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1. Why should I vote by mail?

To reduce direct contact with others, the CDC encourages you to vote by mail. All Minnesota voters are eligible to vote by mail.

2. Can I still vote in-person if I want to?

Yes, if you must.

In Maple Grove, you always have two options for voting in person. The first is to vote in person seven days prior to the November 3 General Election Day at the Maple Grove Government Center. You will have some direct contact with election judges, but you may have contact with fewer people overall.

Secondly, you can vote in person on Election Day. This option may have the greatest potential for direct contact with others; please be aware that wait times may be longer than usual.

3. Will polling places be open on Election Day?

Yes, polling places will be open on Election Day.

4. What are you doing to prevent virus transmission in polling places?

Personal protection items for election judges will be available, and parameters for social distancing for voters will be in place. We are training election judges on procedures for frequent disinfecting of voting surfaces and equipment. We will offer you hand sanitizer when you arrive at the polling place.

5. I want to vote by mail. How does it work?

Voting by mail is very easy. You can apply online for a ballot, and it will be mailed to you. Read the instructions that come with your ballot carefully.

Non-registered voters will need a witness when they vote and complete their ballot. The witness can be either a registered Minnesota voter or a notary. They must sign the statement on the signature envelope and provide a Minnesota residential address or affix a notary stamp.

Mail the ballot and forms back right away after you finish. Absentee ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day.

6. How do I know that my mail ballot is safe to open? (i.e. germs)

The CDC says that coronavirus transmission from mail is unlikely. However, they recommend washing your hands after collecting mail from a post office or home mailbox.

7. What laws are in place to make voting by mail secure?

Each and every ballot we receive must be inspected closely by two election officials for the following:

• The voter's name and address on the envelope matches the application.
• The voter has not already voted in the election in person or by mail.
• The voter has signed on the front of the envelope.
• The voter has provided the same identification number on the signature envelope as on the application. Otherwise, the signature must be matched to the signature on the application form.
• The voter is registered and eligible to vote in the precinct or has included a properly completed registration application with proof of residence marked on the signature envelope.
• For non-registered voters, a witness has signed the statement on the signature envelope and has provided a Minnesota residential address or has affixed a notary stamp.

Your ballot application and signature envelopes are kept on file for 22 months in case any questions or concerns arise that need to be investigated.

8. How do I know my mail ballot was counted?

You can confirm we have received and counted your ballot using the online tracking tool. By law, we count every properly returned ballot we receive.

9. What’s the deadline to return my mail ballot?

We strongly encourage you to return your ballot no later than 10 days before Election Day-and that means we physically have your ballot in hand. Return your ballot by mail using the pre-paid postage envelope. You can also send it by package delivery services, such as FedEx or UPS, or drop it off in person.

For the state general election, absentee ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day (November 3, 2020) and received by November 10, 2020.

10. Can I drop my ballot off in-person rather than mail it back?

Due to COVID-19, voters are encouraged to return their ballot by mail. If necessary, voters may return their ballot to our office in the Maple Grove Government Center, 12800 Arbor Lakes Parkway. The deadline to drop off in person is 3 p.m. on Election Day.

11. Can I drop off another voter’s ballot?

Yes. You can drop off ballots for up to three other voters. You will need to show identification with your name and signature when returning a ballot for someone else. 

12. Will my ballot count as long as it is postmarked by Election Day?

Yes. For the 2020 state general election, absentee ballots must be postmarked on or before election day (November 3, 2020) and received by November 10, 2020. To be safe, we recommend you return your ballot in the mail no later than 10 days before Election Day.

13. Can I drop off my ballot at my polling place on Election Day?

No, you cannot! Bring your ballot to our office in the Maple Grove Government Center, 12800 Arbor Lakes Parkway. The deadline to drop off in person is 3 p.m. on Election Day.