Absentee/Early Voting has been a reliable way to vote in Minnesota for over a century. Absentee Voting is secure and convenient.
As of June 1, state residents can ask to be added to a Permanent Absentee Voter List. People on the list will automatically receive a ballot in the mail for all national, state and local elections for which they are eligible to vote.
You can ask to be added to this list when you register to vote. If you are already a registered voter, you can update your information and ask to be added to the list. Registering and updating can be done online at mnvotes.sos.mn.gov. You can also download a paper application from the Secretary of State website.
Another option to register or update your voting preference is in person at your County Election Office. You will need a Minnesota driver’s license or State ID card.
Absentee/Early ballots can be used to vote by mail or in person. Early voting for the Nov. 5 General Election starts Sept. 20.
- Mailed ballots must be received, not just postmarked, on or before Election Day.
- Ballots delivered in person must be presented before 5 p.m. the day before Election Day at the office that sent out the ballot. (in Hubbard County that is the County Courthouse.)
- Absentee ballots cannot be accepted at your local polling place on Election Day.
- But, if you missed voting early, you can vote on Election Day at your local polling place, as long as your absentee ballot has not been counted earlier.
Absentee and Early voting in Minnesota is very secure. When your ballot is received by the County Elections Office, it is reviewed by at least two people on the Absentee Ballot Board. Trained election judges and other trained auditors serve on the Ballot Board. The review ensures the person is eligible to vote and the person voting is the one who requested the ballot. After the ballot is accepted, it is placed on the Statewide Voter Registration System (SVRS). The System ensures that someone cannot vote again on Election Day or request an additional absentee ballot.
Voters can track their ballot and confirm it was received and counted. Sign up for ballot tracking at sos.state.mn.us.
A reminder to all voters: Over 30 years ago, Minnesotans voted to dedicate a portion of state lottery proceeds to conservation. Since then, it’s provided over $1 billion for our Great Outdoors. In November, a question to renew this funding will be on the front of every Minnesotan’s ballot. To ensure this critical funding source remains dedicated for the Great Outdoors, over 50% of voters must vote “YES.” Leaving the question blank counts as a “No” vote. If it doesn’t pass, the constitutional protection for this important conservation funding will expire. For more information: https://www.mngreatoutdoors.org/
In the past couple of years there have been changes to Minnesota voting rules. As with any change, people have questions. The League of Voters Park Rapids Area is a non-partisan organization and a source of accurate information about voting. If you have specific questions, email lwvparkrapida@lwvmn.org. The League of Women Voters of Minnesota has been a trusted source of voter information for over 100 years, and serves communities across the state to ensure free, fair and secure elections.
