There's been all sorts of talk of absentee ballots in Minnesota of late.
They were a focus during the 2008 U.S. Senate recount and were the reason the Minnesotans held their primary in August this year -- to allow overseas voters more time to get their ballots in on time.
The result, according to unofficial counts from the Secretary of State's office, very, very few absentee ballots were rejected this year.
Of 691 military overseas ballots received by Election Day, only four were rejected. Of 1,281 regular overseas ballots, only six were rejected. Despite the longer time between primary day and the general election day, 84 overseas voters will returned their ballots too late be counted as of Tuesday.
Regular absentee ballots,used by people who are in the states but unable to go their polling place on Election Day, missed the mark with greater frequency.
Of the 128,093 absentee ballots received on time, 3,041 were rejected (524 were received late.) But some of those whose ballots were rejected may have voted in person so the rejection rate may actually be smaller than it appears. A recent change in Minnesota law requires local election officials to notify voters if their ballots are invalid, giving them the opportunity to recast their ballot or vote in person.
Counties may still be updating their absentee ballot statistics so the final figures may change.
