Minneapolis Review

City of Minneapolis issued the following announcement on Oct. 21.

More than 100,000 early ballots from Minneapolis voters have already been returned to elections officials for the Nov. 3 election. This is the first time the City has received this many absentee ballots in an election, and there are still two weeks to go before Election Day. The high number comes as health officials and the City support voting early, especially by mail, to prevent the spread of COVID-19.   

Since early voting began Sept. 18, the City has received 100,691 completed absentee ballots from Minneapolis voters. This number includes ballots received in the mail, mail ballots dropped off in person and early votes cast at Early Vote Centers.

As of Oct. 13, Minneapolis has 271,049 registered voters. Although that number will likely grow through Election Day as more people register to vote, at least 37% of registered Minneapolis voters have now voted.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is encouraging voting early by mail, and Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services supports voting early by mail and other CDC and Minneapolis Department of Health recommendations to make sure every voter in Minneapolis can safely cast their ballots this election year. 

Voters should request mail ballots now

Voters who want to vote early by mail should apply for a mail ballots no later than Oct. 20. That provides enough time for the requested ballots to arrive in the mail, get completed and then mailed to election officials in time to be counted. Voters who now have their mail ballots should complete and return them as soon as possible, either by mail or in person. The City has 13 mail ballot drop-off locations now open through Nov. 3.

Any Minnesota voter can vote early; no reason is needed. However, due to a recent court action, some of the requirements for voting by mail have changed. These affect witness requirements and the deadline for returning your ballot.

• If you are registered to vote at your current address you will not need a mail ballot witness.
• If you have moved, changed names or need to register for the first time, you will need a witness to sign your mail ballot envelope.

In order to be counted, mail ballots returned in person must be received by 3 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3. All ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by Election Day and received in the mail no later than Nov. 10 to be counted. On Election Day, mail ballots can only be dropped off at one of the 13 drop-off locations and cannot be dropped off at polling places.

Voters dropping off ballots from other voters can bring no more than three completed ballots (not counting their own ballots). They will need to show identification with name and signature and complete simple paperwork.

Two additional Early Vote Centers coming soon

Early Vote Centers make early in-person voting more convenient for Minneapolis voters. They are especially helpful to people who need language support or other special accommodations, such as curbside voting. And during the pandemic, voting early can help people avoid lines and crowds at polling places on the day of the election.

Minneapolis voters can vote early at the Early Vote Center, 980 East Hennepin Ave., and at the Hennepin County Government Center, 300 6th St. S. Starting Tuesday, Oct. 27, two additional Early Vote Centers will open:

• The North Early Vote Center at Urban League Twin Cities, 2100 Plymouth Ave. N.
• The South Early Vote Center at Longfellow Park Recreation Center, 3435 36th St. S.

More information on early in-person voting is available on the Elections & Voter Services website: vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/vote-early-in-person.

Original source can be found here.