Minnesota Voting Requirements & Information
U.S. Vote Foundation’s Minnesota Voting Requirements and Information directory informs you of Minnesota voting rules and options. It focuses on Minnesota-specific voting guidelines and information for all voters, including domestic, overseas, and military voters. Here you can find out about Minnesota voter eligibility, voter ID requirements, registration, absentee and early voting options, ways to transmit voting documents and links to specific-Minnesota voting tools. It's an all-in-one Minnesota voting resource.
General Information
Registration
You can register to vote or update your registration information:
- online
- by mail
- in person at your elections office
- at some public assistance offices and motor vehicle offices
- at your polling place on Election Day with proof of residence
You must have resided in Minnesota at least 20 days prior to the election in which you intend to vote.
In 2024, Minnesota will switch to automatic voter registration. Minnesotans will then be registered to vote, or their voter registration will be updated, without having to proactively check a box when applying for or renewing a driver’s license or state ID. Minnesotans automatically registered will be able to opt-out within 20 days of their registration being processed. A mailing will be sent to each prospective voter indicating how to opt out.
Election Day Voting
Polling places are open from 7am to 8pm on Election Day. If you are in line by 8pm, you have the right to vote. You also have the right to take off time from work to vote without losing pay.
Find my polling place
Early Voting
Any registered voter can vote absentee in person early at a county elections office.
If you are not registered, you can still vote early in person if you show proof of residence.
For most elections, absentee voting locations must be open during their normal business hours starting 46 days before the election. Locations offering absentee ballots for federal, state or county elections must also be open the last Saturday before Election Day from 10am to 3pm, the day before Election Day until 5pm. Voters may also use 24 hour drop boxes.
Absentee Voting
Any person eligible to register to vote in Minnesota may request an absentee ballot and vote by mail or by drop box. Some cities or towns also offer in-person absentee voting.
Please visit the US Vote Disability Voting Guide to see accommodations for the registration and voting process.
Eligibility Requirements
You are eligible to vote in Minnesota if you:
- Are at least 18 years old by Election Day
- Are a U.S. citizen
- Live in Minnesota for at least 20 days prior to election day
You are NOT eligible to vote in Minnesota if:
- You are currently serving a sentence including incarceration, parole, probation, or extended supervision for a felony conviction
- You were disqualified from voting due to a court order
Agencies or courts in Minnesota have issued opinions that individuals under guardianship DO have the right to vote unless the guardianship decree contains an express order otherwise.
Restorative Requirements
- If you have completed a felony prison sentence, even if you are still on parole or probation, then you are immediately eligible to register to vote.
You may preregister to vote in Minnesota
- At the age of 16 or 17 as long as you will be 18 by the time the next election occurs
To pre-register to vote at 16 or 17 years old in Minnesota, you must be at least 18-years-old when the next election occurs (special, township, state primary, or state general). Because special elections can be called at unexpected times, your application may be returned if an election becomes scheduled in between the date you register and your birthday. If that happens, simply wait until that election passes, and register again.
If you are a student, you are eligible to vote in Minnesota if:
- You reside in Minnesota but are attending college in another state
- You reside in another state but attend college in Minnesota
Identification Requirements
Voter Registration
To register to vote in Minnesota you should provide one of the following:
- Your Minnesota Driver's License Number
- Your Minnesota ID Number
If you do not have these IDs, you may provide:
- Last Four Digits of your Social Security Number
If you register to vote on Election Day you will need to provide one of the following:
- Minnesota Learner's Permit
- Minnesota ID Card
- Valid Tribal ID
- A registered voter from the same precinct who will sign an oath confirming your address
- Receipt for Driver's License, Lerner's permit or ID
- Valid Student ID accompanied by on-campus housing listing that denotes US Citizenship
- Valid Minnesota Driver's License except one issued to an individual that is not a United States citizen
- A staff person from your residential facility who can confirm your address
If you do not have this form of ID(s), Minnesota will also accept:
- Valid Tribal ID
- Valid Student ID
- Valid US Passport
- Valid Military ID
- Veteran's ID
- Out of State Driver's License or Non-driver ID
Together with one of the following:
- Student Fee Statement
- Bank, credit card, rent or mortgage statement dated within 30 days of the Election
- Lease or rent agreement
- Bill, account or start-of-service statement due or dated within 30 days of the election for Phone, TV, internet, solid waste, sewer electric gas or water
Voting In-Person
You do not need to show ID to vote if your registration is current and active. Your registration is considered "current" if you registered at least 21 days before Election Day and haven't relocated. Your registration is considered "active" if you have voted in the past four years.
If you request an absentee ballot online, you will need to provide your email address AND one of the following:
- Last Four Digits of your Social Security Number
- Your Minnesota Driver's License Number
- Your Minnesota ID Number
Witness / Notarization Requirements
An absentee ballot must include ONLY ONE of the following in order to be counted:
- The Signature of a Registered State Voter Who is Your Witness
- Notarization
Exceptions may apply for disabled voters. Please contact your local election official.
Voter Materials Transmission Options
Domestic Voter |
In-Person |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |
State Lookup Tools – Am I Registered?
State Elections Website
Can I View my Sample Ballot?
Where is my Polling Place?
Where is my Ballot?
Can I Register to Vote Online?
Am I Registered?
Overseas / Military Voter Information
State Voter Registration FAQ
Where are my Early Voting Locations?
Where is my Ballot Drop Box?
Has my Ballot Been Counted?
Vote In Honor of a Veteran
Where is my Overseas or Military Ballot?
Eligibility Requirements
Overseas Voters
U.S. citizens living abroad have the right to vote as absentee voters, provided they are eligible to vote in their state. If you are living outside of the U.S. permanently, indefinitely, or temporarily, your voting rights stay with you, even if you never voted when you lived in the U.S. To vote from overseas:
- Complete and send an overseas voter registration/ballot request form to your election office in the U.S. This is one specific form that will register you as an overseas voter and request your absentee ballot – simultaneously.
Many states allow children who were born overseas, but never lived in the U.S., to use their U.S. parents’ last residence address to register.
Military Voters
Service members and their eligible family members living outside their voting jurisdiction (within or outside the U.S.) are able to vote as absentee voters.
- If you are a service member, or an eligible family member, there is a single form to file for both voter registration and ballot request. It is often called the “Federal Post Card Application” or the FPCA form. This form must be re-filed with your election office each time you change location.
To vote as a service member or eligible family member:
- Complete and send a voter registration/ballot request form “FPCA” to your election office in the U.S. It is the same form in all states.
Identification Requirements
Voting Overseas
U.S. citizens living overseas may register and request a ballot using the overseas voter registration/ballot request form. You will have the following identification options when completing the form:
- U.S. Passport
- U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
- Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number
If you do not have these IDs, leave this section blank.
Voting Military
Service members and their dependents may register and request a ballot using the federal voter registration/ballot request form ("FPCA"). You will have the following identification options when completing the form:
- U.S. Passport
- U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
- Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number
If you do not have these IDs, leave this section blank.
Voter Materials Transmission Options
Overseas Voter |
In-Person |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |
Military Voter |
In-Person |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |