Easier early voting and a tighter threshold for recounts are some of the election reform proposals that Secretary of State Mark Ritchie is supporting this year.

Ritchie spoke in Mankato Wednesday about changes he'd like to see, especially after a second state-wide recount in two years.

He said he supports widening the use of early voting, rather than requiring a reason for absentee ballots, says the Mankato Free Press.

And he said the margin for a mandatory recount — currently one-half of 1 percent — could be lowered to one-tenth of 1 percent.

He also wants counties to be compensated for costs they incurred during last year's state-wide recount.

The paper said Ritchie noted some national trends: Western states are moving toward all-mail balloting while Eastern states are preferring large, centralized voting locations.

He likes mail balloting, because it saves money, is convenient for voters and has had high turnout, the paper said.