You may find that you are unable to get to your polling place location on Election Day but still want to vote in the election. You can vote by casting an absentee ballot prior to Election Day.
Click here to apply for an absentee ballot.
Eligibility
In Minnesota, citizens are allowed to vote absentee for the following reasons:
- Absence from your precinct
- 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
How to Vote
There are two ways to vote by absentee ballot: in person and by mail.
In Person Absentee Voting:
You may cast an absentee ballot in person, at your county auditor’s office and in many cases your city or township clerk’s office, starting 46 days prior to Election Day. This option is available on weekdays during business hours. In addition, the county auditor’s office must be open for absentee balloting from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Saturday before the election and until 5 p.m. on the day before the election. Contact your county auditor for more information–find contact information using the Election Official Directory.
Absentee Voting by Mail:
In order to vote absentee by mail, you need to complete an absentee ballot application. and submit it to your local election official by mail, fax, or email (print off the application, sign it, scan it, and attach to an email as a .pdf). Find contact information for your county elections official using the Election Official Directory. Your ballot will be sent to you when it is ready – at least 46 days prior to the election if you applied for an absentee ballot in advance. If you apply for an absentee ballot within 46 days of the election, your ballot will arrive within a day or two of your application being received.
Download Absentee Ballot Application
