To the editor:

It is too late to vote by mail and be certain your ballot will be counted. Late Thursday a federal appeals court decision changed our expectations about mail-in, or absentee ballots received AFTER election day. Ballots mailed early enough to be received by the election office on or before Nov. 3 are safe. The complete meaning of Thursday’s federal court decision is complex and its impact unclear, but we do know the safest plan right now is to deliver your ballot before Nov. 3 or vote in person at your polling place on Nov. 3.

You can still vote early before Nov. 3. To vote early, deliver your ballot to the Brown County election office located on the 2nd floor of the Brown County Courthouse on Saturday, October 31 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. or Monday 8 a.m. -5 p.m. You can deliver your ballot at any time before Nov. 3 to the drop box in the lobby of the Brown County Law Enforcement Center.

If you already mailed your ballot and are worried whether it will be received in time, check the status of your ballot using Track your Ballot at https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/. You can still vote if you are worried that a recently mailed ballot won’t arrive in time. Instructions are available at the website above and at the Brown County election office.

Linda J Heine

Voter Service Chair,

League of Women Voters New Ulm