Minnesotans Are Early Voting At Record Pace

MINNESOTA — The Land of 10,000 Lakes could see record-breaking voter participation at the polls next week, if the early voting is any indication. As of Oct. 25, at least 372,731 absentee ballots had been requested by Minnesota voters.

“Senator Paul Wellstone, who we remember today on the anniversary of his untimely death 16 years ago, said it clearly, ‘the only way to change is to vote,’” Secretary of State Steve Simon said in a statement.

“It is the mission of my office to make it as easy as possible for all eligible Minnesotans to vote. The response to one of the reforms I sought and passed when I was in the legislature – no-excuses absentee voting – has been particularly strong this year. There are 12 days left to vote in 2018. Join the hundreds of thousands of your fellow Minnesotans in honoring those who fought for our rights – be a voter.”

The rate of absentee ballot requests has so far increased 145 percent over 2014, which was the last statewide non-presidential election.

Interested in Minnesota politics? Subscribe to Patch's daily newsletters and alerts for the latest political news

Image via Shutterstock