Collegeville Township Reverses Decision on Mail-In Voting Amidst Opposition

(KNSI) – In the face of strong opposition from residents, Collegeville Township has decided to go back to in-person voting.

In January, the township board asked the auditor-treasurer’s office to switch from the traditional method to mail-in voting only. Around 200 residents packed the recent township board meeting, where a unanimous vote reversed the decision.

An email sent to KNSI News from Township Supervisor and Chairman John Ronning explained they decided to go with mail-in balloting after the current clerk of 18 years announced he wouldn’t seek another term or work another election. Ronning says the reasons were due to false accusations of election fraud against him and local election judges, the amount of work it takes to run an election and the low pay for doing so. Many of the residents volunteered to be election judges if needed.

Ronning reported they’ve recently come across someone who will be the head election judge and is willing to get tutored by the current clerk so they can run in the next election. The Stearns County Auditor-Treasurer’s Office told KNSI News they will approve the request.

If people still would like to vote by mail, they can by filling out an absentee ballot. Minnesota has no excuse absentee voting, which allows anyone to vote by mail ahead of an election.

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