Prepare to vote

Last updated 9/18/2023

The Minnesota legislature passed several election laws during the 2023 legislative season.

New Minnesota election laws

New election laws 2023

People on parole and probation are now eligible to vote

As of June 1, 2023 you can vote even if you are on parole or probation. Your right to vote has been restored. Felony status doesn't affect your right to vote as long as you are not serving your sentence in a correctional facility. If you have a felony conviction, you can vote while on work release, home monitoring or probation/parole.

Pre-registration for 16 and 17 years old

As of June 1, 2023, 16 and 17 year olds are able to pre-register to vote. Pre-registered voters will be automatically registered once they turn 18 years old.

Intimidation and interference with the voting process

As of June 15, 2023, there are new criminal and civil penalties in place to stop the intimidation of or interference with the voting process. Action can be brought by the Attorney General, a County Attorney, or anyone personally impacted by a prohibited act.

Automatic voter registration

Individuals applying for their Minnesota driver’s license, State ID or other state applications will be automatically registered to vote. A voter can choose to opt-out. Individuals are registered if their state application includes documentation of citizenship. This change is effective July 1, 2023. You may not see changes until early 2024.

Check your Minnesota registration status.

Permanently receive absentee ballots

Effective June 1, 2024, voters will be able to check a box on their voter registration application to permanently receive an absentee ballot. Voters on the permanent list will receive an absentee ballot, instead of an absentee ballot application.

Translation and interpretation requirements

Effective January 1, 2024, the state is required to develop materials in languages other than English based on census tract data. Interpreters will be required at some Election Day polling places based on language needs data.

Check your registration status

You will need to enter your name, birth date, and address.

• Minnesota Secretary of State voter information portal

Register to vote

Online Registration is now closed for the November 3 General Election.

You may register at your polling place on Election Day: Learn more about Election Day registration and find your polling place.

Even if you are not registered to vote, you may apply for an absentee ballot. You will be sent voter registration materials with your ballot. Learn more about voting early with an absentee ballot. 

Online registration will re-open on November 4 at mnvotes.org.

Online

To register online, you must:

• Meet eligibility guidelines to register and vote in Minnesota
• Provide an email address
• Provide an identification number from either your Minnesota driver's license, your Minnesota ID card or the last four (4) digits of your Social Security number

If you can't provide an email address and one of the identification numbers listed above, you cannot register online.

Online voter registration application

In person or by mail

If you meet eligibility guidelines to vote, you can submit a completed voter registration application (PDF) to Hennepin County Elections by mail or in person. You may also be able to register at your polling place on election day if you bring the approved identification with you.

Frequently asked questions

Why did I receive a pre-filled voter registration application?

Several organizations send out mailings to increase voter participation. Mailings can include information regarding voter registration status, along with pre-filled absentee ballot and voter registration applications. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of data used by these organizations. Please check your voter registration status or contact our office with questions at HC.Vote@hennepin.us or 612-348-5151.

Am I eligible to vote?

See the Minnesota Secretary of State’s site for details.

When do I need to update my voter registration?

If you are currently registered to vote, you do not need to register again unless you have moved to a different address, moved to a new apartment or condo, changed your name, or not voted at least once within the last four years. Voters are encouraged to register before Election Day. Registration temporarily closes 20 days before the election, and opens again on Election Day for voters who register at their polling place.

Are voter registration applications available in multiple languages?

Yes. See the Minnesota Secretary of State’s site for details.

Can I register to vote with my post office or mail center box address?

No. By law, you may only vote in the precinct where you live or reside. When you fill out your registration application, you must provide the address of your residence. In general, your residence is where:

• Your home is
• You usually sleep
• You intend to return after you've been temporarily away
• You live with your family, if you have one

What happens to my voter registration if I change my address with the U.S. Postal Service?

If you move and submit a permanent forwarding order to the U.S. Postal Service, your voter registration may be automatically updated to your new address for you. You will receive a postcard with your new address and new voting location. When you receive this card, please verify the residential address is correct. If the information is not correct, please follow the instructions on the post card.

What do I need to know if I am conducting a voter registration drive?

