Ritchie urges voters to go to polls for veterans
The Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie is encouraging state residents to vote in honor of veterans this year.
The voter outreach initiative was started by Ritchie's office during the 2008 election cycle with an estimated 70,000 participants. Each voter wore a button that included the name of a military veteran. Organizers hope to double that number this time.
During a news conference Monday, Cindy McLean of Coon Rapids explained how she voted two years ago in honor of her son who was deployed at the time in Afghanistan. McLean, a Blue Star Mom, said she was proud to wear the button.
"I wear this button so everyone knows of the veterans in my life and that I have the ability to vote," McLean said. "I thank them for their service and sacrifice in giving me that ability. It is an honor to vote in a free election."
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The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs is assisting the secretary of state's office with this year's Vote in Honor of a Veteran program.
Minnesota has a primary election on Aug. 10.
The Nov. 2 general election will feature races for governor, all 201 legislative seats and constitutional officers including attorney general, state auditor and secretary of state. Ritchie is seeking a second term.
(Associated Press contributed to this report.)