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.
![Mason Nadolney got his second COVID-19 vaccine shot during a mobile vaccine event at Chanhassen High School in July.](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/J7LEBWHZ57AFGZSTIR2WYOQJ3A.jpg?h=91&w=145&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
What to know about the latest COVID variants, Minnesota testing, vaccines
Sign up for Star Tribune newsletters
![Nearly a dozen collected Bachman's warblers lie in a specimen tray.](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/3KDGPJTGN5CRNG5PO5S5T35XUE.jpg?h=91&w=145&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
126 birds on list 'lost to science'
![Champlin Park volleyball player Carly Gilk posed for a photo by her mom, Shelley, when they arrived for the AMSA celebration at Target Field.](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/QPHJLQJMYJDLFMFTYKDONXWDQY.jpg?h=91&w=145&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)