40,000 mail-in ballots sent out

You can drop off your ballot at the Olmsted County elections office or at the Olmsted County government Center.

Coming up in the new this morning on daybreak.

Tomorrow will be exactly five weeks until the 2020 election and we're learning a lot of minnesotans are already casting their ballots.

Kimt news 3's madelyne watkins joins us live, after checking in with olmsted county elections to see how early voting is going so far.

Madelyne... do you know how many people are ahead of the game and already brooke and tyler.

I'm told about 300 people a day are coming here to olmsted county elections to vote early in person.

And if you requested a mail?

"*in ballot... you should have already received it like i did.

Olmsted county has sent out 40 thousand mail?

"* in ballots to residents since september 18th.

Election manager, katie smith, tells me ballots that are mailed in will be sealed until two weeks before the election to be processed then it'll be finalized on election night at 8 pm.

She says there are a lot of behind the scenes steps to make sure your mail?

"*in ballot is secure and won't be tampered with.

Olmsted county is on track to have the largest participation of absentee voters this year because "you know, we've seen a steady increase in absentee voting anyway in years past.

It changed to where it's no excuse absentee voting here in minnesota, so you don't have to have a reason to vote early.

That's your right to choose to do so.

It's just really convenient to have a 46 day window instead of just that one day on election day."

If you requested a mail?

"*in ballot but don't want to mail it back... there is a drop box here that's monitored by election staff to make sure it's not messed with.

There's also one at the olmsted county government center.

Live in rochester.

Madelyne watkins kimt thank you madelyne.

Iowans can begin absentee in?

"*person