnesota.
•The oath of a registered voter in the same precinct who can vouch for the person’s residence.
•College students may use one of the following documents: student identi-fication card, registration card or fee statement that contains the student’s current address, student photo identi-fication card or current student fee statement and a photo identification card.
People needing to know where to vote may contact their county auditor or municipal clerk.