Minnesota

Land Acknowledgement

Minnesota is the home of the Lower Sioux Indian Community in the State of Minnesota, Mdewakanton Sioux Indians, Minnesota Chippewa Tribe (Bois Forte Band [Nett Lake], Fond du Lac Band, Grand Portage Band, Leech Lake Band, Mille Lacs Band, White Earth Band), Prairie Island Indian Community in the State of Minnesota, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community of Minnesota, and the Upper Sioux Community. It is the traditional homeland of many tribes.

Overview

Minnesota allows you to register to vote in person, online, or by mail. You can register to vote in person on Election Day. You will need to provide proof of residency if you need to register to vote, update your registration, or you have not voted in an election in the last four years. You can vote in person as early as September 23.

Key Dates

September 23 - Early voting begins

October 18 - Voter registration deadline for online or mail registration.

November 8 - Election Day!

Minnesota Voting Guide

Note: The information below is not legal advice on how to vote. Because voting information is changing rapidly during this election, make sure you check the links provided and check with your state about deadlines and voting specifics.

Registering to Vote

  • The time to register to vote in person is between September 18 and November 7.

    You can register to vote in person at a polling location on Election Day. The deadline to register to vote online or by mail-in/absentee is October 18, with the mailed registration received by that date.

    However, you can still register to vote in person at your polling location on Election Day.

  • Pursuant to Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Minnesota is required to provide "All other American Indian tribe" languages in Houston County. We are monitoring this issue and will provide an update as soon as possible.

    Contact your County Election Official.

  • To register online, you will need to provide an email address and your Minnesota driver's license or Minnesota ID card. If you cannot provide either a driver's license or State ID card, you may use the last four digits of your Social Security Number. If you do not have either an email address or one of the forms of identification, register using the paper application.

  • If you have not previously registered to vote using your current Minnesota address you may register at the polling place on election day. To register, voters must complete an application, make an oath, and prove their residence.

  • Addresses outside of municipalities is handled by the county. Contact your county to get an address. Contact your County Election office with questions about valid addresses.

    Contact County Elections Office

  • Whether you need to bring ID to the polls depends on if you need to register at the polling place or not. If your voter registration is current and active, you do not need to bring identification. This means you were successfully registered at least 21 days before Election Day and you have not moved or changed names since then.

    If you need to register or update your registration, or you have not voted in four years or more, you will need to show proof of residence before you vote. To obatin a valid ID, call (877) 600-VOTE, or contact your local County Official.

  • Yes, register online here.

    You will need an email address and either your Minnesota driver's license or State ID card number, or the last four numbers of your Social Security Number. If you do not have one of these, register with a paper application.

  • No.

  • Yes, download and fill out a paper application.

    Return it to your County Election office.

  • Yes, download and fill out a paper application and mail it to your County Election office or to:

    Secretary of State
    60 Empire Dr., Suite 100,
    Saint Paul, MN 55103

  • Yes, your criminal record does not affect your right to vote in Minnesota, unless you are currently serving a felony conviction sentence, including probation, parole, and supervised release or your stay of adjudication was revoked and you are currently serving a felony sentence. Once you have finished all parts of your felony conviction sentence, you will need to register to vote.

    For more information, visit the Secretary of State's website.

  • Contact your County Election office with questions.

  • Yes, under federal law you can assist someone in registering to vote if they do not speak English well, if they have trouble reading or writing, or if they have a disability.

Checking & Updating Voter Registration

  • You can check your voter registration online.

  • Contact your County Elections Board with questions about your voter registration online.

  • You can update your voter registration online using a Minnesota driver's license, State ID, or Social Security Number, or using a paper application. Return your application to your county election board.

    Find your county election office

  • Some states regularly remove voters from voting lists that have not voted in recent elections or have not responded to letters from the state asking for the voter to confirm his or her address. If you have not voted recently you should confirm that you are still registered to vote by checking your registration status online.

Voting by Mail/Absentee/Ballot Drop-Off

  • Minnesota provides same day voter registration. Absentee ballots will be sent out September 23. However, if you apply for an absentee ballot after September 23, your ballot will be sent when your application is received.

  • Yes. Please check that you have filled out all required fields and signed your ballot. USPS recommends you mail in your ballot a week before the deadline to ensure your ballot is received on time. However, please factor in your personal experience with mail delivery times to and from your place of residence or where you drop off your ballot.

  • You need to apply to vote by mail. You can fill out an application online or download the application and return it to your county election office by mail, fax, or email.

    Find my county election office

    To find out if you are in an area that automatically sends ballots, enter your address here and look for a message that says all voters in your area will be mailed a ballot.

  • No.

  • Yes.

  • The last day to request a mail-in ballot is November 7 and it must be returned by mail (received by) November 8. However, it is recommended that you request a ballot with sufficient time for it to be sent to you and for you to return it on time.

  • Ballots will be sent out on September 23. If you apply for an absentee ballot after September 23, your ballot will be sent when your application is received.

  • You can have a ballot sent to any address.

  • No.

  • The last day to request a mail-in ballot is November 7, and it must be received by November 8. USPS recommends you mail in your ballot a week before the deadline to ensure your ballot is received on time. However, please factor in your personal experience with mail delivery times to and from your place of residence or where you drop off your ballot.

  • You can return your ballot in person no later than 3PM on Election Day to the election office that sent your ballot.

  • Yes. In Minnesota, an individual can drop off ballots for up to three other voters. They will need to show identification with their name and signature when returning a ballot for someone else.

  • Yes, you may send your ballot through FedEx or UPS.

  • Yes. A witness is an eligible Minnesota voter or a notary.

  • Yes. Your ballot may be thrown out if your name and address do not match the information provided on the absentee application and on the signature envelope, or you did not sign the certification on the envelope, or the numbers from the provided identification does not match the application or voter record, or you are not registered and eligible to vote in the precinct, or the certificate is incomplete, or you already voted in the current election.

  • Yes. You can track your ballot online.

  • Contact your local election office.

Voting In-Person

  • You can find your polling place by entering your address on this website.

  • No.

  • Yes, you can vote early starting September 23 at your county election office. Additional locations and/or hours may be provided in some cities.

  • If your voter registration is current and active, you do not need to bring ID. However if you need to register to vote, update your registration, or have not voted in the past four years, you will need to provide proof of residence.

    Proof of Residence includes a valid Minnesota driver's license, Minnesota learner's permit, Minnesota ID, a receipt for any of these, or a Tribal ID with your name, address, photo, and signature. You may also provide a photo ID (including an expired ID) with another document that shows your current name and address, such as a bill dated within 30 days of the election or a residential lease.

    Get more information about the proof of residence requirement.

  • Minnesota does not require specific ID to vote, but you can get a Minnesota ID from the Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services Department.

  • No. But Minnesota does have same day voter registration.

  • Yes. Under federal law (Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act), you are entitled to bring anyone you trust, such as a friend, family member, or neighbor, to the polling place AND into the polling booth to assist with voting. However, that person may not be your employer, running in the election, or a representative of your labor union. The person giving assistance also may not tell the voter how to vote.

  • You can contact your county election office.