Early Voting Now Open For 2022 Primary: How To Vote In St. Michael

ST. MICHAEL, MN — St. Michael residents can cast their votes for the Aug. 9 primary elections as soon as Friday.

Early voting runs from June 24 through Aug. 8 in Minnesota. During that period, registered voters can vote early by submitting an absentee ballot at their local elections offices. Residents can also register in person to vote early with proof of residence, according to Minnesota election officials.

St. Michael residents can cast their early votes or drop off completed primary ballots at the following locations:

• St. Michael City Hall — 11800 Town Center Dr. NE, St. Michael
  • 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Thursday
  • 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays
• Wright County Government Center — 3650 Braddock Ave. NE, Buffalo
  • 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays

Residents can also email their completed ballots to the the Wright County Elections office at elections@co.wright.mn.us or mail them to: Wright County Taxpayer Services, 3650 Braddock Ave NE, Suite 1400, Buffalo, MN 55313

Completed mail-in ballots must be received by Election Day. Absentee ballots cannot be submitted at voters' polling places, officials said.

Click here for a 2022 Minnesota Absentee Ballot Application or click here to register to vote online.

Key dates to know for early voting

• Early voting period: June 24 — Aug. 8
• Early registration deadline: July 19
• Election Day, deadline to return mail-in ballot: Tuesday, Aug. 9
  • Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Offices on Ballot

Minnesotans can view a sample ballot by using the state's "What's on my ballot?" tool.

St. Michael residents will see several statewide races on their Aug. 9 primary ballots, but those ballots will not feature any races for U.S. Congress or the Minnesota Legislature.

Governor, executive offices
Gov. Tim Walz is seeking re-election alongside Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and will face competition for the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party's nomination during the primary from Ole Savior and Julia M. Parker, who also filed as DFL candidates for those offices.

Former state Sen. Scott Jensen — who earned the Republican Party's endorsement at its convention last month — has selected former Minnesota Vikings player Matt Birk as his running mate. They will face primary competition from two sets of candidates.

Joyce Lacey and Kent Edwards filed to run together, while Bob "Again" Carney Jr. listed Captain Jack Sparrow as his running mate, according to the Minnesota Secretary of State's Office.

Steve Patterson and Matt Huff are running for the Grassroots - Legalize Cannabis party's nomination for governor against Darrell Paulsen and Ed Engelmann, while James McCaskel and David Sandbeck face competition from Chris Wright and L.C. Lawrence Converse for the Legal Marijuana Now party's nomination.

Incumbent Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon faces a primary challenge from Steve Carlson for the DFL's nomination in his race for re-election, while Kim Crockett and Erik van Mechelen will face off Aug. 9 for the Republican Party's nomination.

Bill Dahn is challenging incumbent Attorney General Keith Ellison in the DFL primary Aug. 9, and Jim Schultz, Doug Wardlow and Sharon Anderson have filed to appear as candidates for the office on Republican primary ballots.

Races without primaries
There will be no primary elections in the race to represent Minnesota's Sixth Congressional District, which includes St. Michael. Incumbent Rep. Tom Emmer was the only Republican candidate to file signatures to run for the office, while Jeanne Hendricks was the sole DFL candidate to file, according to the Minnesota Secretary of State's Office.

There will also be no primary elections in St. Michael-area races for seats in the Minnesota House of Representatives and Senate.

Republican Walter Hudson will face DFL candidate Sonja Buckmeier in the Nov. 8 election in the race to represent Minnesota House District 30A, which includes St. Michael after redistricting was completed earlier this year.

Republican State Rep. Eric Lucero, who currently represents St. Michael as part of House District 30B, is looking to make the step up to the Minnesota Senate. Lucero is due to face DFL candidate Diane Nguyen on Nov. 8 in the race for Minnesota Senate District 30.