Primary Elections FAQs

VOTE
Primary Elections FAQs

St. Olaf College encourages eligible students to vote in every election. Our next election in Minnesota is the Primary Election on August 11. This allows Minnesota residents to vote to select their preferred party candidates for all offices besides the President. The MN Secretary of State says that college students should vote wherever they consider home. This could be a permanent address or your college address, and ultimately it is up to each individual voter to determine their residency in any election.

Learn how to vote in the Primary Elections

Setting the Stage for the General Election: Primary elections serve as the initial battleground for selecting candidates who will represent their parties in the upcoming general election. By voting in these primaries, you help shape the field of contenders and set the stage for the choices available to voters in the fall. Your voice in the spring or summer can have a ripple effect on the outcome of the entire election cycle.
Maximizing Influence: With primaries often experiencing lower voter turnout compared to general elections, your vote carries even greater weight. Your participation can significantly impact the outcome of primary races, as candidates compete for the support of a smaller electorate. By casting your ballot, you maximize your influence and ensure that your preferences are reflected in the selection of candidates.
Shaping Policy Priorities: The candidates who emerge victorious from primaries will carry forward their platforms and policy agendas into the general election campaign. By voting in primaries, you help shape the policy priorities that candidates focus on during their campaigns. Whether it’s healthcare, education, environmental protection, or economic reform, your vote in the summer primaries sends a clear message about the issues that matter most to you and your community.
Strengthening Democracy: At its core, democracy thrives on active participation and engagement from its citizens. By voting in primaries, you exercise your democratic right and fulfill your civic duty as a responsible member of society. Your participation strengthens the democratic process and reinforces the principle of government by the people, for the people.

Partisan offices will list a political party next to a candidate’s name on the ballot. All state and federal offices—such as U.S. representative or Minnesota senator—are partisan offices.

Partisan candidates will be listed in multiple columns on the primary ballot. Each column will list the candidates for one major party.

You can only vote for candidates from one political party. If you vote for candidates from more than one political party, your votes will not count. You decide when you vote which one of the parties you will vote for—Minnesota does not have political party registration.

No matter what party you vote for, you will be able to vote for all nonpartisan roles. Nonpartisan offices will not list a political party next to a candidate’s name on the ballot. For example, county, city, township and school board offices are nonpartisan.

Nonpartisan offices will be listed on the back side of the primary ballot. You can vote for any candidate. The candidates who get the most votes will be on the November general election ballot.

See below for guidance on scenarios you might find yourself in on August 11 to help determine if you are eligible and wish to vote using your college address:

Living on campus all summer, including on August 11? You may vote using your campus address and should register (or re-register) using the campus hall you will be living in on August 11.
Living off-campus in Northfield over the summer, including on August 11? Students who are living off-campus in the City of Northfield are eligible to vote at that address. You must pre-register by July 21 online or provide other proof of residence to register on Election Day.
Moving back to campus on July 22 or later AND you moved from somewhere else in MN? You meet the eligibility criteria of having resided in MN for 20 days. You may vote using your campus address and register (or re-register) when you vote (early or on Election Day) using the campus hall you will be living in on August 11.
Moving back to campus on July 23 or later BUT you moved from another state or country? You DO NOT meet the eligibility criteria of having resided in MN for 20 days and may not vote in the MN Primary using your new campus address. You may consider registering or re-registering to vote based on a permanent residence and choosing to vote by absentee/mail-in ballot in your home state.
Not living on campus over the summer at all? If you have moved out of your residence hall address AND do not intend to return to that exact same residence hall, you should no longer vote at that address (MN Statute 200.031). Students should re-register and vote based on where they are residing at the time of the election.

We’re here to help! Email Campus Vote Coordinator Alyssa Melby (melby1@stolaf.edu) to talk through your specific questions, concerns, or situation.