Absentee balloting begins in county

WILLMAR -- Kandiyohi County had already processed application requests for about 600 absentee ballots by Friday afternoon.

"That seems high to me," said Auditor Sam Modderman, who will continue to accept applications until 5 p.m. the night before Election Day.

Most of the absentee ballots already sent out went to military personnel or others living overseas. Others were sent to college students living away from home.

County residents unable to cast ballots also received absentee ballots. Some voters take their ballot home to fill out "at their leisure" and return them -- either in person or via mail -- to the county, Modderman said.

Others opt to cast their absentee ballots at the auditor's office.

Two polling booths with privacy curtains were opened Friday afternoon for absentee balloting. "You can vote right here," Modderman said .

Application forms to receive an absentee ballot are available at the auditor's office or online from the Minnesota Secretary of State. A link to that site is available on Kandiyohi County's Web site at www.co.kandiyohi.mn.us.

Voters who want their ballots mailed to them must allow enough time for the ballots to be sent out and returned back to the county by Nov. 4. Every year the county receives a handful that arrive the day after, Modderman said. Those ballots are not counted.

College students can vote at their home precinct or at their college home, but they do need to register in the county where they will cast their ballot in order to vote.