Ballots already coming in
Ballots already coming in
Absentee voting increases
By STU MERRY
So far, more than 360 ballots have been cast in McLean County – and the election is still a few days away.
Those ballots cast are in the form of absentee ballots. And according to county officials, the number will double.
County Auditor Les Korgel said that more than 640 absentee ballots have been sent out to voters from McLean County.
“We are getting about 30 ballots a day returned and we are sending out about the same amount each day to be voted,” he said.
Korgel speculates that the county should hit between 1,000 and 1,200 absentee ballots. If the weather continues to be inclement Korgel said he suspects that number will increase.
The amount is about what county officials see in a presidential election year for absentee ballots, but higher than an off year general election.
Statewide, more than 34,000 North Dakota residents have voted by absentee ballot. That’s about 15 percent of the number of people who cast ballots the last time there was a statewide election when the president and governor were not on the ballot.
According to published media, county auditors report that more than 60,000 absentee ballots have been mailed to voters who had requested them. More than half have been returned. The absentee ballots became available last month.
