ROCHESTER, MN (KROC AM News) - Olmsted County and the City of Rochester are encouraging all eligible voters to participate in Tuesday's Presidential Nomination Primary.

Polls will be open 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Individuals are eligible to vote if they are a U.S. citizen at least 18 years old and have resided in Minnesota for a minimum of 20 days before the election. Any voters who have moved or changed their name since they last voted must re-register.

Are you pre-registered?

All individuals whose registration applications were received by elections officials at least 20 days prior to this election event are pre-registered for the March 3 PNP. Newly registered voters should have received a postcard notifying them where to vote.

If you missed the deadline to pre-register, you may still be able to vote. Minnesota is one of several states with Election Day registration. Individuals may register at the polls on Election Day by providing one of the forms of identification required by Minnesota law. Please allow extra time at the polls to register. To ensure you are ready to vote, visit our elections websites. These sites contain details on the identification needed for Election Day registration as well as links to various online voting tools.

Save time by taking these steps

1. Make sure you’re registered to vote. Voters can find the online tool to check the status of their registrations at www.rochestermn.gov/vote. Please allow extra time at the polls if you need to register.

2. Look at a sample ballot ahead of time. Find sample ballots at myballotmn.sos.state.mn.us.

3. Double-check your polling location. Three voting locations in Rochester have changed for 2020. On March 3, all voters must vote in their assigned polling location. Visit pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us to check your polling place and find maps and a direct link to your sample ballot based on your assigned precinct.

What’s on the ballot?

The PNP helps participating political parties identify their presidential candidates to appear on the November 3 General Election ballot. Legislation was passed in 2016 establishing the PNP in Minnesota, giving the state’s major parties the option to participate in this election event instead of using the caucus system to help identify their preferred candidates. The Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party and the Republican Party have chosen to participate in the PNP, which is being administered by election officials on behalf of the parties.

Each party has its own ballot for the PNP. The chair of each participating party selected which candidates and options would appear on their ballots by December 31, 2019. Voters will be required to select which party’s ballot they wish to receive when going to vote. Sample ballots will be posted in all voting locations, and voters can also access their sample ballot from home before voting to become familiar with the candidates and voting options for each party.

Find out where to vote

All voters in Olmsted County are reminded to vote at assigned polling locations. Double-check your polling location before going to vote by visiting pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us. Voters without internet access can also call the City’s main phone lines at 507-328-2900 for assistance in looking up their voting location. Phone lines will be staffed during voting hours, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Rochester changed the location of three precincts for 2020 due to changes in the availability of previous voting locations. Changes include:

· Ward 1, Precinct 7 – Moved from Rochester Township Hall to Alternative Learning Center, located at 37 Woodlake Dr SE

· Ward 2, Precinct 5 – Moved from High Point Church to Harriet Bishop Elementary School

· Ward 6, Precinct 6 – Moved from Oasis Church to Gage Elementary School

As a reminder, curbside voting is available at all voting locations for voters who may have difficulty leaving their vehicles and entering a polling place. In curbside voting, two election judges bring all materials to voters in their cars. While this option is available at all polling locations, there is a larger designated area for voters in Ward 4, Precinct 1, who vote at the University of Minnesota Rochester (UMR) in University Square at 111 Broadway Ave S. The curbside voting area for this downtown location will be clearly signed along Broadway Avenue. Voters can also take advantage of one hour of free parking available in adjacent ramps in order to vote at this location, and there will also be designated voter only handicapped parking along Broadway.

The City Clerk’s Office and Olmsted County Elections Office will extend hours to serve voters while the polls are open. From 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the March 3 PNP, all county voters can call the County office at 507-328-7650 and Rochester voters can call the Clerk’s Office at 507-328-2900 for information on how to register and where to vote.

 

 

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