Do We Really Want to Empower Casual Voting?
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Voters cast their ballots Monday, Oct. 31, 2016, at the Baymont Inn in south Fargo. David Samson / The Forum
MINOT, N.D. — Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, North Dakota is conducting the June primary vote entirely by mail.
Many have predicted a record-setting turnout.
It’s possible. The state sent out more than 187,000 primary ballots to those who requested them, and if all of them are returned, it would, indeed, be a record.
Yet I suspect the number returned will show a more pedestrian turnout than what was touted in certain prognostications.
As I write this, and with a week to go, numbers made available by the Secretary of State’s office show about 88,000 ballots cast.