Minneapolis is ready for record-high voter turnout on Nov. 4

Date: Tuesday, November 4 url: www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/elections Minneapolis is gearing up for a large voter turnout on Election Day. Minnesota's Secretary of State says the number of registered voters has reached an all-time high, with about 84 percent of eligible voters in the state registered. Minneapolis is also seeing high voter registration numbers, and is set for what may be the city's highest voter turnout ever. To ensure that no one is turned away, Minneapolis has enough ballots printed for every single eligible voter in Minneapolis if they show up on Election Day. Voter turnout was 70 percent in the city for the 2004 election, and it is likely to be even higher this year. Voters may encounter some lines at the polls, especially at peak times during the day. While election officials will do what they can to keep wait times down, voters can also help by casting their ballots at off-peak hours. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and the peak times are normally before people head to work and when they're returning home at the end of the day. Another way to save yourself and others time spent at the polls is to review your sample ballot ahead of time. To see your sample ballot, visit the City's Web site at www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/elections. Absentee balloting under way For voters who can't make it to their polling places on Election Day, absentee voting is now under way. In Minnesota you can cast an absentee ballot if:

• you'll be absent from your precinct on Election Day,
• you are ill or disabled,
• you'll be serving as an election judge in another precinct, or
• you are unable to go to their polling places due to a religious holiday or belief.

Cast your absentee ballot by mail or in-person People who are eligible to vote absentee can complete the process by mail, or in-person by coming to Minneapolis City Hall. Ballots returned by mail can be received on Election Day. In-person absentee voting ends at 5 p.m. on November 3, the day before the election. Voting by mail is quick and convenient. Download an absentee ballot application from our Web site or call Minneapolis 311. The completed application can be faxed or mailed in, and an absentee ballot will be mailed to your residence. Please allow up to five days for delivery. In-person voters can come to City Hall between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and also on Saturday, Oct. 25 and Saturday, Nov. 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. In-person absentee voting can be done until 5 p.m. November 3. For more information, visit the City's Web site at www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/elections or call Minneapolis 311