Vote Early in Person or By Mail 

Any eligible voter can vote early in person or by mail starting 46 days prior to each election. The official name for this is absentee voting.  

Absentee voting for the 2024 Presidential Primary Election begins January 19, 2024.

Application Information

Voters who wish to vote early must request an absentee ballot by completing an Absentee Ballot Application to receive their ballot by mail or they may vote early in person at the Auditor-Treasurer's Office at the Courthouse in Gaylord.

The quickest and easiest way to receive an absentee ballot by mail is to complete the application online via the Secretary of State's Office website.  You will need your Minnesota driver’s license or ID card number, or the last four numbers of your Social Security number. 

You could also:

Military and overseas voters should refer to the State's website for more information.

Absentee Ballots can be tracked from the point the voter submits the request/application to the point it is accepted by the county.  Track your absentee ballot here.

Voting Early In Person

Sibley County voters may also vote early in-person at the Auditor-Treasurer's Office at the Courthouse in Gaylord.

In-Person early voting is available during the following times for all elections (other than State General Elections):

  • 8:00am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday
  • the Saturday before each election from 9:00am to 3:00pm
  • the Monday before each election until 5:00pm

For State General Elections, in-person early voting is available during the following times:

  • 8:00am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday
  • until 7:00pm on the Tuesday before the election
  • the two Saturdays before the election from 9:00am to 3:00pm
  • the Sunday immediately before the election from 9:00am to 3:00pm
  • the day before the election (Monday) until 5:00pm

Voters who wish to put their voted ballot directly into the tabulator/ballot box may do so beginning 18 days prior to each election until the day before each election at the Auditor-Treasurer's Office.  This is called Direct Balloting. 

Voting Early by Mail

Once we receive your application for an absentee ballot at the Auditor-Treasurer's Office, we will process the request and mail the ballot to you.  Applications received after 2:00 pm will be processed and the ballot will be mailed the next business day.

Returning Your Absentee Ballot

After voting an absentee ballot, the voter should return the voted ballot as soon as possible. The most important things to remember:

  • Follow the instructions provided in the mailed packet.
  • Be sure all required information and signatures are provided.  A witness is required.
  • Your ballot must be received by the Sibley County Auditor-Treasurer's Office by           8:00pm on Election Day to be counted.

Absentee ballot voters have three options for returning their voted ballots:

  1. Postage on the return envelope is prepaid and the envelope is pre-addressed so ballots can be mailed to the Sibley County Auditor-Treasurer's Office. 
  2. Return your ballot in the provided envelopes by dropping it off to the Auditor-Treasurer's Office at the Courthouse in Gaylord or in the drop box in the lobby of the Auditor-Treasurer's Office.  
    • Please note:  laws have changed since the 2020 State General Election; therefore, the locked drop box on the outside of the West entrance of the Courthouse is NOT for ballot drop off.  If your ballot is deposited in the outside drop box, it will not be counted.
  3. Return your ballot by designated agent. The agent must be at least 18 years old, must bring in a photo ID, and will need to complete a short form documenting the delivery of the ballot (limit of three others’ ballots can be returned as an agent).