After appeals court ruling, Twin Cities election officials urge voters to drop off completed early ballots

After a three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Thursday that Minnesota absentee ballots arriving after Election Day should be separated from other ballots, officials are urging voters to drop off their completed ballots at various drop-off spots throughout the Twin Cities.

Appeals court rules Minnesota absentee ballots must be received by Election Night

According to the city of Minneapolis, there are 13 mail ballot drop off locations that are staffed in Minneapolis.

The hours at those sites have also been extended given the recent ruling.

According to the city, those extended hours are now:

• Friday, Oct. 30, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 31, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Sunday, Nov. 1, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Monday, Nov. 2, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Tuesday, Nov. 3, 7 a.m.-3 p.m.

The city states mail ballots cannot be dropped off at regular polling places on Election Day; they must be dropped off at one of the drop off locations.

St. Paul city officials report there are 15 ballot drop off locations in Ramsey County. Ballots may be returned using curbside service at some locations; a phone number will be listed on a sign outside the location, if that’s the case.

View a map of ballot return locations in Ramsey County here.

Meanwhile, those who have already mailed their ballots can track the progress of their ballots via the Secretary of State’s online tool.

Additionally, voters who wish do so can vote in person so long as their mail ballots have not been received and counted. Elections staff at polling places will check to see if ballots have been accepted. If not accepted, voters will be given a ballot to vote in person. All uncounted mail ballots from people who then have voted in person will be canceled and not counted.

Voters can also vote in person on Election Day. Polling places are typically open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

KSTP’s complete 2020 election coverage

As Friday, the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office reports there were 1,969,728 absentee ballot applications submitted and 1,581,193 absentee ballots were accepted.