Vote by Mail or Return Your Ballot

All voters can vote early in Minnesota. You do not need to provide a reason to vote by mail.

First, register to vote or check your registration status on the Minnesota Secretary of State website.

When there is an election in your area, you can apply for an absentee ballot online, or submit an absentee ballot application throughout the year by mail or in person at the Ramsey County Elections Office in the Plato Building (90 Plato Blvd. W.)

Return by mail

Mail your ballot back in the pre-paid, pre-addressed envelope that was provided with your ballot materials. You can return your ballot using your home post office or any location USPS serves.

Find USPS locations

• Ensure a witness has completed the witness portion.
• Ballots must be received by Ramsey County Elections Office, in the Plato Building, by Election Day to be counted.
• In Minnesota, mail generally arrives in 1-3 days.
• Outside Minnesota, mail generally arrives in 3-10 days.
• Ballots may also be returned via express delivery service and must be received by the Ramsey County Elections Office, in the Plato Building by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Return in person

For each election, absentee ballots may be returned to a Ramsey County in-person absentee voting location throughout the absentee voting period.

• Ramsey County voters may visit any location regardless of home address.
• All ballots should be returned inside the building where an election judge will verify the voter information is complete before it is retained in county custody. 
• Do not place your ballot in any document drop boxes or payment boxes - it will not be counted.

Returning your ballot on Election Day

On Election Day, you may return your ballot in person to the Ramsey County Elections Office in the Plato Building (90 Plato Blvd. W.) by 8 p.m.