How to vote in Minnesota
On this page
Minnesota voter registration guide
- Register to vote (online): 21 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (by mail): Received by 21 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (in person): Election Day
- If you can't remember if you're registered to vote, or you want to make sure your information is correct, you can check your Minnesota registration using the Minnesota voter registration lookup site.
- If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.
To register in Minnesota you must:
- be a citizen of the United States
- be a resident of Minnesota for at least 20 days before Election Day
- maintain residence at the address given on the registration form
- be 18 years old by Election Day
- if previously convicted of a felony, have completed or been discharged from your sentence
- not be under a court-ordered guardianship in which the right to vote has been revoked
- not be found by a court to be legally incompetent to vote.
You can register to vote online if you have a Minnesota driver's license, driver's permit, or state-issued ID card. If you don't have a Minnesota ID, you can register to vote using your Social Security Number.
- Visit the Minnesota online voter registration site.
- Fill out all the required fields.
- You will be registered to vote as soon as you finish the workflow.
- You should receive your voter registration card in the mail within 2-3 weeks. If not, you might want to follow up with your local election office.
- The deadline to register to vote online is 21 days before Election Day.
- Download and fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
- Box 6 - ID Number: Enter your Minnesota driver’s license or state ID number. If you don't have one, provide the last 4 digits of your social security number. If you don't have any of these numbers, write “NONE” here.
- Box 7 - Choice of Party: Leave blank
- Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group: Leave blank.
- Print, date, and sign the form. If you do not have a printer, you can print the form out at any local library. If you do not have a stamp, you can buy one from any grocery store: just ask the cashier to sell you one.
- Mail your voter registration form to the mailing address below. For faster delivery, send the form directly to your local election office.
- Your voter registration form must be received by 21 days before Election Day.
- Contact your local election office to find where to register to vote in person.
Bring your Minnesota driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring one photo ID issued by any state, the Federal Government, any approved tribe (must include name, signature, and photo), or from any Minnesota institution of higher education. Additionally, you will need to bring one document that shows your name and current address, including a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, student fee statement, or any government document that shows your name and address.
- Summary: Minnesota has same day registration. You can register and vote during the early voting period and on Election Day.
- Where to go:
Go to your designated voting location. Click here to find where to vote.
- What to bring:
Bring your Minnesota driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring one photo ID issued by any state, the Federal Government, any approved tribe (must include name, signature, and photo), or from any Minnesota institution of higher education. Additionally, you will need to bring one document that shows your name and current address, including a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, student fee statement, or any government document that shows your name and address.
- Need help? Contact your local election office if you have questions.
As of July 2023, your voting rights will be automatically restored immediately upon your releease from prison. You can register to vote if you are on parole. or probation.
- You cannot vote while incarcerated.
- You can vote while on parole.
- You can vote while on probation.
- You can vote upon completion of your sentence.
- No financial obligations.
- Please visit Restore Your Vote for additional information.
Minnesota absentee and mail ballot guide
Absentee ballots and mail ballots are the same thing, and the process for getting one is straight forward.
- Request your ballot by the deadline
- Receive your in ballot in the mail
- Return your ballot by the deadline
- Earliest day to apply: January 1
- Request deadline (online): 1 day before Election Day
- Request deadline (by mail): Received by 1 day before Election Day
- Request deadline (in person): 1 day before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Received by Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by Election Day
Any Minnesota resident can request an absentee ballot. If you are not yet registered, you will receive a voter registration form along with your absentee ballot.
- Visit the Minnesota absentee ballot website.
- Fill out all of the required information.
- Hit save or submit when you are done.
- The deadline to apply online is 1 day before Election Day.
- Download the Minnesota absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Print the application.
- Sign and date your application. This is very important.
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed application directly to your local election office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline.
- If it’s close to the deadline, call your local election office and see if they will let you submit your application via email or fax.
- Your application must be received by 1 day before Election Day.
- Visit your local election office.
- Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Sign and date your application.
- The deadline to apply in person is 1 day before Election Day.
- Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
- Sign and date the outside envelope.
- Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your local election office.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
- ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot:
You must include your Minnesota driver's license, state ID Number, or the last 4 digits of your social security number on your absentee ballot application. If you have none of these, you may sign a statement indicating that you do not have any of these numbers.
- ID required when returning a mail-in ballot:
You must include your Minnesota driver's license number, passport number, state ID number, or the last four digits of your Social Security Number. Additionally, your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
Track your ballot here: Minnesota absentee ballot tracker
Ballot curing is the process of resolving any problems with your absentee or mail ballot to ensure that your vote is counted. After tracking your ballot, contact your local election office to fix any issues that have been noted.
- Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if the signature does not match the one that the state has on file for you.
- If your ballot is rejected at least 5 days before Election Day, the state might send you a new ballot. Your new ballot must be postmarked or returned in person by 8:00 pm on Election Day for your vote to count.
- If your ballot is rejected within 5 days of Election Day, you cannot correct your ballot. You vote simply will not be counted.
Some states have special procedures that allow you to obtain an emergency ballot if a medical or other emergency occurs after the standard absentee ballot application window.
Emergency Ballot Rules
You may request an emergency absentee ballot if you are hospitalized. The dealine to request an emergency absentee ballot is 5PM the day before Election Day. You may also submit an absentee application to election judges delivering absentee ballots to hospitalized voters.
Dates & Deadlines
- Emergency ballot request ends 5PM 1 day before Election Day
- Emergency ballot return deadline is Election Day
Contact your local election office
Minnesota early voting guide
- Early voting starts: 46 days before Election Day
- Early voting ends: 1 day before Election Day
Most Minnesota voters do not need to show ID. First time Minnesota voters should plan on showing ID at the polls. You can show an ID issued by any state or the Federal Government or a tribal ID, as long as it shows your name, address, photo and signature. If your ID does not contain your name and address you can show an expired photo ID (including a student ID) along with a current utility bill, residential lease agreement that is valid through Election Day or current student fee statement. If you are unable to provide any of these, you still vote if a registered voter is able to vouch for you.
Minnesota voter ID guide
Most Minnesota voters do not need to show ID. First time Minnesota voters should plan on showing ID at the polls. You can show an ID issued by any state or the Federal Government or a tribal ID, as long as it shows your name, address, photo and signature. If your ID does not contain your name and address you can show an expired photo ID (including a student ID) along with a current utility bill, residential lease agreement that is valid through Election Day or current student fee statement. If you are unable to provide any of these, you still vote if a registered voter is able to vouch for you.
You must include your Minnesota driver's license, state ID Number, or the last 4 digits of your social security number on your absentee ballot application. If you have none of these, you may sign a statement indicating that you do not have any of these numbers.
You must include your Minnesota driver's license number, passport number, state ID number, or the last four digits of your Social Security Number. Additionally, your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
You can register to vote online if you have a Minnesota driver's license, driver's permit, or state-issued ID card. If you don't have a Minnesota ID, you can register to vote using your Social Security Number.
Bring your Minnesota driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring one photo ID issued by any state, the Federal Government, any approved tribe (must include name, signature, and photo), or from any Minnesota institution of higher education. Additionally, you will need to bring one document that shows your name and current address, including a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, student fee statement, or any government document that shows your name and address.
Local election office
Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Statewide election office
This is the statewide agency that is ultimately responsible for Minnesota elections. You can contact them with questions, but your local election office will probably respond faster.
Secretary of State 60 Empire Drive, Suite 100 St. Paul, MN 55103‐1855