In 2020, voters in Minnesota were introduced to a new election, the Presidential Nomination Primary which was held on March 3, 2020.

Many voters were caught off guard by the election, not only that it was happening, but how it was conducted as well. With the 2024 Presidential Nomination Primary right around the corner on March 5, and absentee or early voting beginning on Jan. 19, it is a good time to review this election and process.

The 2016 legislature passed the bill that was signed into law by then-Governor Mark Dayton reinstating the Presidential Nomination Primary for 2020. The purpose of this primary is to determine which presidential candidate the state’s political party delegates endorse at the party’s national convention. The national convention is where the party’s final presidential nominee is selected for the November general election. The candidate endorsement process previously took place at the February precinct caucuses across the state. However, the move was made after many 2016 precinct caucuses were overwhelmed by voters, and a more formal process was seen as necessary. The precinct caucuses do still occur as the parties have other offices and party platforms to discuss. The 2024 precinct caucuses will be held on Feb. 27, 2024 at 7 p.m.

The polling places and hours for this election are the same as previous state-level elections; however, there have been three changes in Pine County since 2022: the city of Pine City voters will vote at the Pine City Library, and both Willow River City and Fleming Township have gone back to voting at their respective city/town halls rather than through mail balloting.

The major distinction from other elections that many voters in Minnesota were caught off guard by in 2020 was the fact that each political party had a separate ballot; thus, voters are required to indicate when they sign-in their party preference in order to vote. The voter’s party preference is private data with the exception that it will be shared with the political party chair of the ballot that was chosen. How the voter voted on the ballot is not disclosed and there is no way to track that information as the votes are tabulated.

The candidates on the ballot are submitted by each political party. However, voters might be hearing of lawsuits across the nation regarding the placing of Donald Trump’s name on their state’s primary ballot. The Minnesota Supreme Court determined in November of 2023 that Mr. Trump would be on Minnesota’s ballot and the ballots are currently in the process of being printed. One other interesting thing about the presidential nomination ballot is that besides a write-in line, parties can choose to have an option on their ballot that says “uncommitted” which means the voter would like the national party delegates to not be bound to any certain candidate.

Lastly, there are only ballots for major political parties. For 2024, the major political parties include the Republican, Democratic-Farmer-Labor, and Legal Marijuana Now parties.

Voters can still register to vote at the polling place on election day or may pre-register to vote for the election through Feb. 13. Information on registering to vote or on early/absentee voting can be found by visiting mnvotes.org or calling the Pine County Auditor-Treasurer’s office at (320) 591-1670.