Sherri Knuth of the League of Women Voters (LWV) Minnesota submitted a letter on behalf of LWV Minnesota and LWV St. Paul to Ramsey County Elections Manager Joe Mansky requesting additional in-person absentee voting hours for the 2014 general election. See the letter below that was sent to Mr. Mansky on July 15, 2014.

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Dear Mr. Mansky:

League of Women Voters St. Paul and League of Women Voters Minnesota together request that Ramsey County provide additional in-person absentee voting hours on the two Sundays prior to the November 2014 general election.

As you know, no excuse is required for voting absentee in the 2014 elections and a much greater number of absentee voters is expected. According to the county’s website, Ramsey County will provide expanded hours for in-person absentee voting on the two Saturdays preceding the general election and will be open until 7 p.m. during the week before the election. We appreciate these expanded hours.

We request that the county provide additional in-person absentee voting hours the two Sundays preceding the general Election Day. We make this request for the purpose of ensuring adequate office hours so that both voters and election offices have a positive experience given the increased number of in-person absentee voters.

Additional hours will also assure voter access. Sunday hours would provide access for those who mark Saturday as a holy day, those who work on Saturdays, and those who must use Sundays to do errands.

We appreciate the ongoing efforts of Ramsey County and its Elections Department in ensuring that voters have access to the ballot and that the integrity of Minnesota elections is maintained.

Sincerely,

Hally Turner                                           Susan Sheridan Tucker

President                                                 Executive Director

League of Women Voters St. Paul      League of Women Voters Minnesota