Early voting is underway for Aug. 13 primary

Early voting has begun for the Minnesota state primary election on Tuesday, Aug. 13. Eligible voters in Eden Prairie can cast their ballots for key races, including the U.S. Senate and Minnesota House District 49A contests.

Eden Prairie City Clerk David Teigland reported on July 9, the eighth day of early voting, that 6 to 7 voters per day have participated so far.

“Direct balloting begins on July 26, and we expect our volume to pick up at that time,” Teigland said. Direct balloting allows voters to place their ballots directly into the voting machine, ensuring immediate counting.

Primary election details

All Minnesota voters will participate in the U.S. Senate race, which features eight Republican and five Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) candidates.

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Among the Republicans, the primary contest between Joe Fraser, 50, and Royce White, 33, is drawing significant attention.

White, a former professional basketball player and podcaster, has the Republican endorsement and emphasizes fighting political corruption and globalism. Fraser, a banker with extensive financial management experience, focuses on economic reform and fiscal responsibility.

The DFL primary is expected to be less competitive, with incumbent Sen. Amy Klobuchar, 64, likely to secure the nomination easily.

In House District 49A, which includes Eden Prairie precincts 1 through 7, voters will decide on Aug. 13 between two DFL candidates: Kissy Coakley and Alex Falconer, who is the Senate District 49A DFL-endorsed candidate.

The winner will face Republican Stacy Bettison, 53, a business owner and attorney, in the general election on Nov. 5. She is the GOP Senate District 49 endorsed candidate.

Bettison’s name will also appear on the primary ballot. “Candidates from all parties will appear for a given seat if one party has multiple candidates,” Teigland explained.

Coakley, 47, is a Minnetonka City Council member first elected in 2019 and a community advocate. She is the founder of Kissy’s Stay Put Services, which provides support to domestic abuse victims who are criminally charged.

Falconer, 43, of Eden Prairie, is the campaign manager for the Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters. Falconer is a longtime political and grassroots organizer and former DFL employee.

District 49A covers northern Eden Prairie and southern Minnetonka. The three candidates are vying to replace Democratic state Rep. Laurie Pryor, who announced earlier this year that she would retire at the end of her term, in January for a two-year term. 

The filing period for municipal and school district offices runs from July 30 to Aug. 13.

Eligibility and registration

To vote in Minnesota, you must be at least 18 years old on Election Day, a U.S. citizen, and have lived in Minnesota for at least 20 days before the election. You cannot be currently incarcerated for a felony conviction; however, as of June 1, 2023, individuals on parole, probation, work release, or home monitoring are eligible to vote. Additionally, you must not be under court-ordered guardianship with revoked voting rights or have been ruled legally incompetent by a court.

For detailed information on polling places, sample ballots, and more, visit the Eden Prairie elections page. The Minnesota Secretary of State’s website offers comprehensive details on all election-related topics.