Absentee Voting

After you receive the absentee ballot you applied for, follow the instructions that were included. Absentee ballots are mailed starting 46 days before election day.

There is more information on this page for how to vote absentee by mail or absentee in person.

Items you will receive

• A ballot.
• A tan ballot envelope.
• A white signature envelope.
• A voter registration application (for non-registered voters only).
• A larger white return envelope.
• Instructions for completing and returning your ballot.

Contact us if any of the above items are missing.

You will need...

• A black ink pen.
• Your Minnesota driver’s license or state ID number, or the last four digits of your Social Security Number.
• A witness who is registered to vote in Minnesota. This could be a spouse, a relative, a notary public, or someone with the authority to administer oaths.

Instructions for Registered voters

1. Follow the instructions on the ballot to vote.

• Show your witness your blank ballot.
• Do not write your name or ID number on the ballot.
• Do not vote for more candidates than allowed. If you do, your votes for that office will not count.

2. Seal your ballot in the tan ballot envelope. Do not write on this envelope.

3. Put the tan envelope into the white signature envelope.

4. Fill out the white signature envelope.

• Print your Minnesota driver’s license or state ID number, or the last four digits of your Social Security Number — use the same number you used on your absentee ballot application.
• Read and sign the oath.
• Have your witness print their name and Minnesota street address (not a P.O. box), including the city, and sign their name.
• Seal the envelope.

5. Put the white signature envelope into the larger white return envelope. This protects your private information.

6. Return your ballot by mail, or you or someone you choose can drop it off at your city or school district election office. See the Vote by mail, Vote in person or Vote by agent sections below. 

Instructions for Non-registered Voters

1. Fill out the voter registration application and sign it.

2. Show your witness your driver’s license or other authorized proof of where you live.

3. Show your witness your blank ballot.

4. Follow instruction on the ballot to vote. Mark your votes in private.

• Do not write your name or ID number on the ballot.
• Do not vote for more candidates than allowed. If you do, your votes for that office will not count.

5. Seal your ballot in the tan ballot envelope. Do not write on this envelope.

6. Put the tan envelope and the voter registration application into the white signature envelope.

7. Fill out the white signature envelope completely

• Print your Minnesota driver’s license or state ID card number, or the last four digits of your Social Security Number — use the same number you used on your absentee ballot application.
• Read and sign the oath.
• Have your witness indicate which proof you showed them, print their name and Minnesota street address (not a P.O. box), including the city, and sign their name.
• Seal the envelope.

8. Put the white signature envelope into the larger white return envelope. This protects your private information.

9. Return your ballot by mail or you or someone else you choose can drop it off at your city or school district election office. See the Vote by mail, Vote in person or Vote by agent sections below. 

Drop your ballot off at one of the listed locations in the flyer below, OR use the self-addressed envelope provided to mail your ballot back before the deadline.

• List of 2022 Scott County Ballot Drop Site Locations (PDF)

To be counted, your ballot must be received on Election Day. You can return your ballot in person no later than 3 PM at the Scott County Government Center- 200 Fourth Ave W in Shakopee. 

Avoid these common mistakes when completing your ballot:

• Make sure the witness section is not blank or incomplete.
• Read the instructions carefully.
• Use a blue or black ink pen to mark your ballot.
• Use the same ID number (driver’s license or state ID or the last four digits of your Social Security Number) on your signature envelope that you used on your application. It's a good idea to put down both numbers in both places.
• Remember to sign the white signature envelope.

Before absentee ballots can be counted, they must be accepted. Upon receipt, ballots are inspected to ensure they meet all the requirements to be counted. The signature and ID information must match those on the absentee ballot application. Ballot envelopes are marked either accepted or rejected.

Accepted absentee ballots

• Accepted ballots are held in a secure location until counting begins.
• Absentee ballot counting starts at 5 PM seven days before election day.

Rejected absentee ballots

Rejected ballots will not be counted. Voters whose ballots were rejected will receive a replacement. Ballots are not rejected for a missing secrecy envelope.  

Common reasons ballots are rejected:

• A voter did not sign the signature envelope.
• The voter’s ID number did not match the one used on their application. (Put both your driver’s license number and last four digits of your Social Security Number on your signature envelope. This reduces the chance your absentee ballot will be rejected.)
• A voter did not have a witness.
• A non-registered voter did not fill out their election day registration form.
• The ballot was not received by election day.

Ballot Processing

Ballot processing is always done by a team of two or more people. Each team handles one polling place or precinct at a time. This process starts at 5 PM, seven days before election day. The steps are:

1. Count the unopened ballot envelopes.
2. Compare the count to the voter database to make sure every accepted ballot is counted.
3. Separate the ballot secrecy envelope from the signature envelope. This process eliminates a connection between a voter’s identify and their vote. Signature envelopes are set aside.
4. Ballots are then run through a high-speed ballot counter.
5. Elections officials are not allowed to access or release results until the polls close at 8 PM on Election Day.
6. Absentee votes are combined with results from the polling place and then released.
7. Absentee ballot materials are retained as required by statute and rules.

Voters may authorize an agent to pick up and return an absentee ballot for them. This service is available only within the seven days preceding an election.

Each agent is allowed to deliver ballots for a maximum of three voters.

You can absentee vote by agent if you are a:

• Patient in a hospital, residential treatment center, or nursing home. 
• Resident of a group home.
• Resident of a battered women's shelter.
• Resident of an assisted living facility.
• Disabled voter.
• Voter who would have difficulty getting to the polls because of incapacitating health reasons.

