Ask Mr. Answer Person: "What's to prevent absentee voters from voting again when they return home?"

In the wake of the absentee balloting at Luther College on Wednesday, decorahnews.com reader Peg asked, "What's to prevent the students from voting a second time when they return home?"

Mr. Answer Person says: Well, that could get them in legal trouble, for one.  It's a violation of election laws to vote more than once!

Of course, someone has to get caught first.  That would be easier if, for instance, a Luther College student voted in Decorah and then headed home to Des Moines.  Iowa maintains an "Ivoter" website, which would give elections officials a heads-up if someone tried to cast a second ballot in Des Moines.

There is one big exception, however.  The "Ivoter" website obviously only works in the State of Iowa!  If a Luther student, for instance, cast a ballot in Decorah and then headed home to the Twin Cities for the weekend, there wouldn't be any way State of Minnesota election officials would know about the Decorah voting.  Still, the risk of getting caught and getting into legal trouble would still be in effect.  That's what Decorah election officials are hoping will keep any of the Luther College absentee voters from misbehaving.