Voting laws in Minnesota

From Ballotpedia

Sunshine on
Minnesota Elections

Each state has its own series of election laws. The separation of powers clause in the constitution has largely placed the responsibility for conducting on state governments. Each state has its own election law enforcement agencies, oftentimes part of the executive branch, sometimes a part of the state judiciary. The following are basic guidelines for voting in Minnesota. Note: Before taking any action, or if you have any questions, contact your state election agency.ota]]

Poll Hours

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.

Voter Registration Information

Registration Deadlines

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

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

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

Visit the Minnesota Secretary of State's Poll Finder.

Absentee Voting

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:
- Absentee ballots in several languages are available for download at the following website: http://www.sos.state.mn.us/home/index.asp?page=211
- If you are serving in the military or are outside the United States, please visit https://minnesota.overseasvotefoundation.org and complete your absentee ballot request online
- Contact your county auditor or municipal clerk.
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.

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

Eligible voters who move from Minnesota to another state between October 4, 2008 and November 4, 2008 and are not eligible to vote in their new state should review the Presidential Absentee Ballot Application to find out how to vote in the presidential election.

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.

Election day activities

Conduct at Polling Places

Subdivision 1. Lingering near polling place. An individual shall be allowed to go to and from the polling place for the purpose of voting without unlawful interference. No one except an election official or an individual who is waiting to register or to vote shall stand within 100 feet of the entrance to a polling place. The entrance to a polling place is the doorway or point of entry leading into the room or area where voting is occurring.

Subd. 2. Individuals allowed in polling place; identification. (a) Representatives of the secretary of state's office, the county auditor's office, and the municipal or school district clerk's office may be present at the polling place to observe election procedures. Except for these representatives, election judges, sergeants-at-arms, and challengers, an individual may remain inside the polling place during voting hours only while voting or registering to vote, providing proof of residence for an individual who is registering to vote, or assisting a disabled voter or a voter who is unable to read English. During voting hours no one except individuals receiving, marking, or depositing ballots shall approach within six feet of a voting booth, unless lawfully authorized to do so by an election judge. (b) Teachers and elementary or secondary school students participating in an educational activity authorized by section 204B.27, subdivision 7, may be present at the polling place during voting hours. (c) Each official on duty in the polling place must wear an identification badge that shows their role in the election process. The badge must not show their party affiliation.

Subd. 3. Damaging or removing election materials; gross misdemeanor. No individual shall intentionally: (a) tear down, mutilate, deface or otherwise damage during the hours of voting any voter instruction poster placed inside or outside of a polling place by an election judge or other election official; or (b) remove from the polling place before the time for voting ends any ballots prepared for use at the election or any supplies or conveniences placed in voting booths for use by the voters, except as authorized by law. A violation of this subdivision is a gross misdemeanor.

Subd. 4. Damaging or removing election materials; felony. No individual shall intentionally: (a) remove from a polling place any election file or election register, except as authorized by law; (b) damage, deface, or mutilate any ballot, election file, or election register or any item of information contained on it, except as authorized by law; or (c) add anything to a ballot, election file, or election register, except as authorized by law. A violation of this subdivision is a felony.

Subd. 5. Sergeant-at-arms. The election judges may appoint a sergeant-at-arms when necessary to keep the peace or otherwise to assist them. An election judge may request a sergeant-at-arms or a peace officer to arrest or remove from the polling place any individual who, despite a warning to desist, engages in disorderly conduct. A sergeant-at-arms or a peace officer shall not otherwise interfere in any manner with voters. Subd. 6. Peace officers. Except when summoned by an election judge to restore the peace or when voting or registering to vote, no peace officer shall enter or remain in a polling place or stand within 50 feet of the entrance of a polling place. Subd. 7. Use of intoxicating liquor; prohibition; penalty. During the time an election is being held it is a misdemeanor to bring intoxicating liquor or 3.2 percent malt liquor into a polling place, to drink intoxicating liquor or 3.2 percent malt liquor in a polling place, or to be intoxicated in a polling place. The election judges shall not permit an obviously intoxicated individual to vote or remain in the polling place for any purpose.

Subd. 8. Access for news media. A news media representative may enter a polling place during voting hours only to observe the voting process. A media representative must present photo identification to the head election judge upon arrival at the polling place, along with either a recognized media credential or written statement from a local election official attesting to the media representative's credentials. A media representative must not: (1) approach within six feet of a voter; (2) converse with a voter while in the polling place; (3) make a list of persons voting or not voting; or (4) interfere with the voting process.^[1]

References

↑ [1] Minn Rev. Stat. § 204C.06

[0] [1] Minn Rev. Stat. § 204C.06

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