Absentee voting by mail and in-person starts Sept. 23 for general election

Eligible voters can begin casting their ballots Sept. 23 for the Nov. 8 General Election by voting absentee. This is the first presidential-election year where Minnesotans no longer need an excuse to vote absentee - a reform also known as no-excuses absentee voting.

Minnesotans can request an absentee ballot to be mailed to them, or they can vote absentee in-person at their county or local elections office.

“I encourage all eligible Minnesotans who can’t make it to the polls on Election Day, or simply want to vote from the comfort of their own home, to vote early by casting an absentee ballot and ensure that their voice is heard,” said Secretary of State Steve Simon. “I know that together we can get our state back to number one in voter turnout in the country.” 

For nine elections in a row Minnesota was number one in the country in voter turnout. In 2014, Minnesota fell to number six. Secretary Simon is challenging the people of Minnesota and the thousands of nonprofits and businesses across the state to return our state back to number one. 

How to request an absentee ballot

Minnesota voters can request an absentee ballot quickly and easily at mnvotes.org using the online application.

Voters can also request an absentee ballot by downloading the “2016 Minnesota Absentee Ballot Application” and returning it to their county election office by email, mail, or fax. Absentee Ballot application forms are available in English, Spanish, Hmong, Somali, Vietnamese, Karen, Russian, Chinese, Lao, Oromo, Khmer, and Amharic.

Voters can request an absentee ballot even if they are not registered to vote - a voter registration application will be provided with their ballot.

Important deadlines

Voting Absentee by Mail: Minnesotans voting absentee by mail must make sure their ballot is returned on or before the Nov. 8 General Election. Ballots returned after Nov. 8 will not be counted.

Voting Absentee In-Person: The last day to vote absentee in-person is Monday, Nov. 7.

Military and overseas voters

Minnesotans serving in the military or living abroad - temporarily or indefinitely - can have an absentee ballot sent to them anywhere in the world. Learn more here: http://bit.ly/1Yybb1v.

What’s on my ballot?

In addition to voting for the next President of the United States, Minnesotans will vote for their member of the U.S. House of Representatives, their state Senator and Representative, as well as on a constitutional amendment. Some Minnesotans may also be voting for their local County Commissioner, Soil and Water Supervisor, City Officers, School Board Members, Township Officers, or local ballot questions.

In this area those include: 

o Staples-Motley School Board: Incumbents Chad Longbella and Bryan Winkels, both of Staples, will be joined on the ticket by Creig Dobson and Greg Frisk, both with Motley addresses. The four will be vying for three seats on the board.

o Staples City Council: Mary Theurer and Doug Case are two incumbents seeking to retain their seats. Charles Tester, Rachel Johnson and Brian Fisher have also filed, making it a five person race to fill the four open seats. Chris Etzler, the current mayor of Staples, is running unopposed. 

o City of Motley: Two council positions and the mayor’s job will be open. Al Yoder and Amy Hutchinson have filed for mayor. Both are current council members but their seats are not up for election this year. Council incumbent Steve Johnson will be joined on the ballot by Nate Douglas and Robert Follis in a contest for the two open seats. 

o United District Hospital Board: The board, which oversees Lakewood Health System, has eight candidates vying for the seven board seats open. Donald Sirucek and Susan Bartels filed for the Poplar Township seat. Other filings were Billy Haehnel, Meadowbrook Township; Barbara Peterson, Villard Township; Robert Mueller, Member at Large; Lana Hansen, City of Motley; Linda Dietrich, MooseLake Township; and Ronald Storbakken, Staples Township.

o Wadena County Commission: Incumbent Jim Hofer is being challenged by Ralph Miller in District 2. In District 4 the race is between Chuck Horsager and Murlyn Kreklau.

o Todd County Commission: Incumbents Barb Becker in District 1 and Rod Erickson in District 2 are running unopposed. In District 5 Delvin Durheim is challenging incumbent Randy Neumann.

o Cass County Commission: Incumbent Bob Kangas is running against John Warren in District 2.

o Morrison County Commission: Mike LeMieur is challenging incumbent Kevin Maurer in District 2.

o State legislature: In the races in District 9 for the state legislature incumbent Senator Paul Gazelka is being challenged by Jason Weinerman. Meg Litts of Staples and John Poston, Lake Shore, are vying for the seat in House District 9A. Incumbent Rep. Ron Kresha will be running against Dustin Simmonds in House District 9B. 

o U.S. Congress: David Hughes is challenging incumbent Collin Peterson in District 7. Stewart Mills is challenging incumbent Rick Nolan in District 8. 

Minnesotans can use “My Ballot” to view their sample ballot and find links to candidates’ websites. 

Tracking your ballot

Beginning Sept. 23, upon requesting an absentee ballot, voters may check the status of their ballot, such as when it was mailed, and if their completed ballot was received and accepted by their local elections office.