LAKEVILLE, Minn. — Leading up to Election Day, Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon said he's hopeful for two things: high voter turnout and low drama. Speaking from a polling place in Lakeville Tuesday morning, Simon said that's exactly what he's seeing at polling locations across the state.

Election officials are "cautiously optimistic" Minnesota can regain its national lead in voter turnout. Nearly 1.3 million Minnesotans cast their ballot ahead of Election Day. It's more than double the absentee ballot vote from the 2016 election, which was the last pre-pandemic presidential election.