For the first time in more than seven decades, Minnesota's primary is on the move.
Wednesday morning Gov. Tim Pawlenty will sign a measure to switch Minnesota's primary date from September 14 to August 10.
The move, performed to give overseas Minnesotans enough time to cast ballots and to comply with a new federal law, had rare bipartisan support. Pawlenty invited the two DFL sponsors of the move as well as Democratic Secretary of State Mark Ritchie to join him at a ceremonial bill signing at the Capitol Wednesday morning.
The new date means dozens of switches on the state's political calendar from the time candidates must file for office to the date lawn signs are permitted to dot Minnesota landscapes.
The general election date remains in November.
