County leaves mail ballots in place, rural precincts to help out

Mail ballot voting will continue to be an option in Rock County after commissioners at their June 6 meeting opted to leave it in place.
For the past six months they have been considering the county auditor’s request to have all precincts return to in-person voting.
That would mean the 17 precincts that currently use the option would have to arrange for voting machines and polling places.
Election official Ashley Kurtz requested the change because she said she was concerned about her personal safety and the safety of those who work in the auditor-treasurer’s office.
In the weeks leading up to the November 2022 general election, Kurtz said she and her staff were subjected to harassing phone calls and in-person accusations that the election process and mail ballots were fraudulent.
Many callers did not identify themselves nor fully listen to an explanation of the state’s election validation process.
“In 2022 we didn’t expect that anything like this would happen,” Kurtz told commissioners last week.
“We have been doing mail ballots forever and now people were questioning the process.”
In response to Kurtz’s concerns, commissioners met with the township and city officials (whose precincts use the mail ballot process) to consider returning to in-person voting.
The majority of the officials who attended the meeting said they wanted to keep using the mail ballot option.
Kyle Hemme, a supervisor with Denver Township, for example, told commissioners the majority of his township residents like the convenience of the mail ballot process with only one expressing concern.
“As long as we can have a discussion and be civilized about it, I think we will be good. Nothing should ever be directed toward Ashley personally,” Hemme said.
“I think she put it in pretty good terms that she checks and doublechecks all the equipment and how the votes are sent back up to the state. I think our elections are very well run down here.”
While voting options remain unchanged in Rock County, procedures may change in the auditor-treasurer’s office.
“If your office needs help, we are here to make sure you guys are comfortable doing your job safely,” said Commissioner Gary Overgaard.
“We want it to be known that we won’t put up with someone coming into your office and giving you hassle. That’s not called for — you’re just doing your job.”
One suggestion is a dedicated phone line to answer election questions. Other safeguards may be brought forth by office staff.
“When the (dedicated) phone is ringing and they are calling about elections, you can kind of be prepared and not caught off guard,” Kurtz said.
“I feel we are at least going into this (coming) election prepared.”
Mail ballot districts in Rock County include the cities of Hardwick, Kenneth, Magnolia, Steen, Jasper and Beaver Creek as well as the townships of Kanaranzi, Magnolia, Clinton, Beaver Creek, Luverne, Mound, Rose Dell, Springwater, Vienna, Denver and Battle Plain.
In-person voting is conducted in the cities of Luverne and Hills and in Martin Township.