How to Vote Absentee for the August Primary

Will you be out of town for the August 14 Primary?Here are two ways to vote if you can't get to the polls in person:

Option 1: Vote ahead of time at Northfield City Hall:

City of Northfield residents may vote in advance at (801 Washington Street) between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday from now until Aug. 13, or from 8 a.m. 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 10 or from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 11.

The process requires a valid Minnesota-issued driver’s license or Minnesota ID card number, as well as the last four digits of your Social Security Number.

Not registered to vote? If you are not registered to vote at your current address, you can complete a voter registration application on-site when you come in to complete the absentee ballot process (above), but you must bring a valid form of identification and proof of current address to register on-site (click here to see the forms of identification and address verification you will need to register to vote).  

Not sure if you are registered? To check your registration status or your precinct location, head to Voter Registration Look-up

Option 2: Request that an Absentee Ballot be mailed to you:

1. Access the Minneota absentee ballot application
2. Print and return your completed absentee ballot application as soon as possible to: Rice County Auditor-Treasurer, Rice County Government Services Building, 320 3rd Street N.W., Suite 5, Faribault, Minnesota 55021. A ballot and a pre-paid return envelope will be sent to you within two business days of receipt of your application.
3. Once you receive your absentee ballot, follow the enclosed instructions carefully and return your completed ballot to the address on the return envelope:  

• Send it via U.S. mail or a package delivery service so that it arrives by Election Day
• Deliver it in person by 5 p.m. on the day before the election, or
• Ask someone to deliver it by 3 p.m. on Election Day. (Note: This person cannot deliver more than three ballots. Also, absentee ballots may not be delivered to your polling place).

Absentee ballots received after Election Day will not be counted in the Election so allow sufficient time for all the steps in this process.

For more information on how to vote via absentee ballot, voter registration or to find your precinct location, click visit the Minnesota Secretary of State's website