Minnesota officials thinking about mail-only ballots for 2020 presidential primary [View all]

Minnesota officials are considering mail-only ballots for the state’s 2020 presidential primary, which would be a dramatic change from the state’s often chaotic and time-consuming party caucuses.

Beginning in 2020, Minnesota will switch to a more straightforward primary system that allows voters to cast ballots for their preferred choice for president rather than jam into classrooms and community centers for their party caucuses. Most other states use a primary system, but Minnesota has done so only a handful of times.

The switch to a presidential primary essentially means the state would have to hold three elections in 2020 — the presidential primary in late winter, the usual primary election in August and the general election in November.

A mail-only ballot could make administering the presidential primary easier and possibly less expensive than opening polling places around the state, some backers say.

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Minnesota Republican Party Chairwoman Jennifer Carnahan isn’t sold on the idea... Carnahan said she and her DFL Party counterpart, Ken Martin, met Tuesday with Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, who discussed the mail-only ballot option.

http://www.startribune.com/minnesota-officials-thinking-about-mail-only-ballots-for-2020-presidential-primary/502032282/