Absentee/Direct Ballot Voting
Qualified voters of South St. Paul may vote by absentee ballot or direct ballot if they are unable to be at their polling place on Election Day.
To exercise this option in Minnesota, you must be registered. If you are not registered to vote at your current address, you can still apply for an absentee ballot or to direct ballot vote. A voter registration application will be included in the materials you receive to cast your ballot. Your completed voter registration application will be verified before you ballot will be accepted. The process for registration is the same whether you are voting absentee or by direct ballot.
Voting by Absentee/Direct Balloting will be available for the August 13th, Statewide Primary Election as outlined below:
Click Here for Absentee Ballot Application - August 13th, Statewide Primary Election
Absentee voting for the August 13th Statewide Primary Election begins Friday, June 28th, 2024.
- Vote absentee in-person at South St. Paul City Hall or vote by mail (see Voting Absentee by Mail info below).
- Monday–Thursday, 7 AM – 4:30 PM
- Friday, 7 AM - 11:00 AM
Direct balloting (voters place ballot directly into tabulator) begins Friday, July 26th, 2024.
- Monday–Thursday, 7 AM – 4:30 PM
- Friday, 7 AM - 11:00 AM
Extended hours:
- Saturday, August 10th, 9 AM – 3 PM
- Monday, August 12th, 7 AM – 5 PM
Voting Absentee by Mail
Follow these steps to complete your absentee ballot by mail:
- Obtain an Absentee Ballot Application or you may call the City Clerk’s office at 651-554-3204 to have one mailed to you.
- Complete and return the application as soon as possible. You may submit your application by mail, fax, or as a scanned image attached to an email.
- Upon receipt of your completed application, your absentee ballot and materials will be mailed to you as soon as ballots become available: 46 days before the primary and 46 days before the general election. If you are not registered to vote, the materials will include a Voter Registration Application.
- Follow the instructions provided in your absentee ballot materials to complete the process successfully. You will need a witness to certify that your ballot was delivered to you blank and that you marked your ballot in private. This witness can be anyone registered to vote in Minnesota, including your spouse or relative, a notary public, or a person with the authority to administer oaths.
- Return your absentee ballot materials by 8 p.m. on Election Day to your local election office. There are several delivery options:
- Ask someone to return your ballot for you before 8 p.m. on Election Day (this person cannot deliver more than three ballots).
- Return your ballot in person by 8 p.m. on the day before the election.
- Send your ballot materials back using United States mail or a package delivery service.
Your ballot may not be delivered directly to your polling place. Your ballot will not count if it is received after Election Day.
What to Expect
Arrive at the City Clerk’s office during one of the above designated times. The election official will provide you with absentee ballot materials to complete. If you are not already registered to vote at your current address, you will need to fill out a Voter Registration Application and show proof of residence.
Absentee Voting - Dakota County Government Center Sites
Absentee voting may also be done at all three of the Dakota County Sites - Click Here for more information on specific sites and times.
Voting Absentee Using a Designated Agent
In the seven days preceding an election, voters may ask a person they know to be their designated agent to pick up their ballot and bring it to them and return it. To be an agent, a person must be at least 18 years old, have a pre-existing relationship with the voter, and cannot be a candidate. No individual may be an agent for more than three voters in an election. An agent may bring a ballot to a voter if the voter is one of the following:
- Disabled or has an incapacitating health issue
- Patient in a health care facility
- Resident of an assisted living facility
- Resident of a group home
- Resident of a shelter for battered women
Ballots must be returned to your local election official’s office by 8 PM on Election Day. You must complete a Request for Agent Delivery of Absentee Ballot form to let local election officials know that you have designated a person as your agent.
Requirements for UOCAVA
Requirements for Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA):
- Complete a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA).
- Mail or fax completed FPCA to Dakota County Treasurer - Auditor in Hastings.
- Military personnel, their families, and citizens living outside the United States (including Canada and Mexico) may have application requests submitted by the voter, voter’s parents, spouse, sibling, or child over the age of 18 years.
- Additional voting information and resources for Americans living abroad can be found at Americans Overseas Network.
New Online Absentee Ballot Information Status
The Minnesota Office of the Secretary of State has launched a new online feature to help voters check the status of their absentee ballot. This online service informs absentee voters about the current status of their ballots with one of the following types of messages:
- Your absentee ballot application has been received
- Your absentee ballot has been sent to you on (date)
- Your absentee ballot has been received
- Your absentee ballot will be counted
- Your absentee ballot has been rejected for (reason)
- Your replacement ballot has been sent on (date)
Voters are encouraged to use the Absentee Ballot Lookup periodically to stay up to date on the status of their absentee ballot.
