Absentee Voting (AB) June 26 th - August 10 th September 18 th – November 2 nd

 An eligible voter applies to automatically receive absentee ballot applications  Applications mailed by county 60 days prior to election  Encourage the option Permanent Absentee Voters

 Absentee voting opens 46 days prior to election day  Primary: June 26 – August 10  General: September 18 – November 2  Extended hours  Saturday before election 10am-3pm (cities only)  Monday before election day until 5pm Dates and Hours June 26 th - August 10 th September 18 th – November 2 nd

 All absentee ballots issued by mail from Hennepin County  Cities and school districts remain in-person absentee voting location  All absentee ballots counted at Hennepin County Government Center  Review 2015 Pilot Project for Processing Absentee Ballots document for detailed instructions 2015 Absentee Pilot - Overview June 26 th - August 10 th September 18 th – November 2 nd

 Absentee envelope materials updated in 2014  Recycle all materials on hand older than 2014  Instructions to voters updated in 2015  Updated absentee instructions available from OSS Changes to Absentee Materials

 Voter requests ballot, completes application  Staff enters application, issues materials  Voter votes, returns ballot in completed signature envelope  Date stamp envelope  Accept or reject envelope  Sort envelopes by ward/precinct and date accepted Absentee Voting Process - Overview June 26 th - August 10 th September 18 th – November 2 nd

 In person voting locations  Each city hall or school district office with an election  Minimum of one voting booth available  AutoMARK available  Prohibitions against campaign materials apply June 26 th - August 10 th September 18 th – November 2 nd Issuing Absentee Ballots In-person

 In person by 5pm day before election day  In person by agent return by 3pm on election day  By mail through last mail on election day  By mail delivery service until 8pm on election day  Review for instructions 2015 Pilot Project for Processing Absentee Ballots Receiving Absentee Ballots June 27 th - August 12 th September 20 th – November 4 th

Absentee Ballot Board June 26 th - August 11 th September 19 th – November 3 rd

 Must establish ballot board by ordinance or resolution  Must consist of a sufficient number of trained election judges appointed as provided in M.S. 204B.19- M.S. 204B.22  May consist of deputy auditors or clerks trained in processing and counting absentee ballots  Party balance  Does not apply to appointed staff or school districts Establishing Absentee Ballot Board

 Review 2015 Pilot Project for Processing Absentee Ballots document for instructions Absentee Ballot Board Process

Must accept if:  Name and address match application  Voter signed envelope  Driver’s license, MN ID, or last 4 digits of SSN match application or numbers in voter’s SVRS record  If DL, MN ID or SSN do not match, compare signature to application  Voter is registered or completed AB-EDR  AB-EDR can be removed at this point, placed in AB precinct kit envelope  Witness provided address and signature  And, completed proof of residence for non-registered voters  Voter has not already voted If these requirements are not met ballot must be rejected. Accepting Absentee Ballots

 Secure all accepted absentee ballots until ballots transported to Hennepin County for counting  Review 2015 Pilot Project for Processing Absentee Ballots document for instructions Accepting Absentee Ballots August 4 th and October 27 th

 If rejected at least 5 days before election  Envelope remains sealed  Provide replacement ballot – “Replacement Ballot” on envelope  Include letter stating reason for rejection  If rejected within 5 days of the election  Envelope remains sealed  Attempt to notify voter of rejected ballot by phone or  Document attempts made  Late ballots  Written rejection notice sent by county 6-10 weeks after election if voter didn’t otherwise vote Rejecting Absentee Ballots

More information:  OSS Guides  City Clerk Guide  School District Clerk Guide  OSS website  Absentee Ballot Board Guidelines  Accepted envelope examples  Rejected envelope examples  Notice of Rejection and Replacement example Absentee Ballot Board Process

Counting Absentee Ballots August 4 th - August 11 th October 27 th – November 3 rd

 Review 2015 Pilot Project for Processing of Absentee Ballots document for instructions Marking Absentee on Roster

Central Count (DS850)  1 central count location in 2015 at Hennepin County  Review 2015 Pilot Project for Processing of Absentee Ballots document for instructions Counting Absentee Ballots August 4 th - August 11 th October 27 th – November 3 rd

Absentee Results August 11 th and November 3 rd

 At 8pm absentee results are loaded onto county server  At 8pm precincts begin transmitting results from each polling place  Once county has both sets of results (AB and polling place) results are loaded onto OSS website  No results are posted without both sets of #s Absentee Results: On Election Night August 11 th and November 3 rd

 Each jurisdiction’s AB results will be posted to FTP site  Results posted on election night  Print AB results, keep with polling place results  Cities send AB results to school districts  Other items on FTP site  Write-in images  Abstract of results Absentee Results August 11 th and November 3 rd

Other Absentee Activities

 Health care facilities governed by M.S :  Hospital  Residential treatment center  Nursing home  Clerk MUST conduct absentee voting outreach for residents of HCF Health Care Facility (HCF) Voting July 22 rd – August 10 th October 14 th – November 2 nd

 20 days preceding each election  July 22 and October 14  Two judges of different major political parties  Additional 1 hour training  Travel together  Take absentee applications to residents  Issue ballots to residents  Assist patients with voting  Return voted ballots to clerk Health Care Facility Voting July 22 rd – August 10 th October 14 th – November 2 nd

 Coordinate with HCF prior to pre-registration cut-off  Pre-register voters for fewer non-registered residents  Receive applications prior to visit  Prepare materials beforehand  Receive list of employees to be vouchers  Sent to county no less than 20 days before election Health Care Facility Voting July 22 rd – August 10 th October 14 th – November 2 nd

 Picking up and returning ballot on behalf of another voter  Begins 7 days before election day  August 4 and October 27  Voter must complete:  Absentee ballot application; and  Request for Agent Delivery of Absentee Ballot application Agent Delivery Absentee Voting August 4 th - August 11 th October 27 th – November 3 rd

 Who is eligible?  Any voter who  Has difficulty getting to the polls because of incapacitating health reasons  Is disabled  Is a patient of a health care facility  Is a resident of an assisted living facility  Is a resident of a battered women’s shelter Agent Delivery Absentee Voting August 4 th - August 11 th October 27 th – November 3 rd

 Who can be an agent?  Must have pre-existing relationship with voter  Can’t be candidate  Can’t deliver ballots to more than three people per election  Must apply by 2pm on election day  Voted ballots must be returned by 3pm on election day  Specific envelopes for agent delivery process Agent Delivery August 4 th - August 11 th October 27 th – November 3 rd

Agent Delivery Process

 Request for Agent Delivery form Agent Delivery Process

 Agent Delivery Log Agent Delivery Process

 For returning/dropping off a ballot – different than agent delivery  Return by Agent:  Anytime during absentee period  Any person other than voter  May return up to 3 ballots  Must be over 18  Log agent’s name, address; agent must show ID and provide signature Absentee Ballots Returned by Agent June 26 th - August 11 th September 19 th – November 3 rd

 Voters can view status of absentee ballot  Link from Secretary of State’s website Checking Absentee Ballot Status