The Minnesota Senate subcommittee on elections approved legislation Thursday that would allow people to vote beginning 15 days before Election Day. Right now, the state has a no-excuse absentee voting system. The only ways to vote absentee are by mail or by visiting a polling place. But if the absentee ballot is cast in person, the voter has to fill out lots of paperwork and the ballot is kept under lock and key until Election Day. Bill sponsor Sen. Katie Sieben, DFL-Newport, said the process is confusing for voters, because they expect to be able to cast a ballot as easily as they would on Election Day.
“If our goal here is to ensure that every eligible voter can cast a ballot, and that their ballot is counted, it’s clear that early voting increases the likelihood that a voter who is eligible to vote, that his or her vote is counted,” said Sieben.
The early no-excuse absentee voting system was popular among voters, said Ramsey County Elections Manager Joe Mansky. But it was also costly and time-consuming, with some voters waiting in line for nearly an hour.
Full Article: Senate committee approves early voting | Capitol View | Minnesota Public Radio News.