News Room

SAINT PAUL — Minnesota voters since 2014 have had the option of vote from home, or “no-excuse absentee” voting. All county election offices throughout the state also offer in-person absentee voting, commonly referred to as “early voting.” Since 2014, Minnesota voters have increasingly used vote from home and early in-person voting to cast their ballots. Voting for the 2018 statewide general election began on September 21, 2018. As of this morning, more than 106,000 absentee ballots have been requested. 

“Minnesotans set new records for voter participation during the 2018 statewide primary election,” said Secretary of State Steve Simon. “As voting for the general election gets underway, there is enthusiasm across the political spectrum to get out and vote. Today’s general election absentee ballot statistics are an encouraging early indicator that Minnesotans are on track to maintain our #1 in the country status for voter participation.”

As of Thursday, September 27, 2018, at least 106,061 absentee ballots have been requested by Minnesota voters. 11,353 have been accepted by election officials. The rate of absentee ballot requests is an increase of 181 percent over the same time in the 2014 (last statewide non-presidential election) calendar. The rate of accepted ballots is an increase of 197 percent over the same time in 2014.