Have you ever voted absentee for Minnesota races?

[Eric J in MN]

Is it easy to miss the signature line on the outside envelope?

http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/34485189.html?page=2&c=y

Mark Jeranek, who voted absentee in Beltrami County and whose ballot was rejected because he did not sign an outside envelope, said he has been approached several times by the Franken campaign asking him to sign an affidavit affirming that he did vote and that he wants his vote counted.

Jeranek, who lives in Jones Township near Bemidji, said an original affidavit sent to him by the Franken campaign indicated that Jeranek did sign the envelope. But when Jeranek approached Beltrami election officials about the issue, he came away convinced he had failed to sign the document.

[trotsky]

1. I did, in 1992.

I was out of the country living in Germany at the time.

I'm pretty sure I signed the outside envelope, then mailed it inside another envelope because of course sending it back internationally required different postage.

[Morning Dew]

2. I voted absentee in '06 -

but I did it in person so I don't know about the envelope.

I had to take my dad to Rochester for medical care and voted absentee.

The great thing was that there was a rally for Teflon Tim the night before the election - I walked over and there were about 25 or 30 Pawlenty supporters in attendance. There were a few Hatch supporters there as well with at least one big Hatch sign.
When Pawlenty arrived he brought a huge crowd with him on his bus ( or buses) and they filled in the area where the rally was being held.

I bet that looked good on the TV news but it wasn't real.

[dflprincess]

3. I've taken my mom to City Hall so she can vote absentee the last few elections

I think it is possible that someone could miss the signature line. The advantage to taking her over to vote in person is that the clerk makes sure everything is done correctly so things like signatures aren't missed.

[Eric J in MN]

4. Is there an outer envelope when it's handled at City Hall? NT

NT

[question everything]

5. Yes. You put your ballot in a plain brown "secrecy" envelope.

Then you put this envelope in the one where the voter's identification and signature, as well as the witness' signature are.

My spouse and I witnessed each other and I hand carried both to Plymouth City Hall. (A week before the elections my spouse's ankle was put in an air cast, so standing in line for a long time was not too palatable..)

I stood in line to present both envelopes in person and, since I had both of them, I had to sign in some sort of a ledger book in two places one for each of us that both were delivered. Even now, I am not sure what I signed..

While waiting in line, I saw that the City of Plymouth provided many voting "booths" and many were at a desk height with chairs. Most of the voters when I was there, Monday noon time, were elderly and a bit handicapped and I thought that this was a generous gesture from the city.

[Eric J in MN]

6. Do you sign the back of the outer envelope?

If so, is there a warning, "Sign the back" on the front of the envelope?

[question everything]

7. Do not remember a warning

However, you have to fill your name and address and the signature of the witness so it is hard to miss your own signature.

You either fill everything, or you don't.