Absentee voting began Jan. 17, for the March 3 Presidential Nomination Primary. Voting in the Presidential Nomination Primary will be different from a statewide primary election with the following differences:
• The Democratic-Farmer-Labor and Republican parties are the only major political parties that will participate in the Presidential Nomination Primary. Donald Trump and the Republican Party have decided only Trump’s name will appear on the Republican ballot.
• Each party will have a separate ballot.
• Only presidential candidates will be on the ballot.
• A voter’s choice of party ballot and how a voter voted is private data. 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
Stearns County has two locations for in-person absentee voting for the full 46 days before the election at the following locations:
Stearns County
Administration Center
Auditor Office, Room 148
705 Courthouse Square
Hours: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Stearns County Service
Center
License Center West
3301 CR 138
Waite Park
Hours: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Voters can also apply for an absentee ballot online at mn.votes.org and a ballot will be mailed to them. Absentee ballot requests may also be done by mail. Contact the Auditor-Treasurer’s Office at 320-656-3920 or email elections@co.stearns.mn.us and an application will be sent.
The political parties will conduct precinct caucuses on Feb. 25 to address other party business including nominations for other offices and issues.
There will be a primary election on Aug. 11 to decide other contested races. The general election is Nov. 3.
