Not able to get to the polls this Election Day? Then you can
still have your voice by heard by submitting an absentee ballot.
Reasons for Voting
Absentee
There are plenty of reasons for needing to vote with an
absentee ballot, such as:
- Absence from your precinct (such as for college)
- Illness or disability
- Serving as an election judge in another precinct
- Religious discipline or observance of religious holiday
- Eligible emergency declared by the governor or quarantine declared by the federal or state government
Find information about your county and the contact
information for your local election official here.
Applying for Absentee
Voting
First, complete an Absentee Ballot Application, and submit
to your local Election Official by mail, email or fax. You can find all of the
necessary forms here for downloading.
Your ballot will then be sent to you for you to fill out, a
few days after you submit the application. Be sure to leave enough time to
receive and return your ballot before Election Day. Follow the
instructions on the ballot closely.
Sending in an
Absentee Ballot
Once you have completed your ballot, you may seal it and
submit it to your local election official in one of the following ways:
·
Mail back your ballot in the pre-paid envelope
provided by your local election official.
·
Up until 5 p.m. on the day before the election,
you may deliver your ballot in person to your local election official.
·
You may also have someone else return your
completed ballot, sealed in its envelope, to your local election official until
3 p.m. on Election Day. Persons delivering ballots may not do so for more than
three voters.
·
If you are worried about your ballot not
arriving on time using First Class mail, you may choose to pay for package
delivery service to return your ballot. Ballots must be received by your local
election official on 3 p.m. on Election Day.
Absentee Voting in
Person
Are you only going to be absent on November 6th?
Then you can submit an absentee vote to your county auditor’s office, or your
city or township clerk’s office. You can vote starting 46 days before Election
Day, during their normal business hours. Also, the county auditor’s office will
be open for voting from 10 am to 3 pm on Saturday, November 3rd, and
until 5pm on Monday, November 5th.
Find information about your county and the contact
information for your local election official here.
Military and Overseas
Voters
If you are serving in the military or overseas, you may
register to vote with the Minnesota Miltary and Overseas Voter Service here.
Assistance with
Absentee Voting
The following people may use an “agent” to help them receive
and return their ballots in the seven days before the election:
- Patients in hospitals, residential treatment centers, and nursing homes
- Residents of group homes
- Residents of battered women's shelters
- Residents of assisted living facilities
- Voters who are disabled
- Voters who would have difficulty getting to the polls because of incapacitating health reasons
Choose an agent with a pre-existing relationship to you, and
fill out a “Request for Agent Delivery of Absentee Ballot Form”, as well as an
Absentee Ballot Request. All forms can be found and downloaded here.
Any questions?
You can find all information at the website of the Minnesota Secretary of State.
