June 10, 2021 at 1:12 p.m.
Cass Auditor updates commissioners on November's voter identification amendment
Some of the possible costs to counties would depend upon how voter photo identification would be implemented, Anderson said.
Currently, 35 of Cass County's 52 voter precincts qualify by having fewer than 400 voters to vote by mail instead of in person at a precinct site. Anderson said mailed balloting would no longer be allowed because voters do not vote in person where they can show identification and it would cost county an unknown amount to re-establish voter precinct locations.
Anderson said 47 of Minnesota's 87 counties have some form of mail balloting.
More election judges might be needed at each precinct site, she added, because of the extra step of showing identification. Minnesota has registered up to 500,000 new voters in some national elections, she said. New voting equipment may be required, she added.[[In-content Ad]]
On another election-related issue, the county board Tuesday appointed eight people to serve as the Cass County Absentee Ballot Board. Along with auditor-treasurer department employees, they will count mailed ballots from June 29 through Aug. 15 for the primary election and Sept. 21 through Nov. 7 for the general election.
The ballot board includes Lori Gamache, Genell Kimball, Joey Wade, Sherry Hutchins, Rosalie Archer, Victoria Legvold, Kathy Bergmann and Denzel Gamache.
Anderson gave an update on flooding problems related to an old county ditch in the Pine River area. She said she believes installing a Clemson leveler to keep beaver dams from blocking water flow in that area looks like the best long-term solution.
However, due to flood conditions, neither county officials nor affected landowners can see the terrain well, Anderson said. She plans to check the site monthly until she finds water low enough that the ditch and ground around it can be viewed.
It is located by a lake known as Muskrat or Jokela. Anderson said beaver activity in the area has backed lake water up Hay Creek through the ditch, causing the flooding.
Second publication rights after Brainerd Dispatch.
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