Make your voice heard
We need your voice now more than ever. If you’re thinking of sitting this election out, please don’t. This is our chance to elect leadership to every level that will make the progressive changes we want and need - from school board, city council, county commissioner, judges, to state legislators, federal legislators, to the President. It is our time to protect democracy and our values. This election, this year, is when we tell the world who we are. In 2022, We. Will. Prevail.
REGISTER TO VOTE
It’s so easy to register to vote in Minnesota. You can register online, or you can print out your paper registration form and fill it in. After that, you can register at the polling station on election day or when you vote early in person at any early voting location.
Check if you are registered at your current address, and update your information if needed.
Make a voting plan
Making a plan to vote makes it so much easier to get the job done, especially since so much is different about voting this year. Take some time today to think about it, make a plan that works for you, and put it in your calendar.
Think through your answers to these questions:
How are you voting this year? Options have changed due to the pandemic, know what they are and the best choices for you: mail, absentee but dropping the ballot off in person, voting early in person, curb-side voting, in-person on election day.
When will you check your registration/apply for your absentee ballot/send it off?
Has your usual voting place changed? Many have due to the pandemic. Find your polling place for Election Day.
If you are voting in-person, how will you get there? Do you need time off work for childcare
Who can you help vote?
When will you find out who is on your ballot and what their positions are? List of local candidate forums and debates.
Apply for absentee ballot
If you’re voting by mail (a good choice this year), you can apply for your absentee ballot NOW. It takes 2 minutes.
Know what’s on your ballot - all of it
Check your ballot to find out which elections are being held in your district and who the candidates are.
All the races are important. All these races impact your life.
Inform your vote
Before you decide who to vote for, make sure you do your research.
Check out the candidate’s campaign website, see what organizations have endorsed them.
Google articles that have been written about them.
Check their scorecards according to different organizations - like Planned Parenthood Action, Moms Demand Action (Gun Sense Voter), MN350 Action, ERA MN, Common Cause .
The League of Women Voters MN have an excellent uptodate list of upcoming candidate forums and debates that you can attend virtually to find out more about the candidates ().
Also, be sure to talk to your neighbors and other members of your community to find out what they think about the candidates.
Your vote is powerful, be informed when you use it.
Vote early
If you are able to do it, vote early, whether by mail or in person, to alleviate pressure on polling places on Election Day.
Vote early by mail: This year, with the very troubling changes being made to the USPS, it is particularly important to send your ballot off early. Your ballot will be counted as long as it is postmarked on or before November 3rd, and is received up to 7 days after Election Day. However, the recommendation is to send it off at least 2 weeks before November 3rd. Best of all is to send it off as soon as you have received it and have filled it out.
Vote early in person: You can vote early in person starting September 18th and up until November 2nd. Find your early voting place. If you are not registered to vote, you can also do that at the early voting place - you just need to take your proof of residence, along with your absentee ballot.
You can also drop off your completed absentee ballot at an early voting place from September 18th - November 2nd, or on Election Day at a polling station up until 3:00 pm.
Track your ballot
Once you’ve received your absentee ballot, filled it out and sent it off, you can track its progress, to make sure it’s received on time. This way, if there are any problems along the way, you will know about it and can do something.
Vote in person on Election day
Remember to take your proof of residence and your mask.
You can register to vote or update your registration info at your polling station on Election day. Find your polling station.
Voting places are generally open from 7:00 am-8:00 pm, but it is worth checking with your particular polling station.
Don’t forget that you have a right to take time off work to vote without losing your pay, personal leave, or vacation time.