Election officials expect surge in early voting this weekend [Video]

Lines formed at Minneapolis early voting locations on Friday afternoon. Municipalities around the state are expecting a weekend surge of voting ahead of Election Day on Tuesday.

“We’re staffed up and ready, and we’re excited,” said Katie Smith, the director of Elections and Voter Services for Minneapolis. “There’s a good energy in the air.”

The city has four permanent locations for early voting, which are expected to be busy until Election Day. Pop-ups this year also allowed people to cast a ballot in their neighborhood.

“It was real quick and painless,” said Nathaniel Allin-Churchill, who voted at Grace-Trinity Community Church on Friday. “I think it’s great. It’s creating more opportunity for people to vote as quickly and as easily as possible.”

The pop-up at the church marked the final one-day early voting event for the city. There have been 11 events since mid-October, including at Capri Theater and Minneapolis Institute …