Minnesota Absentee Voter Guide

Military and overseas voters should check out the Overseas Vote Foundation.  Long Distance Voter's forms and deadlines should only be used by voters with US mailing addresses.

Mail-in Deadlines

General Election: Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Voter Registration

To register to vote in Minnesota you must:

• be at least 18-years-old on Election Day 
• be a citizen of the United States
• have resided in Minnesota for 20 days immediately preceding Election Day
• have any felony conviction record discharged, expired, or completed
• not be under court-ordered guardianship where a court has revoked your voting rights
• have not been ruled legally incompetent by a court of law

Note: You can register on election day but you'll need to show proof of residency.  You can find the requirements on the Minnesota Secretary of State website.

How to register to vote:

• Highly recommended: if you plan on voting by absentee ballot, you go ahead and submit a Minnesota's Absentee Ballot Application.  Mail the completed application to your County Election Official.  Once they've determined that you're not registered, your election official will send you a registration form with your absentee ballot.  (NOTE: to ensure that your vote is counted, you may want to register prior to submitting your ballot.)
• You can also use our Voter Registration Widget.  Enter your information, print and sign the completed form, and mail it to the Secretary of State (the address is on the form).
• Finally, you can use the Minnesota's voter registration form.  Mail your completed form to the Secretary of State.  The address is printed on the form.  For faster processing, mail the form directly to your County Election Official. 

ID requirements for first-time voters:

First-time voters need to provide proof of residency before voting for the first time. The easiest way to meet this requirement is to put your Minnesota state driver's license number, your Minnesota permit number, or Minnesota non-driver's ID number on your voter registration form.  If you don't have one of these, you'll need to include a copy of your ID with your voter registration form.  If you forget, you'll need to provide ID the first time you vote in person or by absentee ballot.  Acceptable forms of ID include a copy of a current and valid photo ID that shows your name OR a copy of a current utility bill or rent statement that shows your name and address. 

Voter registration verification:

You should receive written confirmation that your voter registration was processed in 2-3 weeks.  Don't panic if you never receive your voter registration card: you don't actually need it to vote.  If you not sure if your registration was processed - or if you simply can't remember if you're register to vote - you can use the voter registration verification tools here.

Absentee Voting

You may vote by absentee ballot if you are unable to vote in person on election day because:

• you are away from home
• you are ill or disabled
• you are an election judge serving in a precinct other than your own
• you are unable to go to the polling place due to a religious observance or belief.

You do not need to be registered to request an absentee ballot!  You can take care of your voter registration and absentee ballot at the same time!

How to apply for an absentee ballot (unregistered voters): 

Download and complete the Minnesota's Absentee Ballot Application.  Mail the completed application to your County Election Official. Once your County Election Official has determined that you're not registered, he or she will send a registration form with your absentee ballot. Fill both out and return them to your County Election Official.  (NOTE: to ensure that your vote is counted, you may want to register prior to submitting your ballot.)

How to apply for an absentee ballot (registered voters):

Download and complete the Minnesota's Absentee Ballot Application.  Mail the completed application to your County Election Official.

Presidential-only absentee ballots:

If you move out of Minnesota within 30 days of a presidential election and are ineligible to vote in your new state, you can still request a Minnesota absentee ballot using the Minnesota Presidential Absentee Voting Application. 

Absentee ballot directions:

Your ballot will be sent to you when it is ready (as early as 30 days before Election Day).  If you are an unregistered voter, Minnesota will also send a voter registration form with your absentee ballot. 

Complete your absentee ballot in front of a notary or witness.  The notary or witness must be a registered Minnesota voter.  The notary or witness is to observe that the ballot is blank before you fill it out, and then witness the action of you filling it out.  The notary or witness should do this from afar, however, and not observe how you voted (ie - your selections).  Have the notary or witness sign where indicated. 

If you're an unregistered voter, complete your voter registration form in front of the notary or witness as well.  Show your proof of residency to the notary or witness.  The following are considered proof of residency: 

• A valid Minnesota driver’s license, learner’s permit, Minnesota ID card, or receipt for any of these
• A valid student ID card including your photo, if your college has provided a student housing list to election officials
• A Tribal ID card that contains your picture and signature 
• A valid registration in the same precinct under a different name or address 
• A notice of late registration sent to you by your county auditor or city clerk
• A voter registered in the same precinct as you who can confirm your address with a signed oath
• An employee of the residential facility where you live who can confirm your address with a signed oath

Alternatively, you may provide a copy of both 1) a photo ID from the list below, and 2) a current bill with your current name and address in the precinct.

• Photo IDs (may be expired): Minnesota Driver's License, Minnesota ID Card, United States Passport, United States Military ID Card, Tribal ID Card, Minnesota University, College, or Technical College ID Card
• Bills (delivered electronically or by mail): Utility bill due within 30 days of the election (telephone bill, cable bill, internet bill, electic bill, gas bill, solid waste bill, sewer services bill, water bill); Rent statement dated within 30 days of election day that itemizes utilities; or current student fee statement

Sign where indicated, and mail everything back to your County Election Official. Your absentee ballot (and voter registration form) must be received on or before Election Day.

Permanent absentee voter status:

An eligible voter who is permanently disabled, or who expects to be unable to go to their polling place, may request to receive an absentee ballot application before each election by completing the Minnesota Application to Automatically Receive Absentee Ballot Applications.  Once you are approved, you'll receive an Absentee Ballot Application by mail before every election. 

State Contact Information