Although election night is still over a month away (Tuesday, November 6), early voting is already underway in Polk County and around the state. According to a press release from Secretary of State Steve Simon’s office more than 42,552 ballots around the state had been accepted as of Thursday, October 4 through the no-excuse absentee voting option.
In Polk County, 55 of the 82 precincts don’t have a physical polling place and residents of those precincts should be receiving their ballots next week. “Our mail ballots for residents in mail ballot precincts will be dropped in the mail on Friday, October 5 and those residents should receive those early next week,” said Director of Property Records Michelle Cote. The ballot comes with postage, so voters only need to fill out the ballot, seal it and drop it back in the mail. Ballots returned by mail must be delivered by mail or courier by 3:00 p.m. on election day according to state statute.
Since 2014 Minnesota voters who do have a polling place, have had the option to vote from home or “no-excuse absentee voting.” Anyone can stop by the taxpayer service center and request either a mail ballot or vote there the same day, commonly referred to as “early voting.”
Polk County staff is also preparing all the equipment for the 22 precincts with polling places. “We are currently certifying and testing all the equipment that gets shipped out to the polling places around the country,” said Cote who said the county has strict regulations to follow for testing, including step by step guidelines for each piece of equipment. “Electronic poll pads are currently in their certification process, in addition to tabulation and assistive devices.”
Crookston voters who live Wards 3, 4, 5 will go to the Presbyterian Church to vote on election day. Wards 1, 2 and 6 will be a St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Voters, who need to vote absentee, can visit the taxpayer service center Mondays through Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. up until Monday, November 5. The service center will also be open on Saturday, November 3 for early voting from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
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