General Information

In Minnesota, the election year begins early.  Minnesota’s major party caucuses were moved to February's Super Tuesday last year, with participation at almost all-time highs.  The number of visits to the Secretary of State’s Precinct Caucus Finder surpassed 175,000 by the end of caucuses held Super Tuesday.

The state and local election centers are already busy preparing election guides and other materials for the upcoming elections.  The 2010 elections are also expected to draw high voter participation. 

Minnesota’s state primary election, planned now for September 14, 2010 will narrow the field of candidates.  There has been discussion on moving the state primary election to an earlier date.  More information on this may be available in the near future.  In the primary election on the partisan portion of the ballot, voters for state and local offices may not cross party lines.

The state general election on November 2, 2010 will have candidates for Governor, Federal and State Senators and Representatives, judicial officers, county offices, and local township, municipal and school district candidates.

In Cass County, townships have now chosen to be a part of the November election cycle, moving from their traditional March township elections.  This year, candidates for township office will be included on the state general election ballot for all townships in the county.

Most polling places in Cass County open at 7 a.m., with a few polling places in smaller townships opening at 8 a.m. or 10 a.m.; all polling places close at 8 p.m.  Also, 32 of Cass County’s 72 precincts vote entirely by mail.

Training for election administrators and election judges is planned for mid-summer, 2010 in Cass County.