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Minnesota Election Information

Upcoming Elections

2010 Primary Election: 09/14/10

2010 General Election: 11/02/10

Polling Place Hours: 7 am to 8 pm. In some townships, voting may begin at 10 a.m.

Some townships outside the metro area have shorter hours. Please contact your county auditor or township clerk for details.

Click here to download a Minnesota Frequently Asked Questions document created by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and its pro bono law firm partners.

Voter Registration Information

Click here for a Minnesota Voter Registration Guide created by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and its pro bono law firm partners.

Registration Deadlines

Last day to pre-register to vote in the General Election is 21 days before the election. 

2010 General Election Deadline: Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at 5:00 p.m.

Election Day Registration

  • 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. In this case, you will be required to provide proof of residence.
  • There are 2 ways to provide proof of residence:
    • Option 1: present one of the following documents:
      • 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 student identification 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
      • An authorized employee of a residential facility where you reside who can confirm your address with a signed oath (the residential facility must provide a list of employees to election officials)

    • Option 2: present a photo ID from the list below and a bill in your name that shows your address and is due within 30 days of the date of the election.

      • Acceptable Photo IDs: Minnesota Drive's License, Minnesota ID Card, United States Passport, United States Military ID, Minnesota University or Technical College ID, Tribal ID Card
      • Acceptable Bills, due within 30 days of the election: Gas, electric, telephone, cellular phone, TV (cable, satellite), Solid Waste, Water, Sewer Services, Internet Services, Student Fee Statement, Rent Statement with Itemized Utilities


Identification Required for Registration

To register to vote you need to provide your Minnesota driver's license number or Minnesota ID number. If you do not have a Minnesota driver's license or Minnesota ID, you will need to provide the last 4 digits of your Social Security number. If you have none of these, write "NONE" in box #10b of your voter registration  application.

How to Check Registration

Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE

To verify your voter registration status, please contact your county elections office.

Voting Information

Identification Required to Vote

You only need ID to vote if you have not registered before arriving at the polling precinct.  However, if you have not registered to vote prior to arriving at your polling precinct, you may register on the day of the election.  Information concerning how to register on the day of the election may be found on this web page, in the section titled "Election Day Registration." 

Federal law requires that first-time voters who registered by mail who have not provided identification at registration are required to do so at the polling place.  See the identification options listed above.

How to Find Your Polling Place

Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE

Visit the Minnesota Secretary of State's Poll Finder

Absentee Voting

 Click here to visit GoVoteAbsentee.org, a resource for absentee voters.

Absentee voting is available to those who are unable to vote in person on Election Day because you are:

  • Away from home
  • Ill or disabled
  • An election judge serving in another precinct
  • You are unable to go to the polling place due to a religious holiday or beliefs.

Rules and Deadlines:

You may cast an absentee ballot either in-person, through the mail, or by a designated agent.

In-Person Absentee Voting

  • Where to go:
    • Your county auditor's office.
    • Many city and township clerks offer absentee voting at their offices.
  • When to Go
    • During the 30 days before the election
    • Monday - Friday during normal business hours
    • The last Saturday before Election Day from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
    • The day before Election Day until 5:00 p.m.

Absentee Voting By Mail - please follow the following steps to submit your absentee ballot via mail:

  • Step 1: Obtain an absentee ballot application using one of the following methods:
  • Step 2: Complete and return the application to the county auditor or municipal clerk where you reside as soon as possible, but not less than one day before the date of the election. You may submit your Absentee Ballot Application by mail, fax, or as a scanned image attached to an email.
  • Step 3: Once the election official has received your completed application, an absentee ballot will be mailed to you.
  • Step 4: Complete the absentee ballot and return it to your county or local election official on or before Election Day.

Absentee Voting By Designated Agent - During the seven days preceding an election through2:00 p.m. on Election Day, you may designate an agent to deliver a ballot to you if you are a patient of a health care facility, are disabled, have incapacitating health issues, are a participant in certain residential programs, or are a resident of a shelter for battered women or an assisted living facility. You must have a pre-existing relationship with the person you designate as an agent. Voted ballots must be returned by 3:00 p.m. on Election Day.

Early Voting

Eligible voters may vote in person at their county auditor's office or city or township clerk's office, starting 30 days prior to Election Day.

You may choose to vote by absentee ballot for one of the following reasons:

  • Absent from your precinct
  • Illness or disability
  • Serving as an election judge in another precinct
  • Religious discipline or religious holiday or observance

  • Eligible emergency declared by the governor or quarantine declared by the federal or state government

Information For People who have Moved or Changed Addresses

Voters who have moved or changed addresses must update their information by completing a voter registration application using their new residence address prior to voting.

Information for People with Felony Convictions

Those who have committed a felony are authorized to vote in Minnesota once their civil rights have been restored. 

For more information, go to the Secretary of State's website, or click here to download a Minnesota Election Protection manual created by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and its pro bono law firm partners.

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