ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — An unplanned trip to the hospital in Minnesota won’t leave you without an opportunity to cast a ballot in Tuesday’s pivotal election.

Ramsey County elections officials are taking absentee ballots to Regions Hospital Monday for those unable to make it to the polls on Election Day.

Caregivers distributed absentee ballot applications to eligible patients over the weekend and they were faxed to Ramsey County’s election office.

The practice is actually law in Minnesota. Hospitals are required to provide a voting opportunity to patients who are unable to get to the polls on Election Day. That includes about a dozen patients at Regions Hospital.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)