The number of absentee voters in Mower County has soared for this year’s General Election.

Monday, November 06, 2000

The number of absentee voters in Mower County has soared for this year’s General Election.

In 1996, the last presidential election, a total of 982 absentee ballots were claimed by voters. This year, the number has climbed to more than 1,450.

On Saturday, Mower County Auditor Woody Vereide and his office staff helped voters cast absentee ballots with a special 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. absentee voting period.

The deadline for voting by absentee ballot is 7 p.m. today.

"We’re seeing a lot of deer hunters, snowbirds and the elderly who choose to vote by absentee ballot," Vereide said. "More of the stay-at-home elderly are choosing to vote by absentee ballot and avoid waiting in line or any other inconveniences on Election Day."

Also growing in popularity is the new provision where a voter can designate an authorized agent to pick up ballots; this includes residents of nursing homes.

"Not many people know about this new feature, because it’s only a couple of years old, but it also helps those who otherwise couldn’t get to the polls to vote on Election Day by appointing an individual to collect the ballot for them and then voting and having it returned by that person," Vereide said.

Although the number is small – Vereide estimated fewer than a dozen this year – he believes the provision is a valuable tool that allows nursing home residents the opportunity to vote.

Another popular provision is the efforts in hospitals to assist people in voting. Mary Anne Wolesky, director of nursing at Austin Medical Center, is credited by Vereide with promoting the idea at the Austin hospital for those people who want to vote on Election Day at the polls, but who face a hospitalization stay.