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State primary moves to August (new law)

Published (3/4/2010)
By Patty Ostberg
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Jamie Wittnerber, a sergeant in the 34th Combat Aviation Brigade, and other members of the Minnesota National Guard thanked the governor, secretary of state and legislators for a new law that moves Minnesota’s primary election to the second Tuesday in August. The law aims to help ensure that military and overseas voters will have adequate time to receive and return absentee ballots for the general election in November. (Photo by Tom Olmscheid)Minnesota’s traditional September primary is no more.

A new law, signed March 3 by Gov. Tim Pawlenty, moves the primary to the second Tuesday in August to meet a federal mandate.

Passed in October 2009, the federal Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act requires at least a 45-day period for absentee ballots to be returned and counted for primaries and elections. Previous law was 30 days.

Ten states and the District of Columbia will also have to change primary dates to meet the new law.

Sponsored by Rep. Steve Simon (DFL- St. Louis Park) and Sen. Terri Bonoff (DFL-Minnetonka), the law is effective March 4, 2010.

HF2552/ SF2251*/CH184

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