Jun 8

Jun 8 Olmsted County to send absentee ballot applications to all registered voters

News | 2020

Local officials announced Monday that they plan to send an absentee ballot application to every registered voter in Olmsted County in an effort to encourage voter participation in the age of a pandemic.

The ballot applications will begin arriving in mailboxes as early as the end of this week, the county said. To prepare for the anticipated high demand for mail ballots, all applications will include a postage-paid envelope.

“This is an unprecedented time for Olmsted County, Minnesota and our nation as we face a major public health crisis and civil unrest,” said Mark Krupski, the county’s director for property records and licensing. “Voting is the cornerstone of democracy and we want to make sure everyone has the opportunity to participate in a safe and accessible manner.”

Minnesota law allows voters to cast an absentee ballot starting 46 days prior to the election. However, the ballots themselves can be requested now. They will be mailed out at the beginning of each absentee period. Early absentee voting for the August 11 primary begins June 26, while the absentee period for the November 3 general election will start on September 18.

Early absentee voting can be done either in-person or by mail. In addition the mail application, absentee ballots can also be requested online.

For those who decide to vote in-person, the county notes that several polling places will be changing this year “because of the unavailability of many locations due to Covid-19 concerns.”

“You are encouraged to double-check your polling location before voting if you choose to vote on Election Day,” the county advises. “You will be able to vote at your assigned polling location as in any election year; however, state and local officials are strongly encouraging early absentee voting by mail if possible, for the safety of everyone in our community.”

Additional info from the county can be found below.

Early absentee voting by mail

Once you receive a copy of your ballot in the mail, read the instructions carefully. You will need a witness when you vote and complete your ballot. The witness can be either a registered Minnesota voter or a notary. Mail the ballot and forms back right away after you finish. Your ballot will not count if it is received after Election Day.

Early absentee voting in person

In-person early absentee voting begins June 26 during normal business hours (8 a.m. - 5 p.m.) at the new Elections Office located at 2122 Campus Drive SE, Rochester, MN. Voting will no longer take place at Graham Park (1421 3rd Ave SE). In addition, one pop-up location will be set up the week before the August primary at the Government Center located at 151 4th Street SE, Rochester, MN. We will not have a pop-up voting location for the August 11 Primary at 125 Live as was previously planned; however, we are planning a second pop-up voting location for the General Election.

Sample ballot

Sample ballots are an excellent resource for preparing to vote. Voters can download their sample ballot via the Secretary of State’s Office website. A list of all candidates appearing on the ballot for the August 11 Primary and November 3 General Election can be found, as well as a full example of the ballot that will be in a voter’s assigned precinct based on their home address.

More information

For the latest election updates and further details about voting in Olmsted County and the City of Rochester, Minnesota, including links to online tools, visit the following sites: