Absentee Ballot Applications
You are able to vote absentee either in person or by mail before Election Day. Absentee voting will begin as follows:
- City and School District Primary - June 28, 2013
- City and School District General - September 20, 2013
To find out if your city or school district has an election this year, please visit the ballot information page.
In Person Absentee Voting
Voters in the cities of Saint Paul and Falcon Heights who wish to cast their absentee ballots in person must do so at the Ramsey County Elections office. Voters in Arden Hills, Roseville, and Mounds View may also vote in person at our office:
90 W Plato Blvd, Suite 160
St Paul, MN
Voters residing in all other Ramsey County cities may vote in person at their city hall or at our office.
In person absentee voting at the Ramsey County Elections Office for the 2013 will be available on the following schedule:
White Bear Township Election
- Friday, February 8 through Friday, March 8 (weekdays only) 8:00am - 4:30pm
- Saturday, March 9 10:00am - 12:00pm
- Monday, March 11 8:00am - 5:00pm
City and School District Primary
- Friday, June 28 through Friday, August 9 (weekdays only) 8:00am - 4:30pm
- Saturday, August 10 10:00am - 3:00pm
- Monday, August 12 8:00am - 5:00pm
City and School District General Election
- Friday, September 20 through Friday, November 1 (weekdays only) 8:00am - 4:30pm
- Saturday, November 2 10:00am - 3:00pm
- Monday, November 4 8:00am - 5:00pm
Absentee Voting by Mail
You should apply for an absentee ballot as soon as you know that you will need to vote by absentee ballot in order to accommodate mail transit times for the ballot. Application forms may be faxed or e-mailed to expedite this process. Emailed copies need to be scanned in and then emailed, as your signature needs to be included.
In Minnesota, we have found that mail carried from Ramsey County to southern Minnesota (and vice versa) often is delivered in one day. Mail carried to northwestern Minnesota generally takes more than one day.
When sending to destinations outside Minnesota, the mail to the western US can be delivered in as few as 2-3 days, whereas longer delivery times are often the case for mail to the Northeast and Washington DC area.
If you intend to vote absentee by mail, you should submit your application by mail or fax at least four days before the election, to ensure adequate mail transit time. Our mailing address is:
Ramsey County Elections
PO Box 64098
St Paul, MN 55164-0098
You can also fax your application to 651-266-2177, or email a scanned copy to elections@co.ramsey.mn.us
All applications must contain an actual signature of the voter, or a note written on the application stating that the voter gave their permission to another person to sign for them. If the person who signs for the voter is a power of attorney, simply writing POA is not sufficient. A note stating that permission was granted is always required, and can be written by the signer.
All absentee ballots must arrive at Ramsey County Elections no later than 3:00pm on Election Day. Absentee ballots will not be accepted on election day if delivered by the voter to their polling place or Ramsey County Elections. Absentee voters may designate an agent to deliver their absentee ballot to Ramsey County Elections by 3:00 pm on Election Day.
Expediting the Mail Process
One way to expedite mail delivery is to use an express delivery service, such as USPS Express Mail, FedEx, UPS, DHL, or a similar service. If you or someone you know provides our office with a pre-paid express mailer, or with a credit card number and expiration date, we will use an express carrier to send you the ballot. We suggest that you return the ballot to us in the same manner.
If you are attending college overseas, you may wish to make contact with the US embassy or US consulate near you. The staff at the embassies and consulates may be able to expedite delivery of your voted ballot back to the US, or know of other options available to you.
Obtaining a Witness
If is required to have another person witness your absentee ballot. If you do not know another person who is registered to vote in Minnesota at your college, you should contact one of the following officials:
- Notary Public
- County, City or Town Clerk
- College Registrar
- Consular Official at a US Embassy or Consulate
- Judicial Officer
- Any other official who can administer an oath
Rejected Absentee Ballots
The following errors will cause your absentee ballot to be rejected:
- Voter does not sign the return envelope
- Voter does not date the return envelope
- Voter does not record a witness
- Voter’s witness does not include their name, address, and/or signature
- Voter’s witness does not check the proof of residency box (non-registered absentees only)
- Ballot arrives at Elections office after election day
Additional Information for College Students
As a college student, you have a choice where to cast your ballot, based on your residence. You may select only one residence and vote once in any given election.
- If you live at home while attending school, you vote at your hometown polling place.
- If you live on campus, you may vote either at your hometown polling place (as long as you still have a permanent residence there) or at the polling place in the neighborhood where your school is located (but not at both places).
- If you live off campus at school, you may vote either at your hometown polling place (as long as you still have a permanent residence there) or at the polling place for your off campus residence (but not at both places).
Absentee Ballot Applications
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