Minnesota Primaries One Week Away

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- One week from today, Minnesota voters go to the polls in a primary election to narrow the list of candidates for the November campaigns.

It's only the second time the primary is being held in August instead of September. And Hamline Professor David Schultz says it's hard to say what the turnout will be.

"The August event -- in terms of having a primary in the middle of summer when people are still thinking vacations, state fair and a whole bunch of other things -- probably will, on balance, lead to lower primary turnout," Schultz said.

Schultz is predicting turnout of around 14 percent.

One factor that may influence turnout is the fact that this is a presidential year. Another is that 40 state legislative seats have primaries, with 11 incumbents being challenged.

Redistricting also has played a role, with 40 lawmakers giving up their seats this year.