That "great experiment in democracy" is taking place today across the nation.

That's how Jim Goudy describes Election Day. Goudy, an Austin resident, took part in the experiment this year by convincing Austin American Legion Post No. 91 to host two candidates forums; the first-ever for the veterans organization.

Electing representatives at the local, state and national levels is an "on-going experiment," according to Goudy.

The latest installment in the civics experiment began when polls opened today at 7 a.m. They close tonight at 8 p.m.

Voters at the city of Austin's six precincts will be able to use the optical scanning voting machines. Elsewhere in Mower County, voters will use paper ballots.

However, the supplemental ballots -- 24,000 came off the Austin Printing Company presses for Mower County voters -- will be available in all 39 voting precincts.

"That means it's going to be later than ever," said Woody Vereide, Mower County Auditor.

The death of U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-Minn.) created instant havoc in the 2002 General Election in Minnesota.

After the grieving was done, the jockeying for political position began.

Walter Mondale was the state DFL's choice to run for Wellstone's seat in the Senate and the former vice president's name will be on the supplemental ballots today.

However, just this week, Gov. Jesse Ventura entered the political fray, when he appointed Independence Party candidate Dean Barkley to fill the unexpired term of the deceased senator.

Wellstone, his wife, Sheila, and their daughter, plus two campaign aides and two pilots died in a plane crash near Eveleth Oct. 25.

The death of the two-term senator, seeking another six-year term and locked in a tight battle with Republican Norm Coleman caused the nation's Election Day spotlight to focus on Minnesota with the two major political parties seeking to assume the majority in Congress.

If Vereide wanted more excitement at election-time, he couldn't imagine it today. Absentee ballots are once again very popular among Mower County voters.

"We had 40 people vote by absentee ballot Saturday," said Vereide. "On Friday, they were coming into the office hot and heavy all day long."

There were 1,400 absentee ballots accepted from votes in the presidential election of 2000.

In the last general election, 1998, a total of 870 absentee ballots were accepted.

Several contested local races are expected to increase voter turnout today in Mower County.

In addition, there are several municipal elections with races among mayoral and city council office hopefuls.

For more information about today's election, go to the Austin Daily Herald Web site and watch for Wednesday's edition for results.

Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at

lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com