Minnesota voters set a new record for turnout for a primary election earlier this month with more than 1.1 million ballots cast. That number represents about 25 percent of eligible voters.
While that may not seem like a large amount of voters, that 25 percent turnout shattered the previous record of some 925 thousand ballots cast in the 2018 primary.
One of the reasons that primaries typically draw fewer voters is confusion about what a primary does, which is narrow the field of candidates in a contested federal or state race where multiple candidates from the same party filed for the office.
In non-partisan races such as for Wright County Commissioner, the primary narrows the field of candidates to two, in races where three or more candidates have filed for the same office.
Election results have been reviewed and certified by counties, and the State Canvassing Board is expected to certify the final election numbers today (Tuesday).
