Our View: Ease Election Day burden by absentee

Minnesota is holding primary elections for various offices on Tuesday, Aug. 11. In Carlton County there’s not a lot of action: voters will narrow the field for Cloquet City Council Ward 5 and County Commissioner District 5. In addition, there are partisan elections for the U.S. Senate and U.S. House.

Considering the potential for spreading the coronavirus, coupled with the nervousness of many — especially seniors and others more vulnerable to the virus — we encourage people to vote absentee. While the question of the virus’ potential to cause harm has not yet been settled, the pandemic has caused problems that will affect in-person voting.

For example, nearly every precinct in Carlton County is experiencing a shortage of election judges. With fewer volunteers, lines will get longer at the polls, and delays are inevitable. Add in social distancing measures, and both time and space will become more challenging. We also worry that others — faced with a choice of exercising their most basic right in a democracy (voting), and jeopardizing their health by risking exposure to the coronavirus — will choose to not vote.

Minnesota allows early voting in person, in this case at the county auditor’s office in the Carlton Courthouse. That is also a good option.

But we feel that voting by mail is the safest, most efficient way to cast your ballot in this election. You don’t have to take our advice either: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are also encouraging people to vote absentee for now.

Obtaining an absentee ballot is easy. You can apply online by going to the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website, MNVotes.org, or you can call the county auditor’s office at 218-384-9127.

In rural areas around the state, mail-in voting has been proven to be an efficient and safe way to vote for years.

We are in a time of crisis, and some extraordinary measures are needed to cope. We are not persuaded yet that mail-in ballots only are the best permanent solution. But we are convinced that voting by mail is the best way to exercise your right to vote this election cycle ... during a pandemic.