Election Day is less than a month away, but people have been voting in Minnesota for a couple of weeks already. Minnesota’s absentee ballot system now allows voters to vote now, whether they will be able to make it to the polls on Election Day or not. So now there’s no excuse for not casting a ballot.

Minnesotans may vote by mail or in person at local elections offices, such as county auditor offices, or they may have a person deliver the ballot to them. Military and overseas voters use a different process.

For many, the easiest way to vote will be to stop by the local elections office and cast a ballot. It’s like going to a polling place, but without long lines. Votes are accepted during regular business hours; state law also requires elections offices to be open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Saturday before an election and until 5 p.m. the day before the election.

Other voters can go to the secretary of state’s website and request an absentee ballot application, with the ballot being sent to the voter by mail. People who have not registered to vote may still vote absentee because a registration form will be sent along with the ballot.

A ballot mailed to voters can be returned by mail or delivered by someone other than the voter to the office that sent the ballot before 3 p.m. on Election Day. A voter may not hand deliver his or her own absentee ballot on Election Day.

More information on absentee voting, as well as other election facts, is available at mnvotes.org, or contact your local county auditor.