Ritchie: Expect Voting Results Delays In St. Louis County

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- State officials think we might have to wait some time before learning the election results. So if you're staying up Tuesday night to see how things shake out, expect that it will be a late night.

Secretary of State Mark Ritchie says results could be delayed because many ballots in St. Louis County will have to be counted by hand. From Duluth to the Canadian border, St. Louis County is one of the largest counties in the state.

The hand count comes because of the write-in candidates trying to replace State Representative Kerry Gauthier. He was forced to drop out of the race because of a sex scandal. Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie appeared on WCCO Sunday Morning to talk about the potential issue.

"We estimate that this may go to 1 a.m. or 2 a.m., perhaps a little later in the morning. St. Louis County has traditionally been one of the last reporting because they are so large, and so many of their precincts are hours from the central point," Ritchie said.

A delay in getting results could have an impact on the marriage amendment and voter ID amendments on the ballot. Polling places open at 7 a.m. Tuesday.