Undated  - Nearly 2.6-million Minnesota voters cast ballots in Tuesday’s election.

The Minnesota Secretary of State’s office says the preliminary number represents a participation rate of almost 64-percent. According to the office, “that’s the highest percentage of voter participation in Minnesota for a midterm election since 2002 and the largest raw total for a midterm election in Minnesota history.”

The unofficial turnout total in Olmsted County was put at 78.7-percent. That compares to 81.7-percent in the 2016 Presidential election. The number of absentee or early ballots in Olmsted County soared from 16,767 in 2016 to 17,487 for Tuesday’s election.

“Minnesota elections are a model for the nation,” said Secretary of State Steve Simon. “Not only do Minnesotans value civic engagement, but you have demanded from your government a voting system that makes it as easy as possible for Minnesotans to exercise their voice and power at the polls. Whether or not our participation rate this year means we will maintain our #1 in the nation status, I will always consider you the best voters in our great country.”
News update: Recounts for two Rochester races?

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