Election day is Tuesday, November 4. Do you have everything you need to be able to exercise your right to vote?
First, check your voter registration status.
Already registered? Great, find your polling place for election day.
Not registered? No need to worry, you may register to vote on Election Day in Minnesota.
If you are not registered to vote or need to update your registration information, you may do so at your polling location on Election Day. You need to provide proof of residence, and there are many ways to do this. Below are the primary ways you can meet the requirements for same-day registration, or check out the full list:
OPTION 1: ID with current name and address:
- • A valid Minnesota driver's license, a learner's permit, a Minnesota ID card or a receipt for any of these containing a valid address in the precinct;
- • A valid student ID card, including your photo, if your college has provided a student housing list to election officials;
- • A tribal ID card that contains your name, picture, signature and address in the precinct;
- • A valid registration in the same precinct under a different name or address;
- • A notice of late registration that was sent to you by your county auditor or city clerk;
- • A voter registered in the same precinct as you who can confirm your address with a signed oath.
OPTION 2: Photo ID plus a document with your current name and address.
Acceptable photo IDs: Any state issued driver’s license or ID card; U.S. passport; U.S. military ID card; Minnesota university or technical college ID card; tribal ID card.
Acceptable bills, due or dated within 30 days of the election: telephone (landline, cell, VoIP, etc.); TV (cable, satellite, etc.); Internet services; electric; gas; solid waste; sewer services; water; rent statement dated within 30 days of Election Day that itemizes utilities; current student fee statement.
Voting Before Election Day
Skip the Election Day lines and vote early! If you are unable to make it to the polls, or simply want to, there are two ways to vote before Election Day—in person and by mail.
IN PERSON
You can request, receive and cast an absentee ballot in one visit to your county election office. Starting Sept. 19, 2014 (46 days before Election Day), you can vote in person during these periods:
- • Monday to Friday, during normal business hours.
- • The last Saturday before Election Day (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.).
- • The day before Election Day, until 5 p.m.
If you are not registered to vote, you will need to complete a voter registration form and show proof of residence at the elections office (see the list of approved proof of residence documents above).
BY MAIL
You can complete and submit an absentee ballot application. To be counted, a completed absentee ballot must be received by mail on Election Day. If you deliver the absentee ballot in person, it must be delivered to the same office that sent it to you by 5 p.m. on Nov. 3 (the day BEFORE the election).
Student Information
If you are a resident of Minnesota and attend school within the state but in a different election district, you may be eligible to register and vote in the election district you live in while attending school.
If you are a student from Minnesota who is attending an institution out of state, you should first determine if you would like to vote in Minnesota or the state where your institution is located. Minnesota allows students attending school out of state to still vote in Minnesota. Please note that you may register and vote in only one state per election.
For more information on how to register to vote as a student, visit the Brennan Center for Justice’s Student Voting Guide for Minnesota.
Formerly Incarcerated? Restore Your Rights!
If you have been convicted of a felony but your sentence, including probation or parole, has expired (been completed) or you have been discharged from your sentence, your right to vote is automatically restored. However, you must re-register to vote once you are “off-paper” even if you were previously registered. For more information, check out “Felony Conviction and Voting” on the secretary of state’s website.
Additional Information
If you have additional questions about voting in Minnesota, you can contact the Minnesota secretary of state’s office by phone at 651-215-1440 or 1-877-600-8683, email at [email protected] or visit its website at sos.state.mn.us.