Absentee voting under way

Absentee ballots for the Nov. 6 general election are available for registered voters in all Washington County jurisdictions, at the following locations:

-- Property Records and Taxpayer Services Office, in the Washington County Government Center, first floor, at 14949 62nd St. N. in Stillwater;

-- Cottage Grove Service Center, public service counter, 13000 Ravine Parkway S., Cottage Grove;

-- Forest Lake Service Center, public service counter, 19955 Forest Road N., Forest Lake;

-- Woodbury Service Center, public service counter, 2150 Radio Drive, Woodbury.

People may vote by absentee ballot by mail (voted ballots must be received by mail at Washington County) or in person at the above locations Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 3, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., during the 45-day period prior to the election.

People who need to vote by absentee ballot must complete an application to receive an absentee ballot at the time they vote in person. Anyone voting by mail should contact Washington County to request an application, or download the application from the county’s website at www.co.washington.mn.us. Click on “Elections” on the right-hand side of the homepage.

Voters are allowed to vote by absentee ballot due to the following reasons: absence from precinct, illness or disability, religious discipline or observance of religious holiday, service as election judge in another precinct, eligible emergency declared by the governor, or quarantine declared by federal or state government.

Residents can register to vote by completing a voter registration form available at any of the above county locations, a county library, or online at www.co.washington.mn.us.

Absentee voters are encouraged to vote at the beginning of the period for absentee voting. For more information, call Washington County at 651-430-6175.

“Almost 300,000 Minnesotans will vote by absentee ballot this election,” Secretary of State Mark Ritchie said. “Absentee voters, including military personnel deployed overseas, may now track their ballots online to make sure that their ballots arrive on time and are counted.”

Voting information, including how to track absentee ballots, is at www.mnvotes.org. The Web site also provides a look at each voter’s ballot by clicking “my ballot.”

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