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The county election board was gathered on the ground floor level of the Government Center Tuesday, beginning their multi-step processing of the 500 or so absentee ballots that have been submitted.  The first step is to double check signature cover envelopes and then ballots (still sealed) are set apart from the signature envelopes so as to not match cast votes with any individual.  Closer to election day the ballots are unsealed and tallied.  The absentee section was fairly busy with many citizens casting votes before heading south or just to avoid the November 8 hustle and bustle.  The Saturday before the Election Day (Nov 5) the government center is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. if you wish to personally submit an absentee ballot, otherwise a secure drop box is on the Government Center grounds.  

Meanwhile,  Tuesday this week the state’s elections boss Steve Simon was in the next level down, observing as polling site machines were tested by area election judges and officials.  The machines are put through their paces starting two weeks prior to election day, according to County Auditor Treasurer Bridgitte Konrad.

This week’s testing exercise included a visit from Secretery of State Steve Simon.  Simon commented that the state requires about 30,000 elections officials for every election season and he enjoys getting out around the state to see how regions fare as far as having sufficient volunteers and being well-equipped.

He added that machine testing is always performed in a public location and is open to the public.  It involves a crew of local poll workers who are highly invested in a smooth-running system.  Simon had already traveled to observe elections preparations in south Minnesota and plans to make further trips in coming days.

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