Today's Primary Election: U.S. Senate, U.S. Rep on the Ballot

The U.S. Senate, and three judicial offices will be on the ballot in Minnetonka for the State Primary Election on Tuesday, Aug. 14.

On the primary ballot:

U.S. Senate

Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Dick Franson
Amy Klobuchar (Incumbent/endorsed)
Jack Edward Shepard
Darryl Stanton

Republican
Kurt Bills (Endorsed)
David Carlson
Bob Carney Jr.

Independence
Glen R. Anderson Menze
Stephen Williams

U.S. House of Representatives, District 3

Represents western portion of the Twin Cities including Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Edina, Minnetonka and Wayzata.

• Erik Paulsen (R)- seeking third term

• John W. Howard III (R)

No local issues are on this year’s ballot. For partisan races, the purpose of the State Primary is to determine the candidate from each party who will advance to the State General Election on Nov. 6. For nonpartisan races, the purpose is to determine the two candidates who will be placed on the November ballot.

What’s different in 2012?

after the 2010 United States Census to make election districts equal in population. The city remains in although the boundaries of the districts have changed. As a result of the newly drawn precinct boundaries in the city, voters may find that their polling place location has changed. Hennepin County will mail a notice to all voters in mid-July informing them of their polling place location.

Click here for a list of Minnetonka polling places.

State Primary

In Minnesota, voters receive a ballot that lists candidates for all eligible major parties. Minnesota has three major parties: the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, the Independence Party, and the Republican Party.

In a primary election, voters may vote only for candidates within one party. If they “cross-over”—vote for a candidate from one party for one office, and a candidate from another party for a different office—the ballot is considered defective, and the votes on that ballot will not count. If this mistake happens at the polling place, an election judge will advise the voter and offer a replacement ballot. If this happens with an absentee ballot, the voter will be sent a replacement ballot, if there is time to receive it back prior to Aug. 14.

Pre-registering to Vote

Minnesota allows voters to register to vote on Election Day at the polls. However, the lines can be long, so it is to your advantage to register before Election Day. Pre-registration for the state primary closes July 24 to allow the county time to update the precinct voter lists for Election Day. Contact city hall for a voter registration application form if you would like to pre-register. You will need to register if:

• You have never registered.
• You have changed your name or address (including just moving to another apartment in the same building) since you last voted.
• You have not voted in four years.