Primary elections set for Tuesday, Aug. 13

REGIONAL- Minnesotans will have some political decisions to make on Tuesday that will impact their choices on the ballot before the general election this November. While Minnesotans voted in the presidential primary in March, there are still statewide primary races to be decided on the Democratic, Republican, and the nonpartisan ballot during the Aug. 13 primary.
All statewide ballots will include the U.S. Senate race, with options to vote for either a Republican (eight candidates looking to run against incumbent Sen. Amy Klobuchar) or Democratic (four candidates hoping to replace Klobuchar on the ballot) candidate. Area ballots will also all include choices for the Eighth District congressional seat, with Republican Harry Welty going up against incumbent Pete Stauber. On the Democratic side, Jen Schultz and John Munter are seeking the party’s nod in their bids to replace Stauber.
Other local contests will decide the final candidates in state House District 7B, the seat now held by Rep. Dave Lislegard who is not seeking reelection. On the Republican side, Cal Warwas is running against Matt Mattasich, and on the Democratic side, Lorrie Janatopoulos is running unopposed. Other area House seats do not have contested primaries in either party.
There are five candidates vying for the open nonpartisan judge seat in District 6 (see the candidate profiles in last week’s Timberjay).
Polling places are open from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m., except for some townships, which can elect to have shortened hours, but all must be open until 8 p.m.
To find your polling place, go online to https://www.sos.state.mn.us/ and click on elections and voting. Then you enter your address to get your voting information. You can also check to see if you are registered to vote, and if not, there is information on how to register at your polling place on election day, and information on early voting.
How to register on primary election day
When someone registers to vote in Minnesota, they must prove that they are who they say they are and that they live where they say they live. All voter registrations are verified with records from the Department of Public Safety (driver’s licenses and state IDs), the Social Security Administration, and other data.
Before any ballot goes to a voter—whether by mail or in person—they must swear an oath that they are eligible to vote and acknowledge that it is a felony to falsify information on their absentee ballot application or registration.
To register at your polling place on Election Day, bring at least one proof of residence listed below. While these are the most common ways to prove residency, there are others detailed at https://www.sos.state.mn.us/.
• A current state ID with your current address.
• Valid Minnesota driver’s license, learner’s permit or ID; or a receipt for any of these.
• Tribal ID with name, address, photo and signature.
• Photo ID and a document with current name and address. That includes any of the following:
• Driver’s license, state ID or learner’s permit issued by any state.
• U.S. passport.
• U.S. military or veteran ID.
• Tribal ID with name, signature and photo.
Minnesota university, college or technical college ID.
• Minnesota high school ID.
• The ID can be expired.

Approved documents
• Bill, account or start-of-service statement due or dated within 30 days of the election for phone, TV or internet service.
• Solid waste, sewer, electric, gas or water bill.
• Banking or credit card with current address.
• A current rental agreement or mortgage valid through Election Day.
•  A current student fee statement.
• A registered voter who can confirm your address. A registered voter from your precinct can go with you to the polling place to sign an oath confirming your address. This is known as ‘vouching.’ A registered voter can vouch for up to eight voters. You cannot vouch for others if someone vouched for you.
• Any of the above-cited documents can be shown on an electronic device if you do not receive paper copies.