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Election officials 'swamped' by early returns in Yellowstone County

Posted at 10:03 PM, Oct 16, 2020
and last updated 2020-10-17 12:08:00-04

It remains to be seen if Yellowstone County voters will set a record turnout in this fall's election, but if the early response is any indication, that looks like a real possibility.

Elections Administrator Bret Rutherford tells Q2 that his office has been swamped by the number of voted ballots sent in already.

In the first week since ballots were mailed out, the elections office has checked in 15,700 voted ballots, and Rutherford expects that number will exceed 30,000, as his staff works through this weekend to catch up with the volume of mail.

Rutherford reminds voters that this year's election is by all-mail ballots and the usual polling places will not be open on Election Day.

The Elections Office has set up a satellite operation at the Metra, where people can register and vote in person up through Election Day.

The close of regular registration is 5 p.m. Oct. 26.