Military or Overseas Absentee Ballot

Who can Apply for an Absentee Application?
Military personnel and their families, citizens living temporarily outside the U.S., may apply to vote by absentee ballot in the precinct where they maintain residence. Application requests may be submitted by the voter or by the voter's parent, spouse, sister, brother or child over the age of 18 years.

A Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) must be completed and submitted to the county office in which you last resided.

Availability of FPCA Applications
A Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) may be obtained from:

• Military bases for service personnel and their dependents
• Federal Voting Assistance Program
• U.S. Embassy or consulate in the country where the voter is temporarily living outside the United States
• Olmsted County Elections Office

Required Information on FPCA
You must provide your Military ID number, Social Security number or Passport number. If you cannot provide one of these identification numbers, the application must be signed by an authorized official. The authorized official may be a notary, another individual authorized to administer oaths or a military officer with the rank of sergeant or above.

Dates when absentee ballots are available
Absentee ballots are available in the office of the County Property Records & Licensing in the Olmsted County Government Center in Rochester or at any polling place designated by the County Property Records & Licensing during the 30 days before the election.

• When returning your completed voted ballot in person to the county or municipal office, the ballot must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the day before the election.
• When returning your completed voted ballot by mail, the ballot must be received (not postmarked) at the polling place on Election Day.

Postage and Mailing
The ballot will be sent by first class mail if the voter is in the continental U.S. The ballot is sent by airmail if delivery is outside of the U.S.

You can receive the ballot by mail, fax or email. You will need to indicate on your application how you would like to receive the ballot.

Applications can be sent to:

Fax (507) 328-7964
Email elections@co.olmsted.mn.us

What if I don't receive my ballot?
UOCAVA voters who submit timely absentee ballot applications but never receive their ballots or those concerned that they will not be able to return their ballots in time to be counted may submit the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) as an alternative.  The Minnesota Military and Overseas Voter Service also has a service to help voters complete the FWAB.