First, make sure the voters are completing the registration applications correctly. The voter must:

• Answer "Yes" to the first two questions at the top of the form – “Are you a U.S. citizen?” and “Will you be at least 18 on or before the next election?” Do not fill out the questions yourself unless the voter requests assistance.
• Provide a Minnesota driver's license or Minnesota ID card number if the voter has one. Otherwise, voter must provide the last four digits of their Social Security number. If the voter has neither, the voter must check the box for “I do not have a Minnesota-issued driver’s license, a MN-issued ID card, or a Social Security number.”
• Include voter's name, address, date of birth, and signature on the form.

Second, make sure to return all the completed voter registration applications on time. Minnesota law requires you to submit the completed applications within 10 days after they are dated by the voters. Return them to our office in the Hennepin County Government Center, any county service center, any city hall in Hennepin County, or the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State. If you mail the applications, please include a copy of your business card. If a voter chooses to take an application and mail it in later, please have the voter phone our office at 612-348-5151 for more details. The Minnesota Secretary of State’s site has voter outreach and education materials available to download and print or to order.

Presidential nomination primary

The presidential nomination primary is an additional, regularly scheduled statewide election held in the year in which a president and vice president of the United States are to be nominated and elected and is run similarly to other primary elections administered by local election officials.

Presidential nomination primary voters must:

• Be eligible to vote in the State of Minnesota on the day of the primary
• Request the ballot of the party for whose candidate the individual wishes to vote

The purpose of the presidential nomination primary is for voters in Minnesota who identify with a major political party to vote for a presidential candidate who they wish for their party to nominate as the candidate on the November general election ballot.

More information can be found on the Minnesota Secretary of State presidential primary webpage.

Precinct caucuses

Precinct caucuses are the first step used by Minnesota’s major political parties to select the candidates and issues they will support in the upcoming elections. Minnesota has three major parties.

The purpose of precinct caucuses is to elect local party officers and delegates to the party conventions and to discuss resolutions. Precinct caucuses may also be used by the major political parties as opportunities to conduct preference polls and to help recruit election judges.

Caucus dates and locations can be found on the Minnesota Secretary of State's Precinct caucuses page.

Hennepin County polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on primary and election days.

Upcoming election date: November 8, 2022 general election

COVID-19 response

Ongoing COVID-19 policies may differ by jurisdiction.

• Learn about Hennepin County COVID-19 response.
• Find city specific COVID-19 information on your city website.
• Find school district specific COVID-19 information on your school district website.

Find your polling place

Use the Minnesota Secretary of State's polling place finder. After entering your address, the finder will tell you if you have an upcoming election, where to vote and show a sample ballot for your precinct.

In the even-numbered years all polling places are open. Not all cities and school districts hold elections in the odd-numbered years.

Election day voter registration

In Minnesota, you can register or update your registration at your polling place on Election Day. Find out what you’ll need to bring with you.

Tips for new voters

Never voted before? Learn what will happen when you show up for your first vote!

Assistance and accessibility

Learn different ways to get help during the voting process, as well as rules for polling place accessibility.

• Get help voting
• Polling place accessibility

Learn more

• Become an election judge
• Polling place rules
• Time off work to vote
• Know your rights

Your name and address are public when you register to vote. If you have safety or privacy concerns, there are ways to register and vote without making your information public.

Safe at Home program

This is an address confidentiality program for those with extreme safety needs.

• All voting is done by absentee ballot through the mail.
• Your name and address are never shared with your local election office.
• Only your marked ballot is counted. 

Learn more about voting through Safe at Home.

Request to keep your information private

Your name and address will not be available to members of the public. They will appear on the list of voters at the polling place on Election Day.

• Complete the request to withhold voter information from public information form and email to hc.vote@hennepin.us.

Request to inactivate voter record

This form prevents election officials from seeing information in the private database of voters. If required, officials can still look for your voting record.

• Complete the request to inactivate voter record form and email to hc.vote@hennepin.us.
• Once you inactivate your record, you must re-register before voting again.

Election day

If you register on Election Day, you can ask to keep your information private and inactivate your record in one step.

• Bring copies of completed letters. The election judges will attach them to your voter registration application.
• If needed, your information will be entered in the state’s voter database after the election only to verify your voting address. It will be marked as private.
• To verify the address, a county election official will send a postcard to ensure it can be delivered to the address. When it is determined the postcard has been delivered, the election official will inactivate the record.