The change could delay results in more populous counties, like Hennepin, where roughly 248,000 ballots have already been accepted. Hennepin County accepted about 199,000 absentee ballots in 2016.
A change of five hours may not seem like a lot, but Hennepin County elections manager Ginny Gelms said processing absentee ballots is time-consuming. Ballots can be dropped off in cities across the county and have to be transported to the government center in Minneapolis before signatures and other information can be checked.
Gelms encouraged anyone voting absentee this close to Election Day to drop off their ballot, rather than mail it, to ensure it makes it in time. Voters who’ve mailed in their ballots can track them on the Secretary of State’s website.
To expedite election-night reporting, state lawmakers updated the rules so counties can begin reporting unofficial results while they are still processing absentee ballots received late in the day. Gelms anticipates there could be several thousand ballots received under the extended deadline.
“It is probably going to be a long night for us,” she said.
Seasonal Election Support Specialist Zach Becka helps a voter by displaying an empty ballot during early voting at Urban League Twin Cities in Minneapolis on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. (Ayrton Breckenridge/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Minnesotans can vote early in-person through Monday. Polls will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Saturday and Sunday for in-person voting at local election sites.
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