Delano Herald Journal

Serving the communities of Delano, Loretto, Montrose, MN, and the surrounding area

Locals invited to shape 2010 MN elections



WRIGHT, CARVER, McLEOD, MEEKER COUNTIES, MN – The 2010 elections aren’t until November, but the details are shaped long before then, starting with the Minnesota precinct caucuses Tuesday, Feb. 2 at 7 p.m., with registration beginning at 6:30 p.m.

The precinct caucuses are an opportunity for local residents to speak out and determine how the near future should look in terms of Minnesota’s governmental policies and potential candidates.

Democrats and Republicans meet separately, giving citizens the chance to form party platforms and organize volunteers.

Residents of Minnesota can find their precincts by going to www.pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us and typing in their zip code, city, and street address.

Precinct caucuses are open to the public, and political parties encourage participation, according to the Minnesota Secretary of State web site. Anyone age 16 or over may participate in caucus business.

In order to vote, offer resolutions, or become a delegate at a precinct caucus, attendees must be eligible to vote in the 2010 general election, live in the precinct, and be in general agreement with the principles of the political party.

The precinct caucus is a way for citizens to engage their neighbors in a conversation about a wide range of public policy and political issues.

Participants can cast ballots in a straw poll stating their preference for Minnesota’s next candidate for governor. Gubernatorial-preference balloting will conclude at 8 p.m. Preference ballots must be cast in person; no absentee balloting is allowed.

During the caucus, participants elect precinct officers who will be responsible for organizing political activities within the precinct.

Attendees also select delegates who will represent the party at the district convention. These delegates, in turn, elect delegates to the congressional and state conventions. This ultimately influences which candidates and policy positions a party will endorse.

Caucus attendees may also request to be placed on a list to be an election judge. Approximately 30,000 election judges are needed to staff over 4,100 polling places across Minnesota in each general election.

Precinct caucus locations are available at www.caucusfinder.sos.state.mn.us.

The political parties are selecting locations to hold their precinct caucuses and reporting that information to the secretary of state’s office.

The office is updating the caucus finder continuously to reflect location changes made by the parties.

As Feb. 2 approaches, the office strongly encourages caucus-goers to reconfirm meeting locations using the caucus finder to determine if their party has made any last minute changes.

“Precinct caucuses provide a great opportunity for citizens to get involved in the political process at the grassroots level,” Secretary of State Mark Ritchie noted. “I encourage Minnesotans to participate in the caucus of their choice and join their friends and neighbors in a civil and constructive conversation about the direction of our state and country.”

For additional information, republicans can go to www.pf.mngop.com, and democrats can go to www.dfl.org.

Republican party
Residents of various cities and townships will meet at different locations for the Republican precinct caucuses Tuesday, Feb. 2 at 7 p.m.

Wright County precinct locations:

•         Cokato, Cokato Twp., Howard Lake, Stockholm Twp. will meet at the Cokato City Hall.

•         Delano, Franklin Twp. will meet at Delano Middle School.

•         French Lake Twp will meet at Annandale High School.

•         Marysville Twp., Montrose will meet at  Montrose Elementary School.

•         Victor Twp., Waverly, Woodland Twp. will meet at Humphrey Elementary School.

Carver County precinct locations:

• Camden Twp. will meet at Waconia High School.

• Hollywood Twp., Mayer, New Germany, Watertown will meet at Watertown City Hall.

• Norwood Young America will meet at  Norwood Central High School.

McLeod County precinct locations:

• Bergen Twp., Lester Prairie will meet at Lester Prairie Media Center.

• Winsted, Winsted Twp. will meet at Winsted Public Elementary School.

Meeker County precinct locations:

• Collinwood Twp., Dassel, Dassel Twp., Ellsworth Twp., Kingston Twp. will meet at Dassel Elementary (large gym).

• Darwin Twp. will meet at Litchfield Senior High (cafeteria).

Democrat party
Residents of various cities and townships will meet at different locations for the DFL precinct caucuses Tuesday, Feb. 2 at 7 p.m.

Wright County precinct locations:

• Cokato, Cokato Twp., Stockholm Twp. will meet at Cokato Library.

• Delano, Franklin Twp. will meet at Delano High School.

• French Lake Twp. will meet at Annandale Middle School.

• Howard Lake, Middleville Twp. will meet at  Middlevile Town Hall.

• Marysville Twp., Victor Twp., Waverly will meet at Knights of Columbus Community Center.

• Woodland Twp., Montrose will meet at Citizens State Bank.

Carver County precinct locations:

• Camden Twp., Hollywood Twp., Mayer, New Germany, Watertown will meet at Watertown-Mayer High School.

• Norwood Young America will meet at Central High School.

McLeod County precinct locations:

• Bergen Twp. will meet at Glencoe Library

• Lester Prairie, Winsted, Winsted Twp. will meet at Lester Prairie City Hall.

Meeker County precinct locations:

• Collinwood Twp., Dassel, Dassel Twp., Kingston Twp. will meet at Dassel Elementary School.

• Darwin Twp., Ellsworth Twp. will meet at Litchfield Middle School.

Find your precinct
Minnesotans who would like to take part in the state’s political process are encouraged to attend their precinct caucus Tuesday, Feb. 2.

The Secretary of State office recently launched a free online precinct caucus finder, at www.caucusfinder.sos.state.mn.us.

Citizens are encouraged to contact their political party directly for further assistance.

To reach the Republican Party of Minnesota, call (651) 222-0022.

For the Minnesota-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, call (651) 293-1200.

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