416,000 Early Votes In As Minnesota Nears Election Day

ST. PAUL (AP) - Nearly 416,000 Minnesota residents have already cast their ballots for next week's election.

The early votes are pouring in as the state holds its first presidential election with no-excuse absentee voting. Voters previously had to provide a reason to cast a ballot ahead of time.

Voting data released by the Secretary of State's office Thursday shows more than 415,000 ballots had been accepted. That's roughly 13 percent of Minnesota's registered voters. The early vote total far outpaces the 267,000 absentee ballots cast in 2012.

Early voting began in late September, one of the earliest starts in the country. Voters can continue submitting absentee ballots right up until Election Day.