Counties report high early voting numbers one week out from Election Day

MANKATO, Minn. (KEYC) -With just one week to go before election day, time is running out to cast your ballot.

Election offices recommend at least a week of time if sending a ballot by mail, so election offices want absentee ballots delivered by hand from here on out.

Early voting began September 20, and election officials said that it’s been a busy month, with blue earth county reporting nearly 10-thousand people voted early as of Tuesday, around 25-percent of registered voters.

Nicollet County reports around 5-thousand early ballots.

Election officials said that both numbers are higher than expected.

“Our historical averages tell us that we should have 25-percent of our voters not vote on election day,” explained Blue Earth County Election Official Michael Stalberger. “So the fact that we already have 25-percent of all eligible voters who are registered voting tells me that we’re higher than normal for expectations there. It will be very interesting to see what happens in the next 5 to 6, 7 days to see what that pre election day turnout is.”

If you’re voting on Election Day you’ll need to find your polling place, but those voting early will need to head to their county election office, which is sometimes in the next town over.

Voter turnouts are expected to be higher than ever this year, meaning many offices have been preparing for the big day since at least June.

“We are really getting to the end where a lot of our hard work is actually done and we’re ready to finish this up,” said Nicollet County Election Official Jaci Kopet.

Polling places will be open until 7 pm weekdays and from 9 to 3 this weekend.

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