Hailey Tran
If you are in a hospital or residential facility in Minnesota, you can still vote. Local election officials send teams of election judges to hospitals and nursing homes during the 35 days before the election. Election judges can provide applications and issue ballots to eligible residents of the facility and help if needed. You can also vote by mail or in person before Election Day. If you are hospitalized or unable to go to the polling place due to health reasons, you may be eligible to have someone pick up and deliver a ballot to you, which is called 'agent delivery'.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How to vote in a hospital in Minnesota | Local election officials send teams of election judges to hospitals during the 35 days before the election. Election judges can provide applications and issue ballots to eligible residents of the facility, give help if needed, and will return the voted ballots to the local election official. |
| Who can be an agent | An agent must be at least 18 years old, have a pre-existing relationship with the voter, and cannot be a candidate. |
| How many voters an agent can represent | An agent cannot be an agent of more than three voters in an election. |
| What an agent needs to do | The agent must show identification with their name and signature when returning a ballot. The voter gives the agent a completed absentee ballot application and a request for agent delivery of the absentee ballot form. The agent takes both forms to the local election office to receive the ballot. |
| When an agent can collect and return the ballot | An agent can pick up a ballot starting seven days before the election until 8 p.m. on Election Day. The ballot must be returned by 8 p.m. on Election Day. |
| How to vote by mail | Apply to have an absentee ballot mailed to you. You do not need to be registered to apply. You will need a witness when you vote and complete your ballot. The witness must be either a U.S. citizen at least 18 years old on election day or a notary. Return the ballot and forms right away. |
| How to vote in person | All residents have the right to leave the facility and cast a ballot in person. Facilities may offer personal protective equipment, hand sanitizer, or other tools to support those who wish to cast their ballot at their local polling location. Residents may need support arranging a ride to their local polling location. |
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What You'll Learn
- You can vote in person at a polling station, where PPE is often provided
- You can apply for an absentee ballot online, by mail, fax, or email
- You can have an agent collect and deliver your ballot, but they must be over 18
- Your agent must be someone you know, and they can only collect for up to three voters
- You can vote early by mail or in person, without needing to be registered
You can vote in person at a polling station, where PPE is often provided
If you are in hospital in Minnesota, you can still vote in person at a polling station. All residents have the right to leave the facility and cast a ballot in person at their designated polling place. If you are hospitalized or unable to go to the polling place due to incapacitating health reasons or a disability, you can apply to have someone pick up and deliver a ballot to you. This is called 'agent delivery'. Your agent must be at least 18 years old, have a pre-existing relationship with you, and cannot be a candidate.
Alternatively, you can vote in person at a polling station, where personal protective equipment (PPE) is often provided. Facilities may offer PPE, hand sanitizer, or other tools to support those who wish to cast their ballot at their local polling location. If you need support arranging a ride to your local polling location, you can contact the Minnesota Secretary of State's Office or your County Election Office.
If you plan to vote in person, be sure to bring acceptable identification with your name and signature. You will also need to provide proof of residence. If you live in a residential facility, this can be difficult, so one simple way to provide proof-of-residence is to ask a facility staff member to go with you on Election Day to 'vouch' for you. Any staff member can vouch for all eligible voters who are residents of the facility, but they must prove their employment with election officials.
You can also vote early by mail or in person. To vote by mail, apply to have an absentee ballot mailed to you. You do not need to be registered to apply, but you will need a witness when you vote and complete your ballot. The witness can be either a U.S. citizen at least 18 years old on election day or a notary. Your ballot must be received by Election Day or it will not be counted.
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You can apply for an absentee ballot online, by mail, fax, or email
If you are in hospital in Minnesota, there are several ways you can apply for an absentee ballot. Firstly, you can apply online. You can also apply by mail, fax, or email. You can apply for a ballot at any time during the year, except on the day of the election.
