With just three days to the election, DFL candidates urge constituents to get out the vote

ST. CLOUD — With only three days until Election Day, supporters of both major parties were out in force in St. Cloud on Saturday afternoon. 

While supporters of President Donald Trump waved flags along Division Street in downtown St. Cloud, a crowd of about 100 people rallied at the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party office on St. Germain Street. 

"We have 79 hours. Are you going to work hard the next 79 hours?" asked Minnesota DFL Chair Ken Martin. "Look, the stakes of this election could not be higher."

Trump is seeking a second term against a challenge from former Democratic Vice President Joe Biden. Also up for election are all state legislative seats, as well as the seats of U.S. Sen. Tina Smith and U.S. Sixth District Rep. Tom Emmer and many important school board, county board, mayoral and city council races. 

The COVID-19 pandemic created challenges — and now confusion — as the state had planned to accept and count absentee ballots through Nov. 10, as long as they were postmarked no later than Nov. 3.

But a three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Thursday that Minnesota absentee ballots that arrive after Election Day should be separated from the rest of the ballots, in case a future order makes those votes invalid.

Secretary of State Steve Simon said late-arriving ballots are at risk of not being counted at all — and he is encouraging voters to deliver their outstanding ballots to their county election office as soon as possible or vote in person Monday or Tuesday.

"Now, this is something that's really, really important. Just a couple of days ago, a federal court ... changed the rules for this election right in the middle of the election," Smith said Saturday. "We need all of you to get the word out. Do not put that ballot in the mailbox."

Also speaking at the DFL event were State Auditor Julie Blaha, House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler, Rep. Dan Wolgamott, D-St. Cloud, who is running for a second term in District 14B; and state Senate candidate Aric Putnam and state House candidate Tami Calhoun. 

RELATED: What are the attack tactics in St. Cloud's purple House District 14B? One on character, one on votes

Putnam said seeing the energy of the crowd made him feel optimistic, not only for the election but for the St. Cloud community. 

"You hear a lot about a blue wave. A blue wave sounds cool, doesn't it? It does — but no, waves come and they go. This is a rising tide," he said. "This is not just a wave. This is a very realignment of the way that we do politics."

Smith reflected on the year, which includes not only the presidential election, but also a once-in-a-century pandemic and explosive social unrest. 

"We are dealing with the biggest health crisis since the Spanish influenza of 100 years ago ... and we are also living through a moment of racial reckoning and a surge, I believe, towards racial justice that is long overdue in this country," she said. 

"It all just feels so personal. It's your job. It's your family's health. It's your parents you haven't been able to hug for months and months and months. It's that business you've been building," Smith continued. "It's all so personal. In this moment, what we need is to come together and not be driven apart. And that, I believe, is fundamentally what is at stake."

At the end of the rally, Martin remarked the crowd only had about 78 hours until the election — and urged attendees help get out the vote. 

"Each of you can be part of history," he said. "Turn the page on this long national nightmare, (put) this country back on track and (restore) sanity and decency to the White House." 

Jenny Berg is the cities and schools reporter for the St. Cloud Times. Reach her at 320-259-3680 or jberg@stcloudtimes.com. Follow her on Twitter @bergjenny.

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