Elections FAQ's

COVID-19: Several long-time polling places in the City of New Brighton are unable to host elections due to COVID-19. Please confirm your Election Day voting location before Election Day by visiting the MN Secretary of State’s On-line Pollfinder.

In Minnesota, voters are allowed to cast an absentee ballot for any reason in the 46 days prior to Election Day by mail or in person. Voters can also vote early in the seven (7) days before Election Day. Learn more about absentee and early voting options by clicking here.

Military and overseas voters can vote by absentee ballot by using the process outlined in the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) administered by the MN Secretary of State’s Office.

In order to keep voters, election judges and election staff as safe as possible in the polls on Election Day, we will be following recommended social distancing and other precautionary measures such as:

• 6’ spacing

• Face Masks

• Hand sanitizer

• Frequent cleaning of high touch surfaces

• Single-use pens for voters.

• Non-latex gloves for election judges who share materials with voters

• Plexiglas dividers

• Increased availability of Curbside Voting

Click here to read our complete Election Day COVID-19 Response Guide that we use to train our election judges.

If you are feeling sick on Election Day, are a patient in a hospital or other medical facility (including a nursing home), are a resident of a shelter or assisted living facility, or are disabled, you may enlist someone you know to help you vote.

You can have someone pick up a ballot for you from City Hall on Election Day as long as you request it BEFORE 2:00 pm by completing and returning the Request for Agent Delivery of Absentee Ballot form and the Absentee Ballot Application to the City Clerk at New Brighton City Hall located at 803 Old Hwy 8 NW or to Ramsey County Elections at 90 Plato Blvd in St. Paul. You must request this service by submitting these forms BEFORE 2:00 pm on Election Day and you must have a pre-existing relationship with your agent. The agent will use these completed forms to pick up a ballot on your behalf, bring it to you and return your completed ballot to the City Clerk or county elections official. Each agent is allowed to deliver and return ballots for a maximum of three (3) voters. This service is available only in the seven (7) days immediately preceding an election. Ballots may be picked up from the City Clerk until 2:00 pm on Election Day. Completed ballots must be returned to the City Clerk or County offices by 3:00 pm on Election Day.

You can also vote from your car at your polling location. When you arrive, park in a parking spot designated for Curbside Voting. Call the phone number on the sign and Election Judges will come outside and help you vote from your car. 

Find out what offices and candidates will be on your ballot by visiting the MN Secretary of State’s website and clicking on Who’s On My Ballot. Information is available approximately 45 days prior to Election Day.

Visit the Secretary of State’s Candidate Filings  page to look for contact information for specific candidates and offices.

Some voters may be able to authorize an individual (agent) to pick up and return an absentee ballot for them. This service is available only within the seven days preceding an election.

Each agent is allowed to deliver and return ballots for a maximum of three voters.

You can cast an absentee vote by agent if you are a:

• Patient in a hospital, residential treatment center or nursing home.
• Resident of a group home.
• Resident of a battered women's shelter.
• Resident of an assisted living facility.
• Disabled voter.
• Voter who would have difficulty getting to the polls because of incapacitating health reasons.

How to vote by agent

1. Choose someone to be your agent who:
   • Has a pre-existing relationship with you.
   • Is at least 18 years old.
   • Is not a candidate in the election.
2. Complete and return both of the following BEFORE 2:00 pm on Election Day:
   • Request for agent delivery of absentee ballot form (PDF)
   • Absentee ballot application (PDF)
3. Have your agent bring the completed forms to the Absentee Voting Room at the New Brighton Community Center located at 400 10th St; New Brighton MN (Use the Ramsey County Library Entrance) or to Ramsey County Elections located at 90 Plato Blvd W; St. Paul MN to pick up your ballot. 
   • Your agent can pick up a ballot until 2 p.m. on Election Day.
4. Your agent will be given your ballot and envelopes to bring to you.
5. Vote your ballot and complete materials according to the enclosed instructions.
6. Have your agent return your voted ballot to the office where they picked it up BEFORE 3:00 pm on Election Day.
   • Your agent must show an ID with name and signature.
   • Voted ballots must be returned by 3 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.

