 How to Vote
Q. When are the elections?
A. The state primary is September 14, 2004. The state general election is November 2.
Q. What offices will be on the ballot in Minnesota in 2004?
 A. Statewide, Minnesotans will be voting for U.S. president, vice-president,
eight U.S. representative seats, 134 state representatives and state judges.
There are also numerous local and school board elections.
Q. When are the polling places open for voting?
A. For state elections, most polling places open at 7:00 a.m.; a few
polling places in small townships located outside the seven-county metropolitan
area may open as late as 10:00 a.m. All polling places close at 8:00 p.m.
Q. Can I get time off from work to vote?
A. Yes, Minnesota law allows you to take time off from work without
loss of salary or wages to vote during the morning of state elections.
Q. Who is eligible to vote?
A. You may vote if you are: at least 18 years of age, a U.S. citizen,
a Minnesota resident for at least 20 days before the election, not a convicted
felon without your civil rights, not under guardianship of the person where
you have not retained the right to vote and not legally incompetent.
Q. Where do I vote?
A. Most people vote in the neighborhood where they live. You can
also look up your polling place location on the secretary of state’s web
site at http://pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us.
 Q. How do I register to vote?
A. Fill out a voter registration card and return it in person or
by mail to your county auditor or the secretary of state. Voter registration
forms are available at county courthouses, city halls and other public buildings
throughout the state, in many telephone books and in your state tax booklet
in even-numbered years. You can also download a copy from the secretary of state’s
web site at http://www.sos.state.mn.us/election/MNVRCard.pdf. You may also register
to vote when you apply for or renew your Minnesota driver’s license or
state identification card.
Q. Can I register to vote on Election Day?
A. You can register at your polling place on Election Day. You
will need one of the following to verify your residence: a current, valid Minnesota
driver’s license, learner’s permit or identification card (or receipt
for a new one) containing your address in the precinct; a “Notice of Late
Registration” card mailed to you by your county auditor (if you turned
in a registration card late); someone who is registered in the precinct where
you live to vouch for your residence, valid registration at another address
in the same precinct; a Minnesota driver’s license, U.S. passport, U.S.
military identification card or student identification card that includes your
name and photo and an original bill for water, sewer, gas, electric, phone,
solid waste or cable television services that includes your name and current
address in the precinct and has a due date within 30 days of election day. If
you are a student, you can also use a student photo ID, registration or fee
statement with your current address, or student photo ID if you are on a student
housing list on file at the polling place.
Q. Can I get assistance in the polling place?
A. Yes, if you need help with voting, you can ask the election
judges at the polling place for assistance in reading or marking your ballot.
You may also bring someone with to help you. All polling places should be fully
accessible with clearly marked accessible doors and parking spaces. If you can’t
easily leave your car, you can ask for the ballot to be brought out to you in
your car. If you are unable to go to the polling place due to an illness or
disability, you can vote by absentee ballot. If you have limited vision, you
may ask your county auditor for voter registration and absentee ballot instructions
in large print or on cassette tape. And if you are hearing impaired, every county
and most cities will have a TDD device for questions.
 Q. Can I vote by absentee ballot?
A. You can vote by absentee ballot if you are unable to vote in
person on election day because you are: away from home, ill or disabled, an
election judge serving in another precinct or unable to go to the polling place
due to a religious holiday or beliefs. Submit a written application to your
county auditor or city clerk. You can cast your absentee ballot either in person
at a location designated by your county auditor or by mail. ||
For more information, contact the Minnesota Secretary of State’s
office at 651-215-1440 or toll-free at 1-877-600-8683, or e-mail elections.dept@state.mn.us
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