Voting in Minnesota 101
To vote in Minnesota you must be: a US citizen; at least 18 years old on Election day; a resident of Minnesota for 20 days; have finished with all parts of any felony sentence.
For more on who can vote, see here
Register to vote:
You can register anytime from now until (including on) Election day, Nov 6th
Minnesota makes it SO EASY to register to vote. There are 3 ways to do it (link to https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/register-to-vote/):
Register online
Register on paper
Register on Election day (you must bring a proof of residence)
Want to check if you are already registered? See here
For more details on how to register to vote for people in special circumstances, see here
Are you a college student? Keep scrolling for the section on College Students below.
Vote early (absentee):
You can vote early anytime from September 21st to November 5th, depending on what method you choose.
Early voting starts September 21st. Again, it’s really easy. You can vote early:
By mail (your absentee ballot will not count if it is received after Election Day)
In person until November 5th.
If you are military or abroad (your absentee ballot will not count if it is received after Election Day)
Want to track your absentee ballot? Do it here
Vote on Election Day:
Election Day is on November 6th. If you haven’t voted early or by absentee ballot, this is your last chance to vote. Make a plan now to be sure it happens.
Everyone has an assigned polling station. Find yours here
Polling places are typically open from 7am-8pm (As long as you are in line by 8pm, you can vote)
Never voted before? Here are some tips on what will happen when you show up for your first vote.
Need to take time off work to get to the polls? You can! You have a right to take time off work to vote without losing your pay, personal leave, or vacation time.
Need help with voting? To find out how to do this, click here. Check on polling place accessibility here. Check here to find out about ballot marking machines to help you mark your ballot. Watch this video “Disability Rights: Voting in MN” to find out more.
Not sure about your rights as a voter in Minnesota? Check here.
Need a ride to your polling station? Call your local political party office and see if they can help.
Also, check out Lyft’s Ride to Vote offer. It looks very good!
College Students:
Are you a college student, living away from home and confused about where you can vote?
If you are a Minnesotan college student, studying in-state or out-of-state, you should register to vote from the address you consider home.
If you moved to Minnesota from another state to attend college here and are paying out-of-state tuition, you can vote here. For more information on how to register in both these cases, see here.
Are you studying abroad right now or will be in November? Have an absentee ballot emailed to you wherever you are in the world, but do it soon. Check here for more information.
For more information on elections and voting, see MN Secretary of State website or call them at 1-877-600-VOTE (8683) or contact your county election office.