Absentee ballots available June 25 for August primary

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Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie reminds voters who will be away from home or otherwise unable to make it to their polling locations on August 10 that they can vote absentee in the state primary beginning Friday, June 25.

The absentee balloting time period comes earlier this year because Minnesota moved its primary from September to August to provide active-duty military and overseas voters more time to participate in Minnesota’s elections.

“We expect many Minnesotans will be out camping, fishing, enjoying our state parks, or relaxing on the lake away from home this summer,” Ritchie said. “If you want to vote in the primary, but you are going to be away from home or otherwise be unable to go to your polling location on August 10, you can still participate starting June 25,” Ritchie said.

The absentee balloting period for the state primary is June 25 to August 9. State law allows eligible Minnesota voters to vote absentee either by mail or in person for one of the following reasons:

•Absence from the precinct (away from home).

•Illness or disability.

•Serving as an election judge in another precinct.

•Religious discipline.

To vote absentee by mail, visit the secretary of state’s website to download and print an absentee ballot application, or contact your county auditor or municipal clerk to obtain one. Voters can vote absentee in person during normal business hours at their county auditor’s offices and some city clerk’s offices.

There are special voting procedures for active-duty military personnel, their dependents, and Minnesotans overseas. Ritchie encourages these voters to visithttps://minnesota.overseasvotefoundation.org, a one-stop-shop developed by the Office of the Secretary of State in partnership with the Overseas Vote Foundation, to assist these voters in requesting their absentee ballots.

Voters will notice improved absentee ballot materials designed to make the process of voting absentee more user-friendly and to reduce errors made by voters when completing their ballots. The office received national recognition for the redesigned materials from the Center for Plain Language earlier this year.

The office has produced several informative brochures to guide Minnesotans on voting. Visit www.sos.state.mn.us for more information on voting and registration.

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