NEW ULM — Brown County Auditor-Treasurer (AT) Kelly Hotovec said early voting numbers continue to climb.

“Brown County has been experiencing a strong turnout in early voting. As of Friday noon, the county has accepted 3,250 absentee and mail ballots,” Hotovec said.

“In addition, 1,150 voters have direct balloted (an alternative, in-person absentee voting procedure where voters cast ballots directly into ballot counters) since Oct. 18. Early balloting continues through Monday (Nov. 4),” she said.

Those numbers compare to 2,045 absentee and mail ballots accepted in Brown County as of Oct. 24. As of Friday, there were 16,580 registered voters in Brown County.

Expanded voting hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 2-3 and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, the day before Election Day at the Brown County Courthouse Auditor-Treasurers Office.

Hotovec said the expanded hours provide an expanded opportunity for voters to return absentee and mail ballots. A person age 18 or older may return up to three ballots for other voters, but will need to show their identification with name and signature when dropping off ballots.

On Election Day, the only place you may return your absentee ballot is the A-T office. If you haven’t returned your absentee ballot, you can vote in person at your designated polling place. Your absentee ballot will be spoiled, and you will be issued a new ballot to cast at the polling place.

The A-T office will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Election Day for voters to return absentee and mail ballots; and for voters of mail ballot precincts to vote using mail ballot or ballot counters. Mail ballot precincts include the the cities of Cobden, Evan and Hanska and townships of Albin, Cottonwood, Home, Lake Hanska, Linden, Mulligan, Prairieville, Sigel, Stark and Stately.

On Election Day, most polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Burnstown, North Star, Bashaw, Eden and Leavenworth Township precincts are open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Burnstown and North Star Township polls are at the Springfield American Legion, 5 N. O’Connell. The Bashaw Township poll is the Comfrey Community Center, 120 Brown St. E. The Morgan Fire Hall, 405 Front St., is the Eden Township poll. The Leavenworth Town Hall, 30741 CR 24, is the Leavenworth Township poll. The Milford Town Hall, 24924 Main St., Essig, is the Milford Township poll.

Redeemer Lutheran Church, 700 S. Broadway, is the poll for New Ulm Ward 1.

The New Ulm Community Center, 600 N. German, is the Ward 2 poll. Christ the King Lutheran Church, 1515 N. Garden St. is the Ward 3 poll. Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 1400 S. State St., is the Ward 4 poll.

Heartland and Hermann Express bus systems offer free rides to polls on Election Day. Voters wishing to vote early can also get a free ride to the courthouse on either bus system. Riders should let bus drivers know they are going to vote.

The Sleepy Eye Community Center, 115 2nd Ave. N.E. is the poll for Wards 1 & 2.

The Springfield Community Center, 33 S. Cass Ave., is the poll for Wards 1 & 2.

In the past week, more than 350,000 Minnesotans cast their ballot ahead of Election Day. Local election officials have distributed 1,152,900 absentee and mail ballots in Minnesota since voting began Sept. 20.

“More Minnesotans voted in the past week than during the first four weeks of voting for this election,” said Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon. “It’s clear that our state’s long-held commitment to voting and civic engagement remains. For those who have yet to cast their ballot, now is the time to make your plan to vote in-person on or before Election Day.”

Minnesotans are encouraged to return their ballots in-person to their local election office as soon as possible to ensure their vote is counted. It is no longer recommended to return a mail or absentee ballot by mail.

To be eligible to vote, a person must be 18 or older by Election Day, a U.S. Citizen, a Minnesota resident for at least 20 days, not currently incarcerated for a felony conviction, and not under a court order that revokes your right to vote.

The deadline to vote before Election Day was Oct. 15. Minnesotans can still register to vote on Election Day, if needed.

All polling locations have an assistive voting device and a curbside voting option. Voters may bring a person of their choice to assist in the polling place, or a bipartisan team of election judges may provide ballot-marking assistance if requested. In special circumstances, voters may authorize an agent to pick up and return an absentee ballot for them.

Minnesota Election Day ballots include a constitutional amendment for Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund Renewal.

It reads: “Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to protect drinking water sources and the water quality of lakes, rivers and streams; conserve wildlife habitat and natural areas; improve air quality; and expand access to parks and trails by extending the transfer of proceeds from the state-operated lottery to the environmental and natural resources trust fund, and to dedicate the proceeds for these purposes?”

To see what’s on your ballot. go to vote411.org or mnvotes.gov/myballot.

To check your ballot status, go to mnvotes.gov/absentee.