Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
How do I register to vote?
You can register either any time up to 20 days before Election Day (November 8th), OR at your polling place on Election Day.
- To register before Election Day, you must complete a Voter Registration Application, which is downloadable in multiple languages at the website of the Secretary of State (http://www.sos.state.mn.us). Applications are also available at county courthouses, city halls and other public buildings, and in many phone books.
- To register on Election Day, you must bring a form of valid photo ID (MN license, permit, student ID—if college provides housing list, Tribal ID) OR a voter registered in the same precinct who will confirm your address OR any of the above forms of ID (may be expired) AND a rent, utility, or student fee bill.
Where do I go to vote?
Voting locations (polling places) are often located in schools, churches, or other large public gathering places. To find your polling place, you can use the Secretary of State’s online poll finding service, accessible at http://pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us. No internet access? Hennepin County: Call your local election official at (612) 348-5151 Ramsey County: (651) 266-2171
Polls are typically open from 8AM to 8PM on Election Day, November 8th, and you are legally obligated to be provided time off from work to go vote. Are there any restrictions on who can vote?
In order to vote in Minnesota elections, you must have resided in MN for the past 20 days, be at least 18 years old, be a US citizen, and have any felony record discharged, expired, or completed. If you consider a state other than Minnesota to be your permanent residence, you may be eligible to vote absentee in that state.
How do I find out who will be on my ballot?
Many newspapers publish nonpartisan voting guides in the days leading up to, or on Election Day. Candidate listings and information are also listed as they become available on the nonpartisan www.vote411.org website.
Still have questions? The website of the Minnesota Secretary of State offers lots of information for voters, and can be accessed at http://www.sos.state.mn.us.
