Minnesota Absentee Voting Sharply Outpacing 2010

ST. PAUL (AP) -- Minnesota election officials have accepted significantly more absentee ballots this year than at this point in 2010's midterm election.

The Secretary of State's office announced on Thursday a more-than 60% jump in absentee ballots accepted so far over 2010.

More than 38,000 have been approved this year compared with 23,237 in 2010.

So far, voters have requested more than 110,000 absentee ballots total.

That includes more than 23,000 ballots requested online this year, the first election in which regular voters can ask for absentee ballots on the Internet.

Candidates and parties have emphasized early voting this year due to the state's new, no-excuse-needed absentee voting law.

The last day to cast an absentee ballot is November 3rd.