Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie reminds voters that they may authorize another person (known as their "agent") to pick up and return an absentee ballot for them on Election Day if they are patients in a hospital, residential treatment center or nursing home; residents of a group home; residents of a battered women's shelter; residents of an assisted living facility; are disabled or would have difficulty getting to the polls because of incapacitating health reasons.
"Eligible voters who have incapacitating health issues who cannot get to their polling locations on Election Day, may, within legal limits, have someone of their choice bring them their ballots and return them to election officials," said Secretary of State Ritchie. "No one should lose their right to vote due to illness or accident."
Voters who currently live in residential facilities, but are unsure if the facility meets the qualifications listed above, should ask the administrator of the facility.
In order to have an agent deliver a ballot, a voter must complete the Request for Agent Delivery of Absentee Ballot Form and the Absentee Ballot Application. The voter must have a pre-existing relationship with their agent. The agent should use the completed forms to pick up a ballot, bring the ballot to the voter, and return the completed ballot to the county auditor or city clerk. Each agent is only allowed to deliver and return ballots for a maximum of three voters (Minnesota Statutes 203B 11, subd. 4).
Ballots may be picked up until 2:00 p.m. on Election Day. Completed ballots must be returned to the local election official from whom they were received by 3:00 p.m. on Election Day.
