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Minnesota elections, 2013
Contents |
| On the 2013 ballot |
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Exceptions include special elections. Find current election news and links here. |
2013 elections
Special elections
State House District 14A
- Steve Gottwalt (R) resigned his District 14A House seat, which he won re-election to on November 6, 2012, on January 7, 2013. While three Republicans had initially filed, Tama Theis won the nod at a GOP convention and the other candidate dropped out. Thus, with only one candidate from each party, a primary did not take place.[1] Gottwalt resigned to take a job as director of state legislative policy for an imaging-scan provider firm.[2][3] The special election was held on February 12, which Tama Theis won.[4]
- Related: See election results here.
- See also: Minnesota state legislative special elections, 2013.
State House District 19A
- Terry Morrow (D) announced that he would be resigning his seat, which he won re-election to on November 6, 2012, on January 7, 2013. A Democratic primary was held on January 29. While two Republicans were running, Allen Quist was chosen by a GOP convention and Jim Golgart suspended his campaign, leaving Quist without a primary opponent.[1] [5][6] On the Democratic side, Clark Johnson was endorsed by the party convention, but due to the late timing of the convention, all four candidates were in the primary on January 29, which Johnson won.[7][8] The special election was held on February 12, which Johnson won.[9]
- Related: See election results here.
- See also: Minnesota state legislative special elections, 2013.
Voting absentee
- See also: Absentee Voting
Eligibility
You are eligible to vote absentee in an election if you cannot make it to the polls on election day for one of the following reasons:
- you are away from home
- you are ill or disabled
- you are an election judge serving in a precinct other than your own
- you are unable to go to the polling place due to a religious observance or belief
- an eligible emergency is declared by the governor or quarantine is declared by the federal or state government.
Deadlines
There is no specific deadline for applying for an absentee ballot. The ballot must then be returned on or before election day for it to be counted.
Military and overseas voting
For full details, visit the Federal Voting Assistance Program here.
Voting early
- See also: Early voting
Minnesota is one of 8 states which allow early voting but require an excuse to vote early. Early voting begins 46 days prior to the election and ends on election day. The average number of days prior to an election that voters can cast an early ballot is 21 days in states with a definitive starting date.
To vote early you need to provide an excuse for why you will be unable to vote at the polls during normal voting hours. The following are valid reasons:
- you will be away from home on election day
- you are ill or disabled
- you are an election judge serving in a precinct other than your own
- unable to go to the polling place due to a religious observance or belief
Elections Performance Index
Minnesota ranked 5th out of the 50 states and District of Columbia in the Pew Charitable Trusts' Elections Performance Index (EPI), based on the 2010 elections. The EPI examines election administration performance assigning an average percentage score based on 17 indicators of election performance. The indicators were chosen within the framework of determining the convenience and integrity of each of the three administrative phases of an election: registration, voting and counting. Minnesota received an overall score of 74%.[10]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 CBS Minnesota, "Dayton Sets February Special Elections For House," January 8, 2013
- ↑ SCTimes, "3 Republicans declare run for House 14A seat," January 7, 2013
- ↑ SC Times, "Independence candidate files for seat," January 15, 2013
- ↑ Politics in Minnesota "Johnson, Theis win House special elections," February 13, 2013
- ↑ The Journal, "Mankato teacher, union leader to run for Morrow seat in House," December 27, 2012
- ↑ The Journal, "Clark Johnson, Jim Golgart enter 19A race," January 4, 2013
- ↑ Minnesota Post, "DFLers endorse candidates for special elections in House Districts 14A, 19A," January 21, 2013
- ↑ St. Peter Herald, "Johnson wins House District 19A special primary election," January 29, 2013
- ↑ Politics in Minnesota "Johnson, Theis win House special elections," February 13, 2013
- ↑ Pew Charitable Trusts, Election Performance Index Report