How early voting is changing our elections

Voters exit the Ramsey County Elections Plato Building.
Voters exit the Ramsey County Elections Plato Building in St. Paul, Minn. on Aug. 13, 2018.
Lacey Young | MPR News

By the time Election Day arrives, many Americans — including many Minnesotans — will have already voted. In the primaries, Minnesota had its highest voter turnout since 1994. It was a monumental feat, but Minnesotans have led the nation in voting participation for several years.

In other parts of the country, voter turnout is more stagnant. Thirty-seven states and the District of Columbia have early voting and every state allows permit absentee voting, yet voting ahead of Election Day could be even easier and more efficient.

MPR News host Kerri Miller sat down with MPR News reporter Mark Zdechlik, Kat Calvin, and Kent Kaiser to talk about how early voting is changing our elections.

Guests:

Mark Zdechlik — MPR News reporter

Kent Kaiser — department chair of communication at the University of Northwestern, St. Paul

Kat Calvin — lawyer and founder of Spread the Vote

Use the audio player above to listen to the full discussion.