Richfield picks 18-day early voting option, names Hennepin County as absentee-ballot board

The Richfield City Council on June 9 approved a resolution choosing an 18-day in-person early voting administration process for statewide primary and general elections and appointed Hennepin County to serve as the city's absentee ballot board during the 46-day absentee ballot period.

Council Member Coleman Woods summarized options created by recent state legislation (HF4240/SF4006), which gives cities the option of a 46-day mail-in and in-person absentee voting period or an 18-day in-person early voting period. Staff recommended the 18-day option as the more efficient and secure approach for city administration.

"Staff recommends approval of an 18-day in-person early voting election administration process for the state statewide primary and general elections," staff said during the presentation. Staff outlined operational details including that absentee ballot envelopes received by city staff would be forwarded to Hennepin County for acceptance or rejection, and that the city's clerk, administrative assistant and election specialist would serve on the city absentee ballot board as needed.

Councilors asked about logistics: whether residents could still obtain absentee ballots through the Secretary of State portal or county election center, how ballots would be returned and when staff would forward them to the county, and how the city would assist residents without home internet access. Staff said the city would maintain a computer or kiosk in the council chambers to help residents request ballots.

The council approved the resolution by voice vote. The staff-specified early voting windows cited in the presentation are July 24—August 10 (primary-related period) and October 16—November 2 (general-election period), and Hennepin County will accept absentee ballots during the 46-day absentee windows noted by staff.