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With the primary election less than one week away, voters may be wondering what they need to do and where they need to go.

Here is some information to help voters get ready.

The primary election is set for Tuesday, September 9 at 29 different polling places around Douglas County.

The reason for a primary election, according to Vicky Doehling, Douglas County election administrator, is to narrow the field of candidates within a major party.

It determines which candidate will represent each party in the general election that takes place in November.

The primary election is also used to narrow down the candidates in non-partisan offices. In Douglas County, this would include the race for two county commissioner seats – one in District 1 and the other in District 3.

Voters in District 1 will need to decide among three candidates – Terry Claggett, Dennis Nagle or Gerald Johnson (incumbent).

In District 3, the candidates are Jeff Callaghan, Dave Erickson and Bev Bales (incumbent).

The top two vote getters in each district will be on the ballot in November.

Other items on the primary ballot this year include candidates for Supreme Court judicial offices and U.S. senators.

Although candidates of all three major political parties – Democratic, Republican and Independent – will be on the primary ballot, voters may only vote for candidates within one major party.

In other words, voters cannot cast their ballot for U.S. Senator for Kurt Michael Anderson, an Independent candidate; Norm Coleman, a Republican candidate; and Al Franken, a Democratic candidate.

Voters must only choose one candidate from one party.

If by accident, voters change political parties on their primary ballot, the voting machine or tabulator will catch it and an error warning will signal. Voters will then have to choose to either re-cast their vote on a different ballot or have that portion of their vote ignored, according to Doehling.

If voters are not yet registered, they can do so on the day of the primary. However, they must have proper identification, which includes a Minnesota driver’s license or learner’s permit or a receipt for either that has a current address; a Minnesota ID card; or a student ID from a post secondary school in Minnesota.

There are other forms of identification that may qualify as well. To find out what to bring, voters can visit the Secretary of State Web site at www.sos.state.mn.us or they can call the Douglas County Auditor’s Office at (320) 762-3077.

If persons are unable to vote on the day of the primary election, they may vote by absentee ballot. The auditor’s office will be open this Saturday, September 6 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for those who cannot vote the day of the primary.

For more information, call the Douglas County Auditor’s Office at the number listed above.

POLLING PLACES

Voting will take place at the following polling places. Most polling places will open at 7 a.m. (except as noted) and all polling places will close at 8 p.m.

Alexandria City, Ward 1-Precinct 1 – Alexandria City Hall, 704 Broadway, Alexandria, MN 56308

Alexandria City, Ward 1-Precinct 2 – Shalom Lutheran Church, 800 Co. Rd. 44 NW, Alexandria, MN 56308

Alexandria City, Ward 2-Precinct 1 – Calvary Lutheran Church, 605 Douglas St., Alexandria, MN 56308

Alexandria City, Ward 2-Precinct 2 – Bethesda Lutheran Church, 1204 N Nokomis St., Alexandria, MN 56308

Alexandria City, Ward 3-Precinct 1 – Alexandria City Hall, 704 Broadway, Alexandria, MN 56308

Alexandria City, Ward 3-Precinct 2 – Alexandria City Hall, 704 Broadway, Alexandria, MN 56308

Alexandria City, Ward 4 – Calvary Lutheran Church, 605 Douglas St., Alexandria, MN 56308

Alexandria City, Ward 5 – Congregational Church (West door), 221 7th Ave. W., Alexandria, MN 56308

Alexandria Township – Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 2702 Hwy 29 N., Alexandria, MN 56308

Belle River Township (polls open at 10 a.m.) – St. Nicholas Church, 9473 Co. Rd. 3 NE, Carlos, MN 56319

Brandon City – Brandon City Hall, 105 Holmes Ave. N., Brandon, MN 56315

Brandon Township – Brandon City Hall, 105 Holmes Ave. N., Brandon, MN 56315

Carlos City – Carlos Town Hall, 210 Victoria Ave., Carlos, MN 56319

Carlos Township – Carlos Town Hall, 210 Victoria Ave., Carlos, MN 56319

Evansville City – Evansville City Hall, 106 State St., Evansville, MN 56326

Evansville Township – Evansville City Hall, 106 State St., Evansville, MN 56326

Forada City – Forada City Fire Hall, 10991 Tobys Ave. SE., Alexandria, MN 56308

Garfield City – Garfield City Hall, Garfield, MN 56332

Holmes City Township – Holmes City Town Hall, 11180 Tewes Trail SW, Farwell, MN 56327

Hudson Township – Forada City Fire Hall, 10991 Tobys Ave. SE, Alexandria, MN 56308

Ida Township – Ida Town Hall, 4700 Co. Rd. 6 NW, Garfield, MN 56332

Kensington City – Kensington Community Center, 19 Central Ave., Kensington, MN 56343

LaGrand Township – LaGrand Town Hall, 501 Town Hall Rd. SW, Alexandria, MN 56308

Lake Mary Township – Lake Mary Town Hall, 4791 Co. Rd. 4 SW, Alexandria, MN 56308

Leaf Valley Township (polls open at 10 a.m.) – Leaf Valley Town Hall, 15240 Co. Rd. 6 NW, Garfield, MN 56332

Lund Township (polls open at 9 a.m.) – Town Hall in Melby, 17443 Lakeview Ave. NW, Evansville, MN 56326

Millerville City – Millerville City Fire Hall, 16563 Co. Rd. 7 NW, Brandon, MN 56315

Millerville Township – Millerville City Fire Hall, 16563 Co. Rd. 7 NW, Brandon, MN 56315

Miltona City – Miltona Community Center, 300 Co. Rd. 14 NW, Miltona, MN 56354

Miltona Township – Miltona Community Center, 300 Co. Rd. 14 NW, Miltona, MN 56354

Moe Township – Moe Town Hall, 14188 Moe Hall Rd. SW, Garfield, MN 56332

Nelson City – Nelson City Hall, Nelson, MN 56355

Orange Township – Osakis Community Center, 14 Nokomis St. E., Osakis, MN 56360

Osakis City – Osakis Community Center, 14 Nokomis St. E., Osakis, MN 56360

Osakis Township – Osakis Community Center, 14 Nokomis St. E., Osakis, MN 56360

Solem Township (polls open at 9 a.m.) – Runestone Park, 8755 Co. Rd. 103 SW, Kensington, MN 56343

Spruce Hill Township – Spruce Hill Town Hall, 12055 Willow Dr. NE, Miltona, MN 56354

Urness Township – Urness Town Hall, 2160 Co. Rd. 1 SW, Evansville, MN 56326

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