Voting FAQ

What is voting?
The president, senators, representatives, and many other government positions are chosen through the number of votes cast by everyday US citizens like you. Elections happen every year, and different positions are up for election in different years. A president is elected every four years--and 2012 is one of those years.

What’s the point of voting?
Voting is one of the easiest and most direct ways to express your views. Whether you vote or not, the person who is elected will help shape laws that might end up affecting you. By voting, you get to help make sure that person is someone you trust to make good choices. Minnesota especially has a recent history of very close elections... One of our current senators, Senator Al Franken, won by 225 votes in 2008. It really is true that every vote counts!

Who can vote?
In the United States, you can vote if...

  • You’re 18 years old or older on Election Day
  • You’re a legal US citizen
  • You haven’t been convicted of a felony--or, if you have, your felony record has been discharged, expired, or completed
In Minnesota, you also must have lived in the state for the past 20 days.
You also need to be registered to vote, which brings us to our next question...

How do I register to vote?
In Minnesota, you can register to vote ahead of time, or you can register on Election Day.

  • To register ahead of time: Fill out the Voter Registration Application, and mail it, or give it in person to your local election official. You can find your official’s address in the Election Official Directory. After your name has been added to the list of registered voters, you’ll get a postcard in the mail with the address of your polling location, which is the place where you vote. Your name will also be on a list at the polling location when you get there on Election Day.
  • To register on Election Day: You have three options--
1. Bring a form of valid (not expired) photo ID. This can be a MN driver’s license, MN permit, a Tribal ID, or a college ID, if you know that your college provides a housing list to the polling place.   
2. Bring a voter who is registered in the same precinct (a precinct is an area that decides who you vote for in local elections) to confirm that you live where you say you do. If you have a neighbor who is a registered voter, they might be a good person to ask.  
3. Any of the following forms of photo ID--which can be expired, plus a utility bill, rent statement, or student fee statement.
Permitted photo IDs:
-Minnesota Driver's License
-Minnesota ID Card
-United States Passport
-United States Military ID Card
-Tribal ID Card
-Minnesota University, College, or Technical College ID Card

Where do I vote?
There are polling places all over the state, which are where people vote. They can be in schools, churches, libraries, or nursing homes, but they do not have any kind of party affiliation. Polling places should be in a convenient, accessible place, but many organizations also run carpools on Election Day if getting to your polling place will be difficult. You can find out where your polling place is here.

Can I vote if I wasn’t born in this country?
Yes! As long as you are a legal US citizen and fulfill the criteria above, you are eligible to vote.

What if I moved to a different state for college?
You have a two options. If you moved to a new state for school, but are from Minnesota and want to vote as a Minnesotan, you can vote absentee. In order to do so, you have to fill out an Absentee Ballot Application and mail it in to your local election official. You will be sent a ballot in the mail, which you must complete and then mail back to your election official (you’ll receive a prepaid envelope with the ballot). If you are from a different state and moved to Minnesota, you can vote as a Minnesotan as long as you’ve been living here for the past 20 days and fulfill the other eligibility requirements.

How long will voting take? Do I need to take off work to vote?
If you don’t count getting to and from your polling location (and maybe deliberating a little over which candidates to choose), voting really shouldn’t take more than five minutes. Your boss is legally obligated to allow you time off from work to go vote, and most polling locations are open from 7am (or 10am at the latest) and close at 8pm.

Q: What offices will be on the ballot?
A:
  • Federal
  • -U.S. President & Vice President
  • -U.S. Senator
  • -U.S. Representatives (8)
  • State Legislature
    • -State Senators (67)

  • -State Representatives (134)
  • State Judiciary
  • -Supreme Court 
    -Court of Appeals
    -District Court judicial seats may be on the ballot.
  • Local
-Some county, city, town and school board offices will be up for election.

How do I know who to vote for?
Most newspapers will publish a voting guide on or before Election Day that runs through the candidates on the ballot and what their stances are on major issues. Most candidates also have websites where you can find out some of their ideas. Although it’s always good to be informed about who’s on the ballot, it’s also okay to leave spots empty if you’re left stumped when you get a look at the ballot on Election Day.


More questions? Check out www.mnvotes.org