Ramsey County is gearing up for a busy election season as absentee voting for the November 5th presidential election commenced on September 20th. Minnesota boasts one of the longest absentee voting periods in the nation, allowing voters 46 days to cast their ballots either in person or by mail.

On the first day of absentee voting, Ramsey County reported 741 in-person voters and mailed out 22,000 ballots. Over the first week, the county averaged 556 in-person voters daily and sent out approximately 2,000 ballots each day. Officials anticipate these numbers will rise as the election date approaches.

In preparation for the election, the Ramsey County elections office is actively recruiting and training nearly 2,000 election judges to staff over 165 polling places. Currently, 76 seasonal staff members are assisting with these efforts.

Voters are encouraged to register, apply for absentee ballots, confirm polling locations, and review sample ballots through the Minnesota Secretary of State's website, MNvotes.gov. The elections office expressed gratitude for the hard work of its staff in facilitating the electoral process.