Senate Fills In Bubble For Early Voting, House Not On Board

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota state senators have filled in the bubble for early voting.

The DFL-led chamber passed a bill 39-28 Monday that would let Minnesotans cast ballots starting 15 days before federal, state and county elections. That window would close a few days before elections.

Sen. Katie Sieben says more than 30 states offer some form of early voting. The Newport Democrat says the provisions cut down on red tape and save local governments money.

Minority Republicans tried unsuccessfully to strip early voting from Sieben's larger election bill. The GOP-led House doesn't support the measure, either.

Another election fight is brewing. Democrats want to let felons vote immediately after they're released from prison. But Republicans want to keep current law, which keeps felons from voting until they serve their probation terms.