Vote

Use the Minnesota Secretary of State's Polling Place Finder to see what elections, if any, are coming up for your voting address. 

Register to vote

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.

Who can vote?

To vote in Minnesota, you must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old on Election Day, and a resident of Minnesota for at least 20 days. If you had a felony conviction, you can vote if you are not currently incarcerated, even if you are on probation or parole.

Paying out-of-state tuition or having a driver's license from another state does not necessarily mean you can't vote in Minnesota. (Source: Minnesota Secretary of State)

Campus vote coordinators

  • Crookston: T. Dale Scully, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
  • Duluth: Jeremy Leiferman, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Life
  • Morris: David Israels-Swenson, Senior Director, Student Activities, Health and Wellness
  • Rochester: Jenny Casper, Director of Community Engagement and Career Development
  • Twin Cities: Merrie Benasutti, Strategic Partnerships Coordinator, Office for Public Engagement

Frequently Asked Questions

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When should I register?

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.

Should I register using my home address? Or my school address?

You can legally register and vote using either your home address or school address. Use what you consider your permanent residence. For purposes of voting, permanent residence is wherever you consider your home to be.

Example: Let’s say a student named Alice grew up with her parents in Cambridge and goes to UMD, and lives in a dorm. Alice might consider either,

  • a) Her home is in Cambridge and she goes to school in Duluth.
  • b) Her home is in Duluth and she visits her parents in Cambridge.

You, like Alice, should register wherever you consider your home is.

I'm still living with my parents. Can I register at my school address?

No. Minnesota does not have anticipatory registration. If you have not yet officially moved to an address, you cannot vote there.

I registered to vote at a nearby address for the last election, but I live in a new address now. Do I need to re-register?

Yes. Anytime you move, you must re-register. Even if you remain in the same precinct, you must re-register to protect yourself against fraud allegations.

I’m back at (or am coming back to) the same apartment building I lived in during the last election. Do I need to re-register?

It depends:

If you moved out of your campus/off campus housing address for the summer and have officially returned to the same address, you remain registered at that address.

If you have not yet officially moved to a new address, even if it’s in the same apartment building, you must re-register at your parents’ home. Remember, Minnesota does not allow you to register before you officially live in your residence.

Where can I vote early?

You can vote early with an absentee ballot at your local elections office. If you are not registered, you can do so 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. In addition, locations offering absentee ballots for federal, state or county elections must be open:

  • The last Saturday before Election Day (10 a.m. — 3 p.m.)
  • The day before Election Day until 5 p.m.
  • This does not apply to school districts holding standalone elections. 

 

Source: Minnesota Secretary of State

Is there a good source for information on the candidates?

Using the “My Ballot” resource from the secretary of state, you can search online to learn more on candidates and the offices they are seeking.