Freeborn County officials say absentee voting is largely on track this year, despite the rising number of absentee ballots requested in other counties across the state and nation.

“I’m not anticipating more than what we normally would have in a presidential election,” said Dennis Distad, Freeborn County Auditor.

Distad said thus far, 738 absentee ballots have been sent to Freeborn County residents, with 301 returned or processed through the auditor’s office, including residents who stopped by the office to vote early. About 1,832 absentee ballots were cast in Freeborn County during the 2008 presidential election, according to Distad. Residents have been able to cast absentee ballots since Sept. 20, about 46 days before the election.

Freeborn County should meet its average voter registration numbers as well, Distad said, though he didn’t immediately have voter registration numbers from 2008. Early voter registration ended Tuesday.

Though Distad has heard of other areas where absentee voting and voter registration numbers are rapidly increasing, he hasn’t seen evidence such a trend could take place in Freeborn County.

“I don’t think it’s going to be a whole lot different than any other presidential election,” Distad said.

Karen Meyerson was thankful for the opportunity. She submitted her ballot last week, as she didn’t want to stand in voting lines for a long time.

“If the state offers the option of early voting, the more time we have to vote, the more people are going to vote,” Meyerson said. “I’m very glad that we do have early voting in Minnesota.”