Will you take advantage of the early voting option?

Minnesota Election
Voters wait to cast absentee ballots at the Hennepin County Government Center in 2012 (AP Photo/Jim Mone/file)

"Minnesotans no longer need a good excuse to vote early.

"Starting with next week's primary, voters don't have to provide any justification for submitting a ballot before Election Day," writes MPR News political reporter Tom Scheck.

Supporters of the change passed by the Legislature in 2013 say it will increase access to voting and could increase voter turnout by allowing voters to request an absentee ballot or cast ballots at their county's election center.

For years, Minnesotans could only vote early if they could provide a legally valid excuse, such as being outside of the district on Election Day.

Dropping that requirement is one of the biggest changes to Minnesota's election system in years -- and the candidates and political parties are trying to capitalize on it.

Today's Question: Will you take advantage of the early voting option?

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