Absentee ballot return envelopes that are delivered in person by an absent voter or an agent must be received by the county auditor or municipal clerk by 3:00 p.m. on election day. Ballots received by personal delivery after 3:00 p.m. of election day shall be marked as received late by the county auditor or municipal clerk, and must not be delivered to the ballot board.
Before accepting an absentee ballot return envelope that is hand delivered by an absent voter or an agent, the county auditor or municipal clerk shall inspect the envelope to verify that it is sealed and that the absent voter's certificate is properly completed.
When an absent voter hand delivers an envelope which is unsealed or has an improperly completed absent voter's certificate, the absent voter shall be allowed to seal the envelope and correct or complete the certificate.
When an agent hand delivers a sealed envelope with an improperly completed absent voter's certificate, the agent may return the envelope to the absent voter for correction or completion in compliance with the time requirements in subpart 1.
When an agent hand delivers an envelope that is not sealed or which the auditor or clerk has reason to believe has been tampered with, the envelope shall not be accepted. The auditor or clerk shall write "rejected" across the absentee ballot return envelope and shall write the reason for rejection on the envelope. The absentee ballot return envelope shall be retained by the auditor or clerk in the auditor's or clerk's office. A notice of nonacceptance shall be mailed to the absent voter promptly, stating the date of nonacceptance, the name and address of the agent, and the reason for nonacceptance. A replacement ballot notice may be sent in place of the notice of nonacceptance. The absent voter may apply for replacement absentee ballots.
When an absentee ballot return envelope is hand delivered to the county auditor or municipal clerk by an agent, the agent shall, on a record maintained by the auditor or clerk, print the agent's name and address, the name and address of the absent voter whose ballot the agent is delivering, and sign his or her name. The agent shall show to the auditor or clerk identification which contains the agent's name and signature.
Minn. R. agency 133, ch. 8210, PROCEDURES, pt. 8210.2200
Statutory Authority: MS s 201.061; 201.221; 203B.04; 203B.08; 203B.09; 203B.125