A flowchart outlining the process of absentee voting using an agent for delivery can be downloaded for easy reference.

No. Not unless they qualify for Agent Delivery. 

Delivery of Ballots by Others

The following voters may authorize an agent to pick up and return their absentee ballot in the seven (7) days immediately preceding Election Day.

• Patients in hospitals, residential treatment facilities and nursing homes
• Residents of group homes
• Residents of battered women’s shelters
• Residents of assisted living facilities
• Voters who are disabled
• Voters who would have difficulty getting to the polls due to incapacitating health reasons

In order to have an agent deliver your ballot, you must complete and return the Request for Agent Delivery of Absentee Ballot form and the Absentee Ballot Application. You must have a pre-existing relationship with your agent. The agent will use these completed forms to pick up a ballot on your behalf, bring it to you and return your completed ballot to the City Clerk or county elections official. Each agent is allowed to deliver and return ballots for a maximum of three (3) voters. This service is available only in the seven (7) days immediately preceding an election. Ballots may be picked up from the City Clerk until 2:00pm on Election Day. Completed ballots must be returned to the City Clerk by 3:00pm on Election Day.

Wondering if you’re registered to vote? Find out here.

If you don’t find your voter registration or if your information is incorrect, you can update your registration at the same time you cast an absentee ballot!

When you come to cast an absentee ballot in person, allow an extra 5 minutes or so and be sure to bring allowable proof of residency in the precinct with you. The MN Secretary of State’s website lists documents that Election officials can accept as proof of residency in the precinct.

In the 46 days prior to Election Day, voters may cast an absentee ballot in person or they may complete the absentee process by mail. In Minnesota, all citizens are allowed to vote using an absentee ballot for any reason and all absentee ballots that have been received by Election Day and accepted* by the Absentee Ballot Board are counted. You can also track the status of your ballot and verify it has been counted!

View the Status of Your Ballot >

*Note: To be accepted by the Absentee Ballot Board:

• The voter’s name and address on the envelope must match the absentee ballot application.
• The voter must have signed the envelope.
• The voter must have provided the same identification numbers on the envelope and the application or the signature on envelope must match the signature on the application.
• The voter must be be registered and eligible to vote in the precinct or have included a properly complete and signed Voter Registration Application with proof of residence marked on the envelope.
• A witness must have signed the statement on the envelope and provided a MN residential address, a title indicating they are eligible to administer oaths or affixed a notary stamp.
• The voter must not have already voted in the election.
• If the absentee ballot was delivered by an agent, it must be sealed and cannot appear to have been tampered with.
• It must have been received on time. (Before 3:00 pm on Election Day at City Hall if on Election Day and by 8:00 pm on Election Day at Ramsey County offices if delivered by USPS or a parcel service.)

Alternately, voters may choose to cast a ballot using the early voting process in the seven (7) days before Election Day.  Voters who choose to use the early voting process put their ballot directly into the ballot counter yourself like Election Day. Learn where to Vote Early In-Person >

If you need help voting, you have lots of options! Click here to learn more! 

Election results can be found on the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website. Click here to view results >

Here are some unique situations you might fall into:

• Voters who are away at College
• Voters in the Military or Living Abroad
• Voters with a Criminal Record
• Voters under Guardianship
• Voters with an Impairment
• Voters in a Nursing Home or Hospital
• Voters Who Fear for Their Personal Safety
• Voters residing in a Residential Facility
• Voters Who are Moving on or close to Election Day
• Voters temporarily Living in Minnesota
• Voters Experiencing Homelessness
• Voters Whose Home is in Foreclosure
• Voters Whose Home Was Destroyed by Fire, Flood or Other Disaster

For more information, please contact any of the following voting resources.

Voter Registration

http://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/

City of New Brighton Elections

Ramsey County Elections

https://www.ramseycounty.us/residents/elections-voting

Minnesota Secretary of State

Major Political Parties in Minnesota

https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/how-elections-work/political-parties/