Minnesota officials are trying to bring clarity to voters following a last-minute court decision concerning absentee ballots.
A federal appeals court has ruled absentee ballots arriving after Election Day should be set side amid a legal fight.
There’s disagreement between the state and conservative groups on whether Minnesota should have established a seven-day grace period for those ballots because of the pandemic.
Steve Simon, Minnesota Secretary of State, is urging anyone who requested an absentee ballot but hasn’t returned it to hand-deliver it to a designated location before 3 p.m. on Election Day.
He stresses mailing it in is no longer a realistic option.
“It is too late for you, practically speaking, to get it back,” Simon emphasizes. “Don’t risk it. Don’t put it in the mail.”
Besides hand-delivering a ballot, you also can vote early in person today. Or, you can vote traditionally on Election Day at a polling location.
Simon says right now, he doesn’t plan to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, and the focus is on getting the message of urgency to voters.
Last week’s ruling doesn’t automatically mean ballots received after the deadline will be invalidated, but it casts doubt on whether they will be counted.
Despite the late ruling throwing Minnesota’s vote into chaos, Simon notes Minnesota has a strong history of participating in elections, and he’s confident the state will overcome several factors in 2020.
“That includes a once-in-a-century pandemic, and that includes a last-minute judicial ruling,” Simon states.
If someone already mailed in their ballot before last week’s ruling, they can track whether it was received by going to MNVotes.org.
If it hasn’t been received by now, those voters can follow through on the other remaining options.