the 2012 vote

It's not at all scientific, but it is delicious: The Cold Spring Bakery is once again offering Obama and Romney cookies to test its customers' preference in the presidential race.

The direction of Minnesota state policy on taxes and spending over the next two years depends on which party emerges from Tuesday's election with control of the Legislature.

Minnesota's top election official says he expects about 3 million state residents to vote by the close of polls on Tuesday. Secretary of State Mark Ritchie said Monday that's about par with voter turnout of slightly less than 80 percent in recent presidential elections.

Minnesota voters are weighing in on dozens of races, including ballot initiatives about gay marriage and voter ID, the presidential race, representatives for Congress and the U.S. Senate. Here's a few things worth knowing about election day in Minnesota:

After a long and expensive campaign about the definition of marriage, Minnesotans vote Tuesday on whether the state constitution should be amended to prohibit same-sex couples from legally marrying in the state. No matter how the vote turns out, it's not likely to end the debate in Minnesota over what kind of couples should have legal access to marriage rights.

Where do I vote? What's going to be on my ballot? Those are the two most common questions about the election that we get here at the radio station.

AM 1240 WJON and WJON.com will have complete election coverage tonight (Tuesday). Live coverage of "The 2012 Vote!" will begin at 7:00 p.m.

The Stearns County Auditor's office will be open tomorrow (Saturday), for those who need to vote by absentee ballot. County residents can vote from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. tomorrow in the Auditor-Treasurer's office in the downtown Stearns County Administration Building.

This year's Sixth District Congressional Race has been hotly contested between incumbent Republican Michele Bachmann, and her Democratic challenger Jim Graves.

St. Cloud residents are being asked to approve an $18 million bond referendum on next week's ballot. If it's passed, the money would be used to improve the city streets and infrastructure.