Early Voting Underway in Minnesota Presidential Primary

For the second time in recent history, Minnesota’s voters will cast their ballots in a March 5 Super Tuesday presidential primary. 

The voting process has already started. Early absentee voting began on Jan. 19.

The results of the primary will help determine who’s on the ballot when voters select the next president in November. 

“The presidential nomination primary is really important for the voters,” said Devin Montero, Brooklyn Park city clerk. “It’s telling the parties their preference for a presidential candidate.”

In Brooklyn Park, voters can cast their ballots in-person at city hall Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Voters in the primary request a ballot for the party of their choice. Minnesotans can choose between the Legal Marijuana Now, Republican and Democratic parties.

The Democratic Party has nine candidates on the ballot, as well as an option for write-in and uncommitted. 

The Legal Marijuana New Party and Republican Party both have five candidates on the ballot, as well as an option for write-ins.

Ballots were finalized earlier this month, so some of the candidates have already dropped out of the race. 

For the Legal Marijuana Now Party, the following candidates are on the ballot: Edward Forchion, Krystal Gabel, Rudy Reyes, Dennis Schuller and Vermin Supreme.

The following candidates are on the Republican ballot: Chris Christie, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy and Donald J. Trump.

Democrats will have the following candidates on their ballot: Marianne Williamson, Cenk Uygur, Dean Phillips, Armando “Mando” Perez-Serrato, Jason Palmer, Frankie Lozada, Gabriel Cornejo, Eban Cambridge and Joseph R. Biden Jr. 

Voters in Brooklyn Park can cast their ballot in the Council Chambers at Brooklyn Park City Hall.

Early voters have more flexibility to take back their votes this year if their candidate drops out. 

This is referred to as the “clawback” period, Montero said. 

“If a candidate drops out prior to that 18-day period [before March 5], the voter can come back and revote for their candidate,” Montero said. 

Any registered voter is eligible to participate in the primary. Voters can pre-register or register at their polling place. They can also request an absentee ballot and vote by mail. 

Previously, Minnesota used a party-run caucus system and a straw-vote rather than a presidential primary system. The state removed the straw-vote from the caucus system in 2016. The last primary was hosted in 2020. 

Brooklyn Park | Twin Cities