The voting process: Answers to your voting and election questions in Minnesota
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Minnesota’s midterm general election is less than two months away and MPR News is here to answer any voting questions you may have.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Early voting in person and by mail begins Friday.
Learn more about when and where to vote, how to register, what will be on your ballot, how to vote early and more.
Where can I find a list of candidates and the issues on the ballot for my area?
MPR News’ Voter Guide will show you which races, candidates and ballot questions you will see when you vote. Enter your voter registration address at Build Your Ballot.
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When do I vote?
Early voting for the general election opens Sept. 18. That can be done by mail or in person at certain locations by Nov. 2.
Register in advance by Oct. 13 to save time on Election Day.
For in-person voting on Nov. 3, polling places are usually open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Some polling places in towns with fewer than 500 residents will not open until 10 a.m. due to different requirements.
As long as you're in line by 8 p.m. on Election Day, you can vote.
What is early voting? How do I do it?
Early voting allows you to cast your ballot directly into a ballot counter before Election Day. Ballots become available 46 days before an election.
If you’re interested in voting early and in person, you can find an early voting site through the Secretary of State’s list of locations.
General Election early voting timeline
Ballots for in-person and mail voting become available on Friday, Sept 18.
Early voting, where people feed their ballots directly into machines for eventual tabulation, is available starting Friday, Oct. 16.
The last day to vote early in person is Monday, Nov. 2, and ballots must be received by Tuesday, Nov. 3, which is Election Day.
Can I go to the early voting site and fill out a ballot there or do I have to request a ballot first?
You do not need to request a ballot beforehand or bring a ballot to vote at an in-person early voting location. Election officials will provide you with a ballot to complete that day.
If you are not already registered to vote, you can do so at the polling location if you show proof of residence.
Where do I vote?
You can find your polling place at the Secretary of State’s website. You can find both Election Day polling places and locations for early, in-person voting.
How do I register to vote? How do you register as a first-time voter?
You should register to vote with your home address. If you will be away from your registered address on Election Day, you can request an absentee ballot be sent to your current address.
More information about registering to vote without a permanent address can be found on the Secretary of State’s website.
In Minnesota, voters can register anytime through Election Day:
The deadline to register online is 11:59 p.m. 21 days before Election Day.
The deadline to register on paper is 5 p.m. 21 days before Election Day.
Register when you vote, either at a polling place or when voting absentee
If you are registering to vote at a polling place on Election Day, you will need to provide proof of residence. Some examples of proof of residence include the following:
Valid Minnesota driver’s license, learner’s permit or ID or their receipt
Tribal ID with name, address, photo and signature
U.S. Passport, U.S. Military or Veteran ID or Approved photo ID (can be expired) along with an approved document, such as a utility or rent bill, that confirms your home address
Bringing along a registered voter from your precinct to sign an oath and vouch for you
Photo ID with a student housing list
Valid registration in the same precinct
Notice of Late Registration
Staff person of a residential facility
To check your voter registration status, visit the Secretary of State’s website.
How and where do I find out if I'm still registered to vote?
You can check your voter registration status by filling out the secretary of state’s voter registration form.
What is an absentee ballot?
Absentee ballots are sent to a voter’s residence after they request one. An absentee ballot will come with instructions.
You will need a witness when you complete your absentee ballot. Your witness can be anyone who is a U.S. citizen and will be 18 years old by Election Day. Notaries are also acceptable witnesses. Your witness needs to see your blank ballot before you fill it out.
Return the absentee ballot and forms right away. Your vote will not count if it is received after Election Day.
When will I receive my absentee voting paperwork?
Once you apply, your application must be processed by your local election office.
You can check your application and ballot’s status here.
If you are interested in applying for an absentee ballot, you can do that here. If you would prefer to fill out this information on paper, you can do so by printing this PDF and submitting it to your local elections office.
Note: As we get closer to Nov. 3, remember that absentee ballots and forms must be received by Election Day.
Who can be a witness for my absentee ballot?
The witness can be either:
Anyone who is a U.S. citizen and will be 18 years old by Election Day
A notary
Your witness needs to see your blank ballot before you fill it out. Your witness must sign and write their address on the signature envelope. Notaries write their name and title, sign the signature envelope and mark their notary stamp.
How can I track my absentee ballot?
Visit the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Minnesota Ballot Tracker. You'll need to provide:
Your first and last name
Date of birth (MM/DD/YYYY format)
ID number (Minnesota driver's license/state ID, last 4 digits of SSN or U.S. passport for military/overseas voters)
The site notes that it “updates nightly, and your ballot may take several days to appear after processing.”
