Good morning. We can vote if we want to.
Early voting opens today for Minnesota’s presidential primary race. Ellie breaks down a few key changes , and explores how the state’s political parties are hoping to take advantage of the influx of voter identification data they’ll receive. Under state law, the Secretary of State must provide each party chair a list of everyone who chose their party’s ballot (in a presidential primary race each party has its own ballot). This voter identification data is a treasure trove. Ellie attended a MNGOP training where local Republicans learned how to maximize the voter identification data for get-out-the-vote efforts. She also took a tour of the Ramsey County Election Office to see how they’re preparing.
Not sure who is on the ballot for your party’s primary? We’ve got you covered, but note that some of the candidates will exit the contest before Minnesota’s ballots are counted on March 5.
Republicans nationally are still working to close the gap when it comes to early voting. It’s an area of emphasis that requires easing doubts raised about the security of absentee and early balloting by former President Donald Trump and others in the party. NPR’s Ashley Lopez writes about the RNC’s “Bank Your Vote” campaign. Similar efforts are underway in Minnesota, some pushed by party activists tired of ceding the early voting window and relying so much on Election Day turnout.
Minnesota’s warm weather is having an effect on the job front. MPR’s Dana Ferguson reports that the unseasonable December sidelined workers who clear snow and ice from Minnesota roads and surfaces. But construction workers were able to plug away more freely at projects. All in all, it moved the unemployment needle slightly downward. It was 2.9 percent in December.
Next week’s New Hampshire primary could be a penmanship test for some Democratic voters. President Joe Biden isn’t on the state’s primary ballot and the Democratic National Committee isn’t planning to recognize the results for convention delegate purposes. But some Biden backers are waging a write-in campaign. Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips will be among 24 Democrats who are named on the ballot. He’s hoping to validate his thesis that Democrats want somebody other than Biden as their nominee in the fall. The Associated Press offers a look at the Democratic race that isn’t so clear cut. MPR’s Mark Zdechlik is in New Hampshire today and will have reports through Tuesday’s primary.
Highway humor isn’t going away in Minnesota. MPR’s Feven Gerezgiher tries to tamp down worry that those pithy electronic signs along Minnesota interstates will disappear. That’s after the U.S. Federal Highway Administration said it would clamp down on signs with obscure messages, which officials worry are confusing and distracting. Feven says Minnesota and its “Message Monday” campaign won’t be barred by the new federal guidance. She collects some of the catchier slogans in this story.
Finally, an earworm to end your week. Some of you might have already been humming it after reading the introduction to today’s newsletter. | 
