Voting begins this week

Posted at 12:44 PM on June 21, 2010 by Tim Pugmire
Filed under: Campaign 2010

Minnesota's top election official is reminding voters that the absentee ballot period for the Aug. 10 primary begins this Friday.

Legislation passed earlier this year moved the state's primary from its traditional September date to assist military personnel and overseas voters. It also shifted the rest of the election calendar a month earlier than normal. Secretary of State Mark Ritchie is trying to get the word out.

"When I tell people in Minnesota that voting starts this week on who will be our next governor, our next leaders, their jaws drop," Ritchie said.

The opportunity to vote by absentee ballot in person or by mail is June 25-Aug. 9. Ritchie, a DFLer running for a second term, said heavy advertising expected for the DFL gubernatorial contest should provide voters with more reminders about the earlier primary.

"So in the beginning I think we'll see a lot of applications for absentee ballots coming in. But we won't really see the effects of it, and we won't really know the totals of those absentee ballots coming in until the actual day of the election itself."

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