News Room

SAINT PAUL — Minnesota voters since 2014 have had the option of vote from home, or “no-excuse absentee” voting. All county election offices throughout the state also offer in-person absentee voting, commonly referred to as “early voting.” Since 2014, Minnesota voters have increasingly used vote from home and early in-person voting to cast their ballots. Voting for the 2018 statewide general election began on September 21, 2018. As of this morning, more than 370,000 absentee ballots have been requested.

“Senator Paul Wellstone, who we remember today on the anniversary of his untimely death 16 years ago, said it clearly, ‘the only way to change is to vote,’” said Secretary of State Steve Simon. “It is the mission of my office to make it as easy as possible for all eligible Minnesotans to vote. The response to one of the reforms I sought and passed when I was in the legislature – no-excuses absentee voting – has been particularly strong this year. There are 12 days left to vote in 2018. Join the hundreds of thousands of your fellow Minnesotans in honoring those who fought for our rights – be a voter.”

As of Thursday, October 25, 2018, at least 372,731 absentee ballots have been requested by Minnesota voters. 249,909 have been accepted by election officials. The rate of absentee ballot requests is an increase of 145 percent over the same time in the 2014 (last statewide non-presidential election) calendar. The rate of accepted ballots is an increase of 203 percent over the same time in 2014.

Go to mnvotes.org for more information or to request a vote from home ballot.