Vote From Home
Stay engaged, vote early.
Sometimes voters are not able or would prefer not to go to their polling place on Election Day. This could be for a variety of reasons: they are too busy; they do not have access to easy transportation; they cannot easily leave their home; they are isolating at home, or any number of other reasons. Thankfully, Minnesota allows voters to register to vote and vote without ever needing to leave the comfort of their home. Follow the steps below to vote from home!
Frequently Asked Questions
When does early voting start? When will my ballot arrive?
Absentee voting begins 46 days before the General Election when ballots will begin to be mailed out.
Is voting by mail safe?
Yes! Your ballot will be safe alongside other personal and confidential items the USPS already delivers: tax refunds, social security checks, stimulus checks, prescription drugs, passports and driver's licenses/ID cards.
What about voter fraud? How do you ensure each person is only casting one ballot?
Local election officials record which voters have requested an absentee ballot and which voters have returned one. If someone attempts to submit a ballot when they have not requested one, election officials can tell that something is amiss. Similarly, if someone submits a ballot and then tries to vote again, election officials will see that they already cast a ballot, and the person will not be allowed to cast a second ballot.
Learn more about election facts in Minnesota from the Secretary of State or the election safeguards associated with Voting by Mail/Absentee
What if I change my mind about voting from home and want to vote in person instead?
If you opt for voting absentee by mail but later change your mind and want to vote in person, you can do that. Simply go vote in person at your early voting location or on Election Day at your polling place like you normally would. Let the election judge know you are switching (you do NOT need to show your ID) so they cancel your absentee ballot. When you’re done voting, be sure to shred the absentee ballot you received in the mail. It is coded specifically for you and cannot be used by anyone else.
Note: This is only allowed if you have not already returned your ballot. If you have successfully returned your ballot and it has been accepted by election officials (within 18 days of election date), your absentee ballot will be counted and therefore you cannot also vote in person. If you have returned your ballot and it has not been accepted (at least 19 days before the election date), you can contact your local election office to withdraw (claw back) your ballot.
What if I don’t want to vote in every race?
No problem! You are not required to vote in every race on the ballot. If you choose to skip voting in a particular race, simply leave it blank. Your vote(s) will still be counted in the other races you voted in.
I want to vote early, but I also like to watch my ballot go through the machine. Can I do both?
Yes, in some locations! In the 18 days of early voting before the election, you can vote early in person and insert your ballot directly into the tabulator yourself. (Here's the statutory citation for that.) Call your county election office to see if this is available in your area.
If I requested an absentee ballot for a different election, like the August primary election, do I need to request an absentee ballot again for the November general election?
It depends on what box you checked when you submitted your form the first time. You could have opted to request an absentee ballot for just one election or for several. To confirm whether or not you've already requested an absentee ballot, you can use the Absentee Ballot Status form, or you can call your local election office and ask. You'll need to complete a new absentee ballot application at least once every year.
Step 1:
Confirm (or Register)
Choose the option that best fits your situation:
Register Online
Get registered today. If you are not registered yet, you can request a paper registration form and an absentee ballot at the same time (see step 2). They can be completed and returned together.
Paper Form / NON-English
If you prefer to register using a paper form or need a form in another language, print one from the Secretary of State’s website. To request an application in an alternative format such as Braille, you can call 1-877-600-8683.
Step 2: Request Absentee Ballot
Choose the option that best fits your situation:
Online Ballot Request
In order to vote from home, you will need to request an absentee ballot. Applying online may be faster and reduces the possibility of clerical errors. NOTE: You can request an absentee ballot now and later decide to vote in person, as long as you have not already mailed in your completed absentee ballot.
Paper Form Ballot Request / Other Formats
If you wish to use a paper form to request an absentee ballot, print one from the Secretary of State’s website. To request a ballot in an alternative format such as Braille, you can call 1-877-600-8683. This option is available during years when there are federal, state or county elections on the ballot.
Living Abroad / Military
If you are voting from overseas because you are temporarily living abroad, or you or your family member is in the military, there is a special form for you to use. We recommend that you apply for your absentee ballot as soon as possible.
Tips:
Leave Plenty of Time
We recommend that you complete and return your request form as soon as possible, but no later than at least two weeks before Election Day. You want plenty of time for your absentee ballot to be mailed to you and plenty of time for you to mail it back.
Where’s My Ballot?
You can track your absentee ballot online.
Step 3: Vote!
witnesses for the General election
When voting by mail, you must have a witness. The witness verifies your proof of residence and must be a registered Minnesota voter (i.e.: your roomate, friend, neighbor or family member) or a public notary, and they must watch you complete your ballot and sign a statement that they watched you complete your ballot.
Some banks and credit unions offer free public notary services for clients who have accounts with them. Call your bank to see if they offer this service. Alternatively, you can take your absentee ballot into your local election office and ask an election official there to help you vote. Call your local election office to determine their hours and location.
IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE COMPLETING YOUR BALLOT
You may want help completing your ballot for a variety of reasons. For example, perhaps you do not read English, you are blind or visually impaired, or cannot mark your ballot yourself. In any case, someone may assist you. This person can be anyone except an agent of your employer (if you are employed) or your union (if you are in a union). This person does not have to be a registered voter, a U.S. citizen, or even an adult. It is your choice who assists you.
Use all the envelopes correctly – and sign in the right spots
Once you complete your ballot, place it in the privacy/ballot envelope, which is usually tan.
Reminder: You are not required to vote in every race on the ballot. If you do not vote in a race by leaving it blank, your vote will still be counted in every race that you did vote in.Place the ballot envelope into the white signature envelope. You must complete and sign the white signature envelope. If you need a witness (see above), they must complete the witness signature box.
Place the white signature envelope into the white mailing envelope.
Learn more
If you’d like to learn more about candidates before completing your ballot, you can check VOTE411.org/ballot for information.
You may also learn more about voting absentee on VOTE411.org.
Step 4: Return Ballot
Choose the option that best fits your situation:
Return your ballot by mail
Mail your ballot back to your local election office using the large mailing envelope provided with it. This envelope is pre-addressed and does not need a stamp. Your ballot must be received by Election Day or it will not be counted.
Drop Your Ballot off or Return it through a friend
You can always return your completed absentee ballot to your local elections office no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day (not any other office or polling location). Numerous counties and cities also offer drop boxes for voters, listed on the Secretary of State’s website.
If you need someone to bring your ballot to your local election office for you, ask someone you know, like a family member or friend, to be your “agent” to deliver your ballot. An “agent” returns a mail ballot by hand that is not their own. Your agent will need to show identification with name and signature when returning a ballot. Under the law, a person may return ballots for no more than three voters.
Tips:
Leave Plenty of Time
When delivered by hand, your ballot must be received by your county election office (not any other office or polling location) by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Where’s My Ballot?
You can track your absentee ballot online to verify that your local election office received it.
Step 5: Celebrate & Share
Celebrate and Share
Celebrate your civic participation by posting our “digital sticker” on social media and encouraging people you know to vote from home as well! You can also share this webpage with friends and family or post flyers around your community.
Digital “I Voted” Sticker | Flyer (URL only) | Flyer (URL with QR code)
Have a question?
Check VOTE411.org/minnesota for information. Still need help? Call your local election office or the Secretary of State’s Office (1-877-600-8683) first.