Minn. voters nearing record registration number

Iowa straw poll
The Minnesota Secretary of State reports that voter registration in the state is nearing an all-time high.
Photo by Eric Thayer/Getty Images

Voter registration in Minnesota is on pace to hit an all-time high.

At the current rate, more people will be registered in November than ever before and that doesn't even factor in those who sign up at the polls.

Nearly 3.13 million people are already registered to vote, just shy of the number who were on the rolls after the election in 2004. That's out of a possible 3.7 million eligible voters.

The figures suggest Secretary of State Mark Ritchie's goal of getting 80 percent turnout in the general election is feasible. Four years ago, turnout was a tick above 77 percent of eligible voters.

Ritchie's office says there are about 5,000 voters being added every two weeks.

Pre-registration closes on October 14.

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