1.2M Minnesota absentee ballots accepted, nearly doubling record

Essential information for absentee ballots and mail in ballots

(FOX 9) - In Minnesota, 1,186,522 absentee ballots have been returned and accepted, state election officials said Friday morning.

That's nearly double the old record set during the 2016 general election.

Voters have requested 1,765,327 absentee ballots, meaning a return rate of 67 percent so far.

Vice President Mike Pence will campaign in Hibbing on Monday afternoon as the Trump campaign refocuses on Minnesota right before Election Day.

Minnesota absentee voting started Sept. 18. Returned and accepted ballots by week:

Week 5 (10/16-10/22): 275,137
Week 4 (10/9-10/15): 276,382
Week 3 (10/2-10/8): 298,986
Week 2 (9/25-10/1): 260,506
Week 1 (9/18-9/24): 75,511

The 1,186,522 absentee ballots accepted so far is 40% of Minnesota's total turnout in the 2016 general of 2,968,281.