With 3 million voters in the state of Minnesota and the highest record, election day is an exciting time, according to Secretary of State Mark Ritchie.
He says, from those numbers to new issues on the ballot, this is a busy year for the state of Minnesota and several things he wants voters to know.
"There's a lot of things going on. We're getting ready for the 3 million coming through our doors next Tuesday," Mark Ritchie said.
He says, before then, he wants people to do their research, look at the ballot and know what you're voting for. An example of something new this year: Minnesota went through re-districting like much of the U.S. does every 10 years.
"In addition to having presidential and state-wide senate race and big Supreme court races, every rep and senator in the legislature got re-districted. That's all new. Counties got new cities, many new people on the ballot," Ritchie said.
Also, two new items on the ballot proposed by the 2012 Legislature regarding gay marriage and elections.
"We're in a time where there are great debates, a changing time in the middle east, economy is changing. People are mobilized for nation's defense. Big changes in the budgets affecting people in the national fence," Ritchie said.
He says voting is a right and a privilege people across the nation should take advantage of.
"Part of us honoring that gift is being part of that process as well," Ritchie said.
For more information about the Minnesota 2012 ballot, visit www.MNVotes.org