To apply for an absentee ballot, you will need to contact your county election office. You do not need to be registered to apply. However, for your ballot to count, you must follow the instructions that come with it carefully. You will need a witness when you vote and complete your ballot. This witness can be either a U.S. citizen aged 18 or over on election day, or a notary. Your witness must sign the signature envelope and list their address. Notaries should write their name and title, sign, and affix their notary stamp. Local election officials must check that you and your witness have filled out the signature envelope correctly. If you make a mistake, election officials will send you replacement materials, or, if there are fewer than five days before election day, they will try to contact you. In this case, you can vote in person at your local election office or at your polling place on election day.
If you are in hospital, you may be eligible to have someone pick up and deliver your ballot to you. This is called 'agent delivery'. To qualify for agent delivery, you must be hospitalized or unable to go to the polling place due to incapacitating health reasons or a disability. Your agent must be at least 18 years old, have a pre-existing relationship with you, and cannot be a candidate. They will need to show identification with their name and signature when returning your ballot. Give your agent a completed absentee ballot application and a request for agent delivery of the absentee ballot form. They can collect your ballot starting seven days before the election, and must return it by 8 p.m. on election day.
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You can have an agent collect and deliver your ballot, but they must be over 18
If you are hospitalised or unable to go to your polling place due to incapacitating health reasons or a disability, you can have an agent collect and deliver your ballot. This is called 'agent delivery'.
To qualify for agent delivery, your agent must be at least 18 years old, have a pre-existing relationship with you, and cannot be a candidate. They must also show identification with their name and signature when returning your ballot.
To use agent delivery, give your agent a completed absentee ballot application and a request for agent delivery of the absentee ballot form. Your agent can then take both forms to the local election office to receive your ballot. Your agent can pick up your ballot starting seven days before the election until 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Your agent or someone else you designate must return your ballot to the same elections office by 8 p.m. on Election Day. You can also return your ballot by mail, but election officials must receive it on or before Election Day.
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Your agent must be someone you know, and they can only collect for up to three voters
If you are in hospital and want to vote, you may be eligible to have someone pick up and deliver a ballot to you. This is called 'agent delivery'. To qualify for agent delivery, you must be hospitalized or unable to go to the polling place due to incapacitating health reasons or a disability.
Your agent must return your ballot to the same elections office by 8 pm on Election Day. You can also return your ballot by mail, but election officials must receive it on or before Election Day. You can vote early at your local elections office starting 46 days before Election Day.
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You can vote early by mail or in person, without needing to be registered
If you are in hospital in Minnesota, there are several ways you can vote early without needing to be registered. Firstly, you can apply to have an absentee ballot mailed to you. You can do this at any time during the year, except on the day of the election. You will need a witness when you vote and complete your ballot. This can be either a U.S. citizen aged 18 or over on election day, or a notary. Remember to read the instructions that come with your ballot carefully. Your ballot must be received by Election Day, or it will not be counted.
Alternatively, you can vote in person at your local election office. In Minnesota, you can vote early with an absentee ballot starting 46 days before Election Day. You can also designate an agent to cast an absentee ballot on your behalf. This could be someone who picks up and returns the ballot for you, or you can apply for 'agent delivery', where someone picks up and delivers a ballot to you. Your agent must be at least 18 years old, have a pre-existing relationship with you, and cannot be a candidate. They must also show identification with their name and signature when returning the ballot.
If you are able to leave the hospital, you have the right to cast your ballot in person at your designated polling place. The hospital may be able to provide you with personal protective equipment, hand sanitizer, or other tools to support you.
Finally, if you are in a nursing home or residential facility, election judges can provide applications and issue ballots to eligible residents. They can also help with the voting process if needed and will return the voted ballots to the local election official.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several ways to vote while in hospital in Minnesota. You can:
- Vote in person at your local polling station.
- Apply to have an absentee ballot mailed to you.
- Designate an agent to cast an absentee ballot on your behalf.
You can apply for an absentee ballot online at any time during the year, except on the day of the election. You do not need to be registered to apply.
Agent delivery is when you designate an agent to pick up and deliver your ballot for you. Your agent must be at least 18 years old, have a pre-existing relationship with you and cannot be a candidate.
If you need to register on Election Day, you must provide proof of residence. One way to do this is to ask a staff member to go with you to 'vouch' for you.
