Vote in Person
Vote Early or on Election Day!
Frequently Asked Questions
When does early voting start?
You can vote absentee starting 46 days before the General Election.
What if I don’t want to vote in every race?
No problem! You are not required to vote in every race on the ballot. If you choose to skip voting in a particular race, simply leave it blank. Your vote(s) will still be counted in the other races you voted in.
I want to vote early, but I also like to watch my ballot go through the machine. Can I do both?
Yes, in some locations! In the 18 days of early voting before the election, you can vote early in person and insert your ballot directly into the tabulator yourself without the need to complete an absentee ballot. Call your county election office to see if this is available in your area.
What if I encounter trouble while at my polling place?
Voters sometimes encounter problems during the voting process. They might have received incorrect voting information. They might encounter an individual unlawfully campaigning in or near a polling place. They might encounter someone engaging in intimidating behavior. Or they might just need assistance. Refer to our polling place guidance and Voter’s Bill of Rights.
Step 1:
Confirm (or Register)
Choose the option that best fits your situation:
Register Online
Get registered today. If it is less than 21 days before Election Day, you will need to register (or update your registration) when you go to vote at your early voting location or polling place. Read below to learn more.
Paper Form / NON-English
If you prefer to register using a paper form or need a form in another language, print one from the Secretary of State’s website. To request an application in an alternative format such as Braille, you can call 1-877-600-8683.
Step 2: Learn About Your Ballot
See a sample ballot
If you’d like to see an example of what your ballot will look like, you can use the sample ballot tool from the Minnesota Secretary of State. The 2023 Minnesota Legislature passed a law that requires all polling places to have voter instructions and sample ballots in Spanish, Somali, and Hmong. You can more information on the Secretary of State’s Voter Language Access page.
Many voters research their candidates and use their sample ballot as a practice run. You can bring your marked sample ballot with you when you vote to help you remember your choices for when you fill out your actual ballot.
Learn more about the candidates
If you’d like to learn more about candidates before completing your ballot, you can check VOTE411.org/ballot for information.
Step 3: Vote!
Choose the option that best fits your situation:
Vote in Person Early
Follow these steps:
Find early voting locations in your area.
You can vote early at certain locations in your area. Your local county election office is always an early voting location, but there may be additional locations as well. To find out where you can vote early, contact your local election office.
Confirm the location’s hours before going.
You can typically vote early during normal business hours. On the last two Saturdays before Election Day, early voting hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. On the Sunday immediately before Election Day, polls are open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. On the day before Election Day, early voting continues until 5 p.m. However, some early voting locations may be open more often or for longer hours, so contact your local election office to check the hours of early voting before going.
Check your clothing.
You may not wear apparel or accessories that promote a political party or a candidate on the ballot. You may be asked to remove the item or cover it up before you are allowed to vote. You may, however, wear apparel or accessories with political messages that do not promote a political party or candidate.
Vote in Person on Election Day
Follow these steps:
Find your Election Day polling place.
You will need to find your polling place for Election Day. You must vote at your assigned polling place; you cannot vote in another polling place. To find your polling place, use the Polling Place Finder on the Secretary of State’s website. Your polling place can change year to year, so double check that it hasn’t moved from the last time you voted.
Confirm the location’s hours before going.
Polling places are usually open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, except that polling places in smaller communities might not open until 10 a.m. As long as you're in line by 8 p.m., you can vote, even if you do not reach the front of the line until after 8 p.m.
Check your clothing.
You may not wear apparel or accessories that promote a political party or a candidate on the ballot. You may be asked to remove the item or cover it up before you are allowed to vote. You may, however, wear apparel or accessories with political messages that do not promote a political party or candidate.
Voting Tips and Reminders
Leaving Blanks on the ballot
You are not required to vote in every race on the ballot. If you do not vote in a race by leaving it blank, your vote will still be counted in every race that you did vote in.
Time Off From Work
You have the right to take time off of work to vote in person during early voting or on Election Day. Employers cannot require you to use personal leave or vacation time. Your employer may require that you give them advance notice.
Registering to Vote / Updating your Info
If you need to register or update your info, but haven’t yet, you can do so at your early voting location or polling place. Most voters can use a current Minnesota or tribal ID as proof of residence, or select an alternate option from this list. If you are already registered to vote, or will register using a different proof of residence, you will not need an ID to vote.
Bringing Children
If you are a caretaker for a child under the age of 18, you may bring your child with you to your early voting location or polling place.
Assistance is Available
If you cannot easily enter the polling place on Election Day, such as due to a disability, you can ask to have a ballot brought out to you. This is known as “curbside voting.” Two election judges from different major political parties will bring a ballot to you. When you are finished voting, they will place your ballot in the ballot tabulator for you.
If you need help with voting, you can ask an election official for assistance in reading or marking the ballot. You may also bring someone to help you. That person cannot be an agent of your employer or your union.
Your Election Day polling place will have a ballot-marking machine that can help you mark your ballot if you cannot, or choose not to, vote using a pen.
If you make a mistake on your ballot, you have the right to receive a replacement ballot from the election officials at the early voting location or polling place by turning in your incorrect ballot.
Step 4: Celebrate & Share
Celebrate and Share
Celebrate your civic participation and then encourage people you know to vote as well! You can share this webpage with friends and family, too.
Have a question?
Check VOTE411.org/lwvmn for information. Still need help? Call your local election office or the Secretary of State’s Office (1-877-600-8683) first.