I really do hate to say “I told you so!” Probably because I hate to hear it from others. It comes across as pretty much saying you are smarter than everyone else.

However, in this case, I am just pointing out that I did tell you, in this column back in April, that this year’s series of elections was going to get utterly confusing and downright bizarre.

And, that prediction is coming all too true. Just like I said.

I don’t think I said that 20 people would file to become the temporary First District congressman. You know, the one who will only hold office from Aug. 10, or so, until the end of the year, or so.

Having 20 people want the job did surprise me a little, and it did seem a little bizarre, especially some of the names, like Bob “Again,” and J.R. Ewing.

That election on May 24 was a Special Primary Election just to narrow down the 20 people to a more reasonable number – like one Republican and one Democrat (and maybe a marijuana party candidate or two) – to face off in a Special Election on Aug. 9 to see who would fill the five-month temp congressman job.

You with me so far? Good.

But, also on Aug. 9 is a whole ‘nuther election,’ another Primary Election, this time to narrow the field down for the Nov. 8 General Election.

Wow.

So let me try and explain this, once again. (I did try to do it back in April, but you know, it needs some more clarification for all of you, and for me, too.)

So, on Aug. 9, when you go to the polls anywhere in the First Congressional District, you will receive two ballots.

One is the Special Election ballot to determine who will be the temporary five-month congressman.

The other ballot is the regular Primary Election ballot where you can help decide which Democrat and which Republican will be on the Nov. 8 General Election ballot and will become the permanent (for two years anyway) First District congressman.

You will be seeing a lot of the same names.

Republican Brad Finstad and Democrat Jeff Ettinger won (over 16 other candidates) the recent Special Primary Election, and will be on that Aug. 9 Special Election ballot and are vying for the temp job.

But both Finstad and Ettinger will be on the other Aug. 9 ballot, the Primary Election ballot. But so will four other names of folks they defeated on May 24.

Joining them are Republicans Jeremy Munson and Matt Benda, and Democrats George H. Kalberer and James Rainwater.

So either Finstad or Ettinger could get the temp job on Aug. 9, but not win the primary on Aug. 9 to be on the ballot Nov. 8 for the permanent job.

I told you it was confusing. And just a little bit bizarre. (And just to add to this strange election year, as this issue of the Register went to press, it was learned Matt Benda had withdrawn his name.)

Just to maybe confuse you a little bit more, voters in the Faribault County Commissioner District 4 will see a ballot that has a choice to make for who they want to be on the ballot for their county commissioner.

Three people filed – Tom Loveall, Dana Gates and Dru Martin. On Aug. 9, all will be on the ballot, and the top two vote getters move on to the General Election ballot on Nov. 8.

As long as we are on the subject of elections, there is another rather strange factor to contend with this year.

In that First Congressional District contest, the five-month temp congressman will represent the First District as it is now, while the permanent congressman will represent the First District with its new boundaries.

The same thing is true for our state representative and state senator.

Faribault County is split into two representative districts, 22A and 23A. We were before, too, but now the boundary line is different.

So, be sure to find out what district you are in and who is running in that district.

It gets worse for the senate districts. Legislative district 22A joins with 22B and district 23A joins with 23B to combine into Senate Districts 22 and 23.

Folks, those districts are far flung and cover a lot of territory and portions of a multitude of counties.

Here is just an example of what could happen (although not currently on the horizon). The folks living in Elmore could possibly (some day) have their state senator be from Pleasant Valley Township, southwest of Rochester.

Someone living just west of Elmore could have a state senator from just west of Jordan. Yes, Jordan, on Highway 169, not far from the Twin Cities.

The point is, the two new senate districts cover very wide areas.

That is one more reason to get yourself informed about all these upcoming elections and the background behind them.

And, I have not even mentioned the city and school board elections coming this year as well.

Whew!