Absentee Ballots and Early Voting

Residents can vote early or absentee by requesting a ballot, completing it according to the enclosed instructions, and returning it in the provided envelopes. Absentee ballots must be returned by Election Day to be counted.

Absentee voting options include receiving a ballot by mail, voting in person, or using agent delivery for eligible voters. Residents who are overseas or active-duty military can also vote absentee.

Dakota County voters may cast absentee ballots in person at the following locations from June 26–Aug. 10, except for Friday, July 3 (observation of Independence Day holiday).

****Voters visiting a city location must reside in that city to receive a ballot. Voters that reside anywhere in Dakota County can rec​eive a ballot at the three county service centers.***

Absentee and early voting is available Friday, June 26 to Monday, Aug. 10.

By mail

To request an absentee ballot for 2026​​ elections, use the online Minnesota Absentee Ballot Request or one of the following downloadable applications​:

​Absentee Ballot Application​
Large Print A​bsentee Application
Permanent Absentee V​oter Application

​Return the forms by:​

• Mail to:
  Dakota County Elections​
  1590 Highway 55
  Hastings, MN 55033-2343
  
• Email scanned document to elections@co.dakota.mn.us  
• Fax to 651-438-4391
• Bringing application to a county or municipal office​
  

Mailed absentee ballots

For most elections, the first absentee ballots are mailed 46 days before Election Day. For March township elections, ballots are mailed 30 days before Election Day.

When your ballot arrives:

1. Read the instructions that come with your ballot carefully.
2. Find 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.
3. Return the ballot right away in the provided envelopes.

​Your ballot must be returned by Election Day to be counted.

Agent delivery

In special situations, you may ask an agent to pick up and deliver your ballot materials in the seven days prior to an election day.  To qualify for agent delivery, you must meet one of the following:

• Live in a nursing home, assisted living facility, residential treatment center, women's shelter or group home
• Be hospitalized
• Be unable to go to the polling place due to incapacitating health reasons or disability.

An agent must be over the age of 18, have a personal relationship to you, and cannot be a candidate on the ballot.

For more information and the appropriate forms, go to mnvotes.org.

If you’re not registered

If your registration is not current or complete, a voter registration application will be included with your absentee ballot materials.  The completed voter registration application must be returned with your voted ballot. 

Options for uniformed & overseas citizens

Voters who are overseas including those in the military, their spouses, or others can vote by absentee ballot using the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. For more information, go to the Minnesota Military and Overs​eas Voters website. 

Military personnel, their families and citizens living outside the United States (including Canada and Mexico) may have application requests submitted by the voter, voter's parents, spouse, sibling or child over the age of 18 years.  Applications can be submitted online or in person at the Administration Center.      

Additional voting information and resources for Americans living abroad can be found at the Administration Center or the Federal Write-In Abs​​entee Ballot.​​

Make sure your ballot​​ is counted

You may track the status of yo​ur ballot and confirm that it was received and counted.

​Returnin​g your ballot

Your ballot must be received by Election Day or it will not be counted. You will need to show identification when returning a ballot for someone else. You may not drop your ballot off at your polling place on election day.​