Counties tally marriage license requests on first day same-sex couples can apply
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Officials in Hennepin County say they processed at least 38 marriage license applications from same-sex couples on Thursday, the first day the county allowed such applications. In Ramsey County, authorities reported receiving 14 marriage license applications from same-sex couples.
Hennepin County saw 64 couples apply for marriage licenses in all. A county spokeswoman said 7,000 and 8,000 applications are accepted annually, or about 135 to 154 per week. Ramsey County received 19 applications Thursday from heterosexual couples.
"Average day for us is anywhere from five to 20 applications," read an email from Chris Burns, a public information officer for Ramsey County.
• Photos: Minn. same-sex couples line up for marriage licenses
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• Same-sex couples start applying for marriage licenses
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While three Twin Cities metro counties began accepting same-sex marriage applications today, at least one county in Greater Minnesota started earlier than that.
Pipestone County received one application on June 3.
No one applied for a marriage license Thursday in the Blue Earth County recorder's office in Mankato.
A software glitch is preventing officials in Nobles and Redwood counties from accepting applications, for the moment.
Minnesota's new marriage law does not take effect until Aug. 1.
County recorders have an annual statewide meeting this month, where they plan to discuss the wording for marriage applications and licenses for same-sex couples, particularly the section where applications read "bride" and "groom."
