Absentee voting is available and no excuse is required. The last day to request an absentee ballot is 1 day before the election. You can return your absentee ballot request form through mail, in person or at your local elections office. Voted ballots must be received by Election Day in order to be counted. You can sign up to track your absentee ballot on your Secretary of State website. Absentee ballots begin being counted on Election Day.  

You do not need to be registered to vote to request an absentee ballot. A voter registration application will be included in the materials. You must show your witness an accepted proof of residence when registering.

Returning your ballot:

You have multiple options to return your ballot: you can mail it, deposit it in a secure drop box, use a package delivery service like Fed Ex or UPS, or personally return the ballot in person at your local elections office. 

Those who requested an absentee ballot but end up voting in person have that option as long as the voter has not returned their ballot. The voter can go to their early voting location before Election Day or their polling place on Election Day. They should tell the election officials that they requested an absentee ballot but want to vote in person instead. The election official will cancel their absentee ballot and allow the voter to vote in person. The voter should shred their absentee ballot when they return home; no other voter may use it.

Permanent Mail Voter List

Effective June 2024, Minnesota will introduce a permanent mail voter list, enabling voters who apply for "permanent absentee voter status" to receive a mail ballot for all elections. Absentee ballots will be sent to voters on the permanent absentee voter list at least 46 days before each regularly scheduled election.

Overseas citizens and U.S. military personnel can register to vote and request an absentee ballot at the Overseas Vote Foundation.