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Military & Overseas Voting
Voters in the military and those voters residing outside the United States must follow a special process for voting absentee.
- Requesting an Absentee Ballot
- Eligibility to Apply
- Guidelines for Applying
- Returning an Absentee Ballot
Apply Online
Apply through the Absentee Ballot Application.
Requirements
- Identification number from a Minnesota driver's license
- Last four numbers of a Social Security card
- Minnesota Identification (ID) card
Other Ways to Apply
- Apply by email, mail, or fax with the automated Minnesota Military and Overseas Voter Service.
- Download the application (PDF) to complete manually.
Ballots are ready at least 46 days before the election. Election officials send ballots by mail or email as quickly as possible after receiving applications.
Uniformed or military personnel stationed (or serving) outside of their home precinct, and their spouse or dependents, may apply to vote absentee for all federal, state and local offices.
Service Members
- Air Force
- Army
- Coast Guard
- Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
- Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service
- Marine Corps
- Merchant Marine
- Navy
Citizens
Citizens overseas temporarily may apply to vote absentee for all state, federal and local offices. Citizens overseas indefinitely who have no plans to return to Minnesota, may apply to vote absentee for president, vice president, U.S. senator and U.S. representative. However, these voters cannot vote in state or local elections.
Guidelines
- A spouse, parent, sibling, or child over 18 years old may apply for an absentee ballot on your behalf.
- The application is good for one calendar year. You will automatically receive a ballot for any elections you can vote in during that year.
- You may apply any time during the year for an absentee ballot. Apply early to avoid delays in receiving your ballot.
- You must reapply each year and each time your mailing address changes.
Return
You must return your ballot by mail, even if election officials emailed the ballot to you. For the ballot to count, it must arrive at the election office no later than Election Day. The postmark date does not matter, only the date it arrives.
- You can check the status of absentee ballots using the absentee ballot status tool.