Minneapolis Receives More Than 33,000 Completed Ballots

MINNEAPOLIS — With just a few days before the election, early voting totals are high in Minneapolis. So far, more than 33,000 completed ballots have been received by the city.

• Total in-person ballots at the City’s four Early Vote Centers: 12,571.
• Total ballots received by mail: 17,480
• Total ballots received by other means, including visits to hospitals and nursing homes: 2,953.
• Grand total of early vote ballots: 33,004.

This is on par to early voting totals from the 2016 election, when 38,115 early ballots were cast by the Friday before Election Day, according to a news release.

Four Early Vote Centers open through Monday

Minneapolis voters may vote at any Early Vote Center, regardless of where they live in the city. There are four to choose from:

• Downtown Early Vote Center, 217 Third St. S.
• North Early Vote Center at the Minneapolis Urban League, 2100 Plymouth Ave. N.
• East Early Vote Center in the University of Minnesota Field House Lobby, 1800 University Ave SE.
• South Early Vote Center at Regents Assembly Church, 810 W. 31st St.

All four will be open this weekend and on Monday. The hours:

· 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3.

· Noon-5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 4.

· 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 5.

On Election Day, Nov. 6, voters can only vote at their assigned polling place.

Early in-person voting at the Early Vote Center is convenient. It especially helps voters who need special accommodations, such as language support, that the extra time, attention and onsite resources of early in-person voting afford more readily than the polls might on the day of the election.

Absentee ballots must be in the mail

Voters mailing in absentee ballots need to have allowed enough time for their completed ballots to be delivered by mail. Since it can take longer than seven days, completed ballots should no longer be mailed if voters can instead vote in one of the following ways:

• Drop off completed absentee ballots by 3 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 6 at the Downtown Early Vote Center at 217 S. Third St. or at the Elections & Voter Services Office in Room 201 of City Hall, 350 S. Fifth St.
• Vote in person at any of the four Early Vote Centers listed above; the original absentee ballot will be spoiled.
• Vote in person at their assigned polling place on Election Day, Nov. 6. – the original absentee ballot will be spoiled. Find your polling place online.

What’s on the ballot?

Minneapolis voters will cast ballots for the following races:

• U.S. Senator.
• U.S. Senator, special election.
• U.S. Representative (District 5).
• Governor/lieutenant governor.
• Attorney general.
• Minnesota State representative.
• Secretary of State.
• State auditor.
• County commissioner (districts 2, 3 and 4).
• County sheriff.
• County attorney.
• Minneapolis School Board (districts 1, 3, 5, and two at-large seats).
• Two school district funding questions.
• Referendum on an amendment.
• Judicial offices, including the Minnesota Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals and District Court - 4th Judicial District.

State law allows voters to bring materials into the polls to help complete their ballots — and the sample ballot is the single, best tool available for this purpose. By downloading and printing their sample ballots (which are customized to their specific ward and precinct), voters can practice marking their ballots. They can bring this marked-up sample ballot as a reference to the voting booth when completing their official ballots.

This is the best way to reduce the time spent waiting in lines.

Sample ballots are available here.

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