If you live in Saint Louis County, Minnesota there are two new options or tools to make the absentee balloting process easier for you.

  • Voters no longer have to have an excuse as to why they can't physically get to the polls on election day.  Anyone wishing to vote in the election can request an absentee ballot - either in person or request that one be sent to them by mail.  To request an absentee ballot, voters in the following areas should go to their city or township clerk: City of Duluth, Babbitt, Balkan Township, City of Biwabik, Buhl, Chisholm, Cook, Ely, Eveleth, Gilbert, Greenwood Township, Hermantown, Hibbing, Hoyt Lakes, Mt. Iron, Rice Lake Township, Tower, Virginia and White Township/Aurora. All other St. Louis County residents can request an absentee ballot from the County Auditor’s Office in Duluth or Virginia.
  • Voters will also be able to request an absentee ballot online.  Voters can fill out an application to have an absentee ballot sent to them by visiting the Secretary of State’s website at mnvotes.org. A similar tool was introduced in 2013 for military and overseas voters. By requesting an absentee ballot online, voters save the work of printing and scanning forms and returning by mail. It also minimizes the processing work and chance for error in the Auditor’s Office.

“The goal of this new option is to make it easier for voters to participate, resulting in increased voter turnout,” said Don Dicklich, St. Louis County Auditor.  In 2010, the most recent election year with comparable positions on the ballot, more than 4,500 absentee ballots were filed in St. Louis County, approximately 5.4 percent of all votes that were cast.

 

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