How to vote by agent

1. Choose an agent who:

• You have a pre-existing relationship with.
• Is at least 18 years old.
• Is not a candidate in the election.

2. Complete both the:

• Request for Agent Delivery of Absentee Ballot Form (PDF) and
• Absentee Ballot Application (PDF)

3. Your agent will be given your ballot to bring to you.

4. Vote your ballot.

5. Have your agent return your voted ballot to the office they picked it up at.

• Your agent must show an ID with name and signature.
• Completed ballots must be returned by 3 PM on election day (at the latest). Your agent or someone else you designate must return your ballot to the same election office by 3 PM on Election Day. You can also return your ballot by mail, but election officials must receive your ballot on or before Election Day.

Military voters, their dependents, and other U.S. citizens who are overseas may be eligible to vote absentee under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA).

UOCAVA voter eligibility

• Members of the uniformed services or merchant marine — Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine, the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service, or the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and will be absent from your precinct on Election Day due to your service.
• Spouses and dependents of a member of the uniformed services or merchant marine.
• Temporarily overseas — if you are a citizen who would be qualified to vote at your polling location in Minnesota if you were not overseas.
• Indefinitely overseas — if you are a citizen who currently has no plans to return to Minnesota, but you maintained residence in Minnesota for at least 20 days immediately prior to your departure from the United States. Voters who are indefinitely overseas are permitted to vote only for the offices of president, vice president, senator in Congress, and representative in Congress.

How to apply for an absentee ballot

Online: To complete the online absentee ballot application to vote absentee while in the military or overseas, you must:

• Be eligible to complete the federal postcard application (PDF).
• Provide an email address.
• Provide your identification number from either your Minnesota driver's license, your Minnesota ID card, or the last four (4) digits of your Social Security Number.

If you can't provide an email address and one of the identification numbers listed above, you cannot apply online and must submit a paper application.

By mail, email, FAX or in person: You need to complete and submit a federal postcard application (PDF). Your spouse, parent, sibling, or child older than 18, may complete and submit the form for you.

Use one of the following methods to complete the form:

• Minnesota Military and Overseas Voter Service: this free service will help you complete the FPCA to apply for an absentee ballot.
• Download and complete the federal postcard application (PDF) on your own. Be sure to read the instructions carefully and fill out the form completely.

Submit your application by mail, or you can email it to us at [email protected]. 

How to submit your voted ballot

Regardless of how you received the ballot, you must return your voted ballot by mail to the election official the ballot was received from.

Can I have an absentee application sent to me automatically for every election?

If you would like to automatically receive an application for an absentee ballot before each election, you may complete an application to automatically receive absentee ballot applications (PDF).

Why did I receive a pre-filled absentee ballot application?

Several organizations send out mailings to increase voter participation. Mailings can include information regarding voter registration status, along with pre-filled absentee ballot and voter registration applications. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of data used by these organizations.

Can I check the status of my absentee ballot or ballot application?

Yes, at https://mnvotes.sos.state.mn.us/AbsenteeBallotStatus.aspx.

I voted absentee in the primary, will I automatically receive an absentee ballot for the general election?

You may have requested both the primary and general election ballots on the same absentee ballot application. If you applied for both elections, you will automatically be sent your general election ballot and do not need to apply again. To check if you’ve already requested a ballot for the general election, please use the ballot status tracker at mnvotes.org.

When can a military or overseas voter apply?

You may submit an federal postcard application (PDF) any time during the year. However, you should submit it as far ahead of the election as possible to avoid delays in receiving your ballot.

Can a military or overseas voter receive a ballot electronically?

Yes. You can receive the ballot by mail, fax or email. You will need to indicate on your application how you would like to receive the ballot.

Can a military or overseas voter return a voted ballot electronically?

No. Regardless of how you received the ballot, you must return your voted ballot by mail to the election official the ballot was received from.

When should a military or overseas voter expect to get a ballot?

Ballots are sent out by election officials at least 45 days prior to the election. For those voters whose applications were received fewer than 45 days before the election, ballots are sent as quickly as possible.

Ballots sent by mail are airmailed to addresses outside the continental U.S. Your ballot will be sent to you by an express mail service if you provide a prepaid envelope to the county auditor’s office. Note: Your voted ballot must arrive back at the county no later than Election Day to be counted.

What if a military or overseas voter doesn’t receive a ballot?

If you submit timely absentee ballot applications but never receive your ballot (or you are concerned that you will not be able to return your ballot in time to be counted), you may submit the federal write-in absentee ballot (PDF) (FWAB) as an alternative.

A FWAB allows you to write in choices for all offices. For federal offices, you may indicate your choice by writing in a candidate name or political party. When voting for state or local offices on the FWAB, you must write the name of the candidate (not just the party) for your vote to be counted.

How long is a military or overseas voter application valid?

An application is valid from the time the application is received through the end of that calendar year or through the next regularly scheduled state general election, whichever is later. You may specify a different end date in box 6 of the application (i.e.., "General election only"). A ballot will be sent automatically for all elections during that time in which you are eligible to vote. You must reapply each year in which you need a ballot or if your overseas mailing address changes.

Can a military or overseas voter self-certify a ballot?

As a UOCAVA voter, Minnesota allows you to self-certify your FPCA, your ballot return envelope, and the FWAB. You can do this by using the same passport number, Minnesota driver's license or state ID number, or the last four digits of your Social Security Number on all forms throughout the process. If you do not have access to any of these documents, you may attest to the truthfulness of the information under penalty of perjury. For assistance, overseas citizens should contact the U.S. embassy or consulate, and military personnel should contact their Voting Assistance Officer (VAO).