Minnesota elections are complex affairs, involving three distinct contests: 1) a race for party endorsement through caucuses and conventions; 2) a contest for nomination (that is, a place on the November ballot) via a primary election; and 3) the general election. This year, the complexity of the election calendar is increased by the likelihood that the primary will be moved to an earlier date than in previous years. The change would come in response to a new federal law that requires states to provide more time for members of the military to cast absentee ballots. For voters who may not always be able to keep straight the difference between an endorsement and a nomination -- or between a caucus and a convention -- here is a preview of the election journey ahead, focused mainly on the race for governor as it unfolds among Minnesota's major parties: ENDORSEMENT
FEB. 2: Caucus Night The election season officially opens with thousands of precinct caucuses around the state. These grass-roots, neighborhood meetings are open to any eligible voter who generally agrees with the platform of one of the state's official major parties -- the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, the Republican Party or the Independence Party. The Independence Party will also allow online participation in caucusing through its website for a period of several weeks. At the caucuses, attendees begin the process of deciding which candidates the party will endorse. The endorsement is a party's official support for a candidate, and with it comes valuable financial and volunteer help in a primary contest and/or the general election. All three major parties will conduct nonbinding straw polls at their caucuses to gauge support for gubernatorial hopefuls. Caucusgoers will debate and vote on platform resolutions concerning the policy positions their party will promote. Most important, caucuses will elect delegates who will go on to subsequent conventions. LATE FEBRUARY THROUGH EARLY APRIL: Regional conventions The races intensify in a weeks-long series of local and regional conventions that get comparatively little news coverage but play a critical role in determining who wins party backing. Candidates and their supporters work hard at these events, seeking to build support among the activists being chosen to serve as delegates to their party's state convention, where endorsement will be bestowed. The first round of meetings, for DFLers and Republicans, is organized around state Senate districts or counties. Legislative candidates are endorsed, platform issues are further debated and, most important, delegates are elected for the congressional district and state conventions. Next come congressional district conventions, where candidates for the U.S. House are endorsed. Gubernatorial straw polls may be conducted. In the IP, additional state convention delegates are chosen. APRIL: State conventions {DFL, April 23-25, Duluth; GOP, April 29-May 1, Minneapolis; IP, May 8, location undetermined} With no U.S. Senate race this year, the battle for endorsement in the gubernatorial contest will dominate these dramatic party events. Delegates chosen at the earlier meetings will cast ballots from the convention floor as candidates and their proxies prowl the hall, persuading, pleading and horse-trading. Impassioned speeches, surprise withdrawals, strategic alliances and, sometimes, multiple ballots pushing a final decision late into the night are all potential parts of the pageantry in a way no longer seen at national political conventions. In the end, a candidate is likely emerge with the united backing of each party. Deadlocks are possible but rare. NOMINATION
JULY 6-20: Candidate filings With endorsements decided, the election moves into a new phase. Candidates with party endorsement can be challenged by other hopefuls. Most candidates who seek endorsement promise not to mount a primary challenge, but this year several candidates have said they will enter the primary. If so, they will produce a contested primary election in which voters will decide which candidate receives a party's nomination and appears as its standard bearer on the general-election ballot. In July, candidates in each party file their intention to run with the secretary of state. SEPT. 14: Primary election The primary turns the final decision about candidates over to a much larger group of citizens, compared with those who attend caucuses or serve as delegates to a convention. Even so, turnout is typically much lower for primaries than for general elections. Any eligible voter can cast a ballot, but can only vote in the primary of one political party. This year's primary, now scheduled for Sept. 14, is likely to be moved up by the Legislature, at least into August. That's because a new federal law requires that more time be provided for members of the military to cast ballots in federal elections (all eight of the state's U.S. House seats are being filled this year). Should the primary date move, filing dates would also be advanced -- perhaps to late May or June. GENERAL ELECTION
NOV. 2: Election Day Primary results determine the final lineup of candidates for the general election and set off the intense autumn campaign among the major party contenders. It culminates on Election Day, when voters select their new officeholders. Unless, of course, a close result leads to a recount, in which case ... . (Just kidding -- we hope.)DOUG TICE, Commentary Editor MORE INFORMATION ONLINE: Minnesota Secretary of State: www.sos.state.mn.us | Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party: www.dfl.org | Republican Party: www.mngop.com | Independence Party: www.independenceminnesota.org
