Republicans encouraged by high early voter turnout in red areas of Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS – In Minnesota, early voting is trending in Republican-leaning areas.

In the past, Republicans have avoided voting early, instead waiting to cast their ballot on Election Day.

Donald Trump won Sherburne County by more than 30% in 2020. Long lines formed outside the Sherburn County Government Center in Elk River on Monday morning, with wait times of up to 45 minutes.

People there who have waited their whole lives until Election Day to vote are trying early voting.

“I feel like it's more controlled and there haven't been any questions because everyone's on guard and watching it very, very closely,” said Barb Lammers, early voter.

Lammers feels that her voice is safe.

While Democrats advocated for early voting for years, Republicans did not. Many, including former President Donald Trump, have advised against it. That is not the case this year.

“This election cycle, Republicans from Minnesota all the way up to President Trump have focused on this and pushed for early voting for Republicans, and it actually seems to be having an impact,” said Amy Koch, a Republican analyst.

Koch says it's a measure of the enthusiasm of Republican voters.

“The numbers I'm seeing from Minnesota across the country show a large turnout in early GOP voting, which I think will have an impact,” Koch said.

Republican voters in Sherburne County had a variety of reasons for voting early, including illness, child care issues and concerns about a major weather event.

And that doesn't just apply to the presidential election. The Minnesota GOP hopes to gain control of the Minnesota House and put an end to the DFL trifecta. Republican House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth has been pushing for Republicans to vote early for months.

“Republican voters are doing everything they can to get to the polls early and collect their votes. They don’t want anything standing in their way for their voice to be heard,” Demuth said.