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This article is the first in a three-part series which describes the process of absentee/mail-in voting in Minnesota. Minnesota has used absentee/mail-in voting for over a century dating back to the Civil War. This three-part series will explain the process and protections in our system that make sure Minnesota absentee/mail-in voting is secure.
Absentee/mail-in voting is an important voting option which allows Minnesotans to vote who aren't present in Minnesota on election day, have challenges which prevent them from traveling to the polls to vote in person, or who reside in less populated parts of the state. The availability of absentee/mail-in voting assures that these populations are not excluded from participating in our democracy.
Minnesota voters use absentee/mail-in voting in two circumstances: voters who choose to vote absentee/mail-in for their convenience and voters who reside in precincts designated as mail-in only precincts. Mail-in only precincts are designated by the local governing body. Precincts are chosen to be mail-in only if they are townships, unorganized portions of counties, precincts with fewer than 100 registered voters, or cities that have fewer than 400 registered voters. These precincts do not have a polling place. Residents can vote in-person if they choose, but they would need to drive to the county seat to cast an in-person ballot.
Ballots are only sent to registered voters.
Voters who choose absentee/mail-in voting for their convenience must complete an application for an absentee/mail-in ballot. The application requires the name, birthday, and either the driver's license, state ID number, or the last four digits of the applicant's social security number.
Registered voters who reside in a designated mail-in only precinct are automatically mailed a ballot and voting envelopes. The mail-in ballot is sent only to the voter's residence (not to any other mailing address) and is sent by non-forwardable mail. Unregistered voters living in mail-in only precincts must apply for an absentee/mail-in ballot.
The process of completing an absentee/mail-in ballot includes security measures to ensure that the registered voter who requested the ballot completes the ballot.
All absentee/mail-in voters receive an absentee/mail-in ballot, secrecy envelope, signature envelope and mailing envelope. To cast an absentee/mail-in ballot, the voter places their completed ballot inside of a secrecy envelope, then places the secrecy envelope inside an identification envelope which must be correctly signed and witnessed. The identification envelope is then placed into a mailing envelope and mailed or delivered to the election office.
A voter can change their vote after they have submitted their absentee/mail-in ballot.
Absentee/mail-in voters can change their vote until 19 days before the election. The voter must request that their absentee/mail in ballot be canceled or overridden by contacting the election office. Once their ballot is canceled or overridden, the voter has three options to cast a replacement ballot: request a new absentee/mail in ballot, vote early in person or vote in person on election day.
Watch for Part Two of absentee/mail-in voting series which will discuss the procedures and security measures used to make sure voters cannot vote twice and the opportunities for absentee/mail-in voters have to correct mistakes on their ballots.
"Empowering Voters" is a program of the League of Women Voters - New Ulm, a trusted source of nonpartisan voter information, serving New Ulm and the Brown County area to ensure free, fair and safe elections. To learn more, visit newulm.lwv.org or follow our Facebook page.