Voting & Registration

Each of us has been granted the right to vote by the constitution and state law. It is our duty to exersize this right and to vote each election. By voting, you help determine who will make important decisions about housing, jobs, schools, transportation, and other issues that affect your life and community.

We encourage you to take the time to register to vote if you have not done so in the past and make your plan to vote during this election. If you would like assistance, AEOA staff can help you register.

Make a plan to vote.

1. Make sure you are registered to vote. If there has been any change in your status or eligibility since the last election (did you move? change your name? go "off paper"?) you likely need to register. If you do not register in advance, you can register at the polls on Election Day by presenting a valid form of identification, which can include a state or tribal ID, a utility bill, or a neighbor who will vouch for you. Keep in mind that registering early online or by mail will keep the lines down and save you time on Election Day.

2. Follow through with your plan to vote. Vote by mail, drop your ballot off, vote early in person, or vote in person on Election Day.

Register to Vote, then Vote. Every Vote counts. Make your voice heard.

Who can vote?

To register to vote in Minnesota you must be:

A U.S. citizen
At least 18 years old on Election Day
A resident of Minnesota for 20 days
Finished with all parts of any felony sentence
You can vote while under guardianship unless a judge specifically has revoked your right to vote.
You cannot vote if a court has ruled that you are legally incompetent.

You must re-register each time you change address, change names or do not vote at least once during a four-year period. Update your registration by completing a new registration application.

Register to Vote

Voter Registration

Registering is easy!

First, check if you are already registered at https://mnvotes.sos.state.mn.us/VoterStatus.aspx If you’re not already registered, you can register online at https://mnvotes.sos.state.mn.us/VoterRegistration/VoterRegistrationMain.aspx

Registration Guidelines

Unlike many states, you can wait until Election Day to register in Minnesota. However, we encourage you to register before Election Day—it will save you time at the polling place.

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.
Otherwise, you can register on Election Day at your polling place.

How to register if you...

are a college student

are in the military or living abroad

have a criminal record

are under guardianship or have an impairment

are in a nursing home or hospital

fear for your personal safety

are in a residential facility

are moving on or close to Election Day

are living temporarily in Minnesota

are homeless

are facing home foreclosure

are without a home because it was destroyed

Visit www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/register-to-vote/ for information on how to register to vote.

Ways to Vote

Vote by mail (get your ballot by mail, return it by mail):
Voting by mail gives people the most control over how and when they vote, but it’s also critical that these ballots get mailed as early as possible due to potential postal delays. Any eligible voter may request an absentee ballot, have it securely mailed to them, and fill it out and return it.

Drop ballot off (get your ballot by mail, return to in-person ballot box or election office):
Dropping off the ballot you received in the mail is the second safest, healthiest option to vote during a pandemic. Voting in this manner will allow people to have full control over their ballot; they will know exactly when their ballot is received.

Vote early, no lines:
With in-person voting, lines may be shorter, and with potentially smaller crowds. It also allows more ballots to be counted ahead of Election Day in some states, possibly limiting how long official results take to tabulate.

Election Day, in-person:
Election Day voting is the most widely used method of voting and in Minnesota also allows for same-day registration. It’s important to note what voter ID laws may exist, to know if your polling location has changed since the last election.

Where to Vote

State election offices assign polling locations based on a voter’s address. If you aren’t sure where to go to vote, you can either contact your election office or use the polling place lookup tool here. Find Out Where to Vote

Voting early? Find your early voting location.
Voting by mail? Find nearby dropbox locations.
Voting on Election Day? Find your polling place at https://pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us/