News: Absentee voting for 2018 primary election begins June 29

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Media contacts:

Ginny Gelms, Hennepin County elections manager, 612-348-9289

Carolyn Marinan, Communications, 612-348-5969

Absentee voting for 2018 primary election begins June 29

Vote early through August 13

All eligible voters in Hennepin County can vote absentee—either in-person or by mail—beginning Friday, June 29.  

Vote early in person

In-person absentee voting will be available June 29 through August 13 at city halls across Hennepin County and at the Early Vote Center in downtown Minneapolis at 217 S. Third Street. Each city location can accommodate voters who live in that particular city.

Voters who live anywhere in Hennepin County can in-person absentee vote at the Hennepin County Government Center – 300 S. Sixth Street, Minneapolis – skyway level. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Learn more about absentee voting in person

View a sample ballot from the Secretary of State’s website.

Vote early by mail 

Voters must fill out an application online or on paper to receive a ballot. Paper applications are available in English, Spanish, Hmong, Somali, Vietnamese, Russian, Chinese, Lao, Oromo, Khmer and Amharic.

Voters do not need to be registered to vote to apply to vote absentee. To make the process easier, voters may want to register or ensure you are registered before applying for an absentee ballot.

Ballots will be mailed to voters within one to two days of receiving the application. 

Completed ballots must be received on or before Primary Election Day, August 14. Voters can return ballots by mail or in person.

Learn more about absentee voting by mail.

Election judges still needed for Primary Election Day, August 14

Cities throughout Hennepin County are looking for election judges to handle all aspects of voting at the polling place during the 2018 elections. Training occurs during the summer, so interested community members should sign up now.

Watch the election judge recruiting video (1:07).

Many cities are particularly looking for multilingual election judges who speak English and Spanish, Somali, Hmong, Vietnamese or other languages.

Residents who are eligible to vote are eligible to be election judges. Students who are 16 or 17 years old and who are in good academic standing are also eligible.

Judges should be available for one paid training for a few hours plus a paid shift on Primary Election Day, August 14, and/or Election Day, November 6. Pay and shift lengths vary by city.

Interested residents can contact election officials in any city, or use Hennepin County’s online form. Hennepin County elections staff will forward all completed forms to local election officials. Residents may be election judges in cities other than where they live.

Sign up to be an election judge in Hennepin County.

For more information about elections in Hennepin County, visit www.hennepin.us/elections.

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