Absentee Voting For November Election Begins Today

While the election in November may seem a long time away, it's not too early to look at your calendar and plan ahead when it comes to voting. While Minnesota doesn't offer early voting, those who will be unable to vote on Election Day can vote anytime starting Friday until the day before the election.

There are four reasons to vote absentee:

1. If you will be absent on election day. [Think: that cruise you might be taking come November, or college students who go to school away from home.]

2. If you are ill or disabled.

3. If you are an election judge in another precinct.

4. If you will be observing a religious holiday.

To apply to vote absentee, you can print out an application from the Secretary of State website and turn it in to one of four locations in Washington County (listed below).

Once turned in, you can vote that day in person or you can vote via USPS mail.

If you are not registered to vote yet and want to vote absentee your identification card or drivers license with a current name and address will be needed. If you've recently moved and your identification has your old address a current utility bill with current address will work.

Absentee voting can take place anytime starting Friday, Sept. 21 until the end of business on Nov. 5, with special hours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sat. Nov. 3.

Oakdale City Hall does not accept absentee votes; instead residents must submit them to any of the Washington County locations: 

• Property Records and Taxpayer Services (PRTS) Office, in the Washington County Government Center, first floor, at 14949 62nd St. N. in Stillwater;
• Cottage Grove Service Center, public service counter, 13000 Ravine Parkway S., Cottage Grove;
• Forest Lake Service Center, public service counter, 19955 Forest Road N., Forest Lake; and
• Woodbury Service Center, public service counter, 2150 Radio Drive, Woodbury.

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