Chisago County polling places will be open on March 3, 2020 from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. for the 2020 Presidential Nominating Primary.
Election results can be obtained from the Secretary of State’s website after the polls close at 8:00 p.m.
Will all parties participate in the presidential nomination primary? No, only major parties will participate. Two major parties, the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and the Republican Party, have submitted candidates for the ballot. Two other major parties, the Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party and the Legal Marijuana Now Party, have notified this office that they will not be participating.
Will all parties be on the same ballot? No, each participating major party will have a separate ballot.
Who decides which candidates will appear on a party’s ballot? The chair of each party will submit a list of candidates for the party’s ballot no later than 63 days before the date of the presidential primary (December 31, 2019). The Republican candidate list was filed 10/25/19, and the Democratic-Farmer-Labor candidate list was filed 12/17/19.
What if a candidate drops out before the primary? Once a party’s list is submitted, changes will not be made to candidates that will appear on the ballot.
Will there be a place to write in a choice or vote for “uncommitted”? Only if it is requested by the party chair. Party chairs will need to submit names of write-in candidates to be counted seven days before the primary.
Will any other offices be on the ballot? No, only presidential candidates from a major party will appear on the presidential primary ballot. Other offices with a primary will be on the primary ballot in August.
Who can vote in the presidential nomination primary? Any voter registered in Minnesota. Voters can pre-register through February 11, or register at the polling place when they vote. Note that voters must turn 18 years old by March 3 to vote in the presidential nomination primary.
How will I be able to vote in the presidential nomination primary? Registered voters will be able to vote at their polling place on presidential primary day or by absentee ballot in the 46 days before presidential primary day (starting January 17, 2020). A voter must request the ballot of the party of their choice. If a voter refuses to select a party, they will not be able to vote in the presidential nomination primary.
Will other people know which party’s ballot I request? A voter’s choice of party ballot will be recorded and is private data. However, a list of who voted in a presidential nomination primary and the political party each voter selected will be provided to the chair of each major political party. How a voter voted on the ballot will be secret.
Will parties have to abide by the primary results? The presidential primary results must bind the election of delegates in each party.
Will there still be precinct caucuses? Yes, precinct caucuses and local and state nominating conventions will still take place to conduct other party business.