With presidential, Congressional,
state and local races on the ballot, there is likely to be tremendous
turnout at this year’s
general election, Nov. 4. Voting places are likely to be overwhelmed
by voters. Further compounding the challenges faced by such turnout
is that while voting places are required to accommodate disabled
voters, they may not always have enough personnel or resources to
keep the voting process moving at a desirable pace.
Fortunately, there is an easy solution to avoiding the expected hassle
at voting places: absentee voting. It is a method of voting in the
event that a voter is unable to reach the voting place on primary or
general election day. The ability to vote on your own time is both
convenient and nearly hassle-free, and persons with disabilities can
take advantage of this service. If you have never absentee voted before,
why not try it for the September 9 primary election?
Absentee voting may be done
by mail. Or voters can go to designated voting places during the
time period preceding the election. Voters vote in the county where
they live, so contact the appropriate county offices. For the September
9 primary election, absentee voting began August 8 and ends September
8. Voters may download an application to receive an absentee ballot
through the mail at www.sos.state.mn.us/docs/ab_application.doc.
When at the site voters will be asked to save or open a document,
and mark boxes by clicking on them. When the document is filled out,
send it to the appropriate county auditor by email (with the document
attached) or fax. The ballot will be mailed out when it is ready
(as early as 30 days before election day). The completed absentee
ballot must be received in the correct precinct by election day when
the polls close, or it will not be counted, so be sure to send in
your absentee ballot application early. The ballots are delivered
by county staff to the precinct on the day of the election.
Hennepin and Ramsey counties election staff said that absentee voting
increases the ability for people to vote. It gives people who would
not normally be able to reach a polling place a chance to vote.
Voters can, in writing, authorize
someone to deliver a completed absentee ballot if the voter is:
• a
voter who would have difficulty getting to the polls because of incapacitating
health reasons or who is disabled
• a patient in a healthcare
facility (hospitals, residential treatment centers and nursing homes)
• a
participant in a licensed residential program for adults
• a
resident of a licensed shelter for battered women
• a resident
of an assisted living facility
According to the Minnesota
Secretary of State’s website, the
following stipulations also apply: The voter must complete the Agent
Delivery Designation Form www.sos.state.mn.us/docs/agent_request_form.pdf and
the Absentee Ballot Application www.sos.state.mn.us/docs/ab_application.doc An
agent (person dropping off the ballot on the voter’s
behalf) must have a preexisting relationship with the voter. The
agent will use the completed forms to pick up a ballot, bring the
ballot to the voter, and return the voted ballot to the county auditor
or city clerk. This activity may only occur the seven days preceding
an election. Ballots can be picked up until 2 p.m. on election day,
and voted ballots must be returned by 3 p.m. on election day.
Mistakes will mean your
absentee ballot will not be counted. Some common mistakes made
in absentee voting are not signing the application, not signing
the voter’s certificate or not
having it properly witnessed. Also, note that you cannot drop off
an absentee ballot at a voting place on election day. Absentee voting
ends the day before election day.
For more information,
visit the Minnesota Secretary of State’s
website’s page on absentee voting at www.sos.state.mn.us/home/index.asp?page=211,
or call your county’s elections office. Phone and fax
numbers for each county are available at the end of the absentee
ballot application. This information was compiled from the Minnesota
Secretary of State’s
office, and the Hennepin and Ramsey counties elections staff. ![end of story]()
This information was
compiled by Access Press staff. Read more about the AutoMark voting
machine.
