MOORHEAD, Minn. (KFGO) - An extraordinary number of voters are casting absentee ballots in Clay County.
Auditor Lori Johnson says the absentee ballot count is up 146% from the last presidential election in 2012. She also says absentee ballot numbers have risen 187% from two years ago.
Johnson says the number of people who voted on Saturday exceeded 400. Typically, Johnson says less than a dozen people vote absentee on the Saturday before election day.
As of Monday, Johnson estimated that more than 4,000 Clay County residents voted absentee.
Johnson says the presidential election, social media, and a change in absentee voting requirements are likely causing the surge.
Minnesota voters no longer need to state a reason why they're voting absentee.