Secretary of State Mark Ritchie has announced that over 77-thousand Minnesota voters have requested absentee ballots.
              
Of the ballots requested, 21,214 have already been returned by the voter and accepted. Ritchie also reminds voters that the absentee ballot period ends November 5th.

Voters who are eligible to vote by absentee are encouraged to apply for their ballot materials as soon as possible or visit their county auditor's office (or city clerk in some cases) to vote absentee in-person.

An eligible Minnesota voter may cast an absentee ballot for one of the following reasons: absence from the precinct, observance of religious discipline or holiday, illness or disability, serving as an election judge in another precinct, or when an emergency is declared by the governor or a quarantine is declared by the federal or state government.

For additional information on voting absentee visit: www.mnvotes.org.