More Koochiching County voters will cast ballots by mail with action taken by the county board Tuesday.
The board designated precincts to be called northwest, southwest, central, southeast and west as mail-in precincts on a 3-2 vote. Commissioners Mike Hanson, who represents some of the precincts, and Rob Ecklund voted against the motion.
About 770 county residents now vote by mail. The board’s action adds about another 340 voters to the mail-in process, county Auditor/Treasurer Bob Peterson told The Journal after the meeting. Peterson said the majority of the mail-in voters were converted to that process about six years ago.
Hanson said he’d heard a number of concerns raised by constituents who will now vote by mail.
“The calls I got were stridently opposed,” said Hanson, noting that concerns cited included the lack of a voting experience at a polling place and the increased chance of voter fraud.
Peterson said he’d received resolutions from the cities of Northome and Mizpah requesting mail balloting, as well as two comments opposed to converting the areas to mail-in voting.
Peterson noted that mail-in precincts often have higher voter turnout than other precincts.
Hanson acknowledged that mail-in ballots allow voters to consider how they will vote longer than voters who have a few moments in the voting booth.
Meanwhile, Peterson said he doesn’t know how mail-in ballots will be handled should voters approve an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution that would require that, on Election Day, all voters present government issued photo identification prior to casting a ballot.
“The 2013 Legislature will take a hard look at how to implement this,” he told the board. “That’s why I’m against it — we don’t know what it will cost.”
Should mail-in voting be eliminated, Peterson said polling places that meet state and federal requirements on handicap accessibility and other issues will need to be established. He said that could result in forcing some voters to drive as far as 20 miles from their home to vote.
Reestablishing some precincts and establishing the mail-in precincts makes way for the county to consider redistricting commissioner districts. An April 17 public hearing on the plan is scheduled, with the county’s redistricting plan expected to be available to the public by April 9.
In other business Tuesday, the board met in committee to consider a request by Boise Inc. to vacate a portion of County State Aid Highway 332 known as the Burner Road.
Boise Public Affairs Manager Lori Lyman met with the board and reiterated that while vacation of the road is an ideal way to reduce safety risks involved in mingling truck and private vehicles on the road, the company is willing to consider other options.
Some commissioners have said they’re hearing concerns from residents about vacating the road, despite few providing input at a public hearing held in February on the request.
Board Chairman Brian McBride said a group will meet in the next couple weeks to consider options to vacation and bring the issue back to the board for further discussion.
