Minnesota

Polling places are usually open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Central Time. For specific information on when a polling place is open contact your County Election Offices.

The metropolitan area consists of Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington, and Wright County.

Voters are required to vote at their assigned polling place. Voters can find their polling place with the Minnesota Polling Place Finder. 

Early voting sites are generally at county election offices. Early Voting times and places

Note: Every voter is encouraged to check their polling place before heading out to vote. Polling places are not permanent, and their locations can change.

Registration Deadlines

• For registration deadlines, see How to Register below.

How to Check Your Registration: Voters can determine whether they are registered to vote at the following link: Am I Registered?.

You are eligible to vote in Minnesota if you:

• Are at least 18 years old by Election Day
• Are a U.S. citizen
• Live in Minnesota for at least 20 days prior to election day

You are NOT eligible to vote in Minnesota if:

• You are in prison or jail for a felony conviction
• You were disqualified from voting due to a court order

Restorative Requirements

• If you have completed a felony prison sentence, even if you are still on parole or probation, then you are immediately eligible to register to vote.

You may preregister to vote in Minnesota

• At the age of 16 or 17 as long as you will be 18 by the time the next election occurs

To pre-register to vote at 16 or 17 years old in Minnesota, you must be at least 18-years-old when the next election occurs (special, township, state primary, or state general). Because special elections can be called at unexpected times, your application may be returned if an election becomes scheduled in between the date you register and your birthday. If that happens, simply wait until that election passes, and register again.

How to register 

• Minnesota Congressional, State, Gubernatorial and Judicial General Election
  • In-Person, Received by Tue Oct 13, 2026 5:00PM
  • Post Received by Tue Oct 13, 2026 5:00PM
  • Apply Online: Online by Tue Oct 13, 2026 11:59PM
  • In Person: Election Day Registration & Voting Tue Nov 3, 2026

Online: Persons who have been MN residents for at least 20 days can Register or Update Registration online with:

• An email address and either
• A Minnesota Driver’s license or a state ID card, 
• Or the last four digits of a social security number. 

On paper: Voters without those IDs may register on paper forms by downloading the form or by calling their county election office. (multiple languages available)

Alternative forms:  for voters with print disabilities: Call 1-877-600-8683 for assistance.

At early voting sites and Election Day polling places with photo ID and proof of residency.

If You Want to Vote Absentee, requests may be made:

• In-Person
• By Mail
• By Fax
• By Email
• Online

Absentee Ballots may be returned:

• In-Person
• By Mail

Minnesota Congressional, State, Gubernatorial and Judicial General Election

Ballot Request:

• Submitted by Mon Nov 2, 2026

Ballot Return:

• In-Person, Received by Tue Nov 3, 2026 5:00PM
• Post Received by Tue Nov 3, 2026 8:00PM

Early Voting

In Person: To find voting locations and hours, search early voting times and locations. 

• Voters may register and vote at an early voting location.
• Voters are entitled to paid time off to vote whether they vote early or on Election Day.
• Voters who need assistance for physical or language difficulties may bring someone to assist them while voting, or they can get assistance from election judges. 

Requesting an Absentee (Mail) Ballot:

The Online Absentee Application to request an absentee ballot requires an email address, either a MN driver’s license or a MN non-driver’s ID number and the last 4 digits of a SSN (social security number.)

PDF (paper) Forms: Download and fill out this Absentee Application. Voters can also request paper forms from their county election offices. Persons without a MN driver’s license, MD ID, or SSN can use this form. Voters may return the application to their county office in person or by mail, fax, or email.

Permanent Absentee Voter: Voters can request that mail ballots be sent to them for all future elections through the same absentee applications.

Alternative Forms for Persons with Print Disabilities: Call 1-877-600-8683 to request an accessible absentee ballot. 

Returning an Absentee Ballot

In-Person: Voters can deliver their completed ballot to the election office that sent it (county office) or to a ballot drop box if their county or city has them (drop box location(s)). 

Voters cannot deliver absentee ballots to a polling place. 

By Mail: Send the completed ballot to the county office, either by mail or package delivery service (UPS, FedEx). It must be RECEIVED on or before Election Day.

Agent Delivery

In certain circumstances (list), a voter may have an agent pick-up and return their absentee ballot for them. 

An agent can be anyone of the voter’s choosing who

• is at least 18 years old on Election Day, 
• has a pre-existing relationship with the voter, and
• is not a candidate up for election. 

A person cannot be an agent for more than three voters per election. 

Picking-Up a Ballot: To receive a ballot for a voter, an agent must have with them two forms completed by the voter: an Absentee Ballot Application and a Request for Agent Delivery of Absentee Ballot. 

Deadline: An agent can pick up an absentee ballot for a voter starting seven days before Election Day, at the voter’s local election office until 8 p.m. C.T.

Returning a Ballot: To return an absentee ballot for a voter, an agent will need to present identification with their name and signature. 

Deadline: An agent must return the absentee ballot to the voter’s local election office either before Election Day or on Election Day until 8 p.m. C.T. Absentee ballots will not be counted if they are received after Election Day.

Note: A voter can also choose to return their agent-delivered absentee ballot by mail.

Tracking Your Ballots: Voters can track certain ballots through the Ballot Tracker. 

Persons with print disabilities can request alternative absentee ballots: Information.

Voter Registration

To register to vote in Minnesota you should provide one of the following:

• Your Minnesota ID Number
• Your Minnesota Driver’s License Number

If you do not have these IDs, you may provide:

• Last Four Digits of your Social Security Number

If you register to vote on Election Day you will need to provide one of the following:

• Valid Minnesota Driver’s License
• Receipt for Driver’s License, Lerner’s permit or ID
• Valid Tribal ID
• Minnesota ID Card
• Minnesota Learner’s Permit
• Valid Student ID from State School
• U.S. Passport
• A registered voter from the same precinct who will sign an oath confirming your address

Voting In-Person

You do not need to show ID to vote if your registration is current and active. Your registration is considered “current” if you registered at least 21 days before Election Day and haven’t relocated. Your registration is considered “active” if you have voted in the past four years.

Voter Registration:

If a voter does not have one of the listed IDs for registration, they can register on a paper form and check the box for none. The election office will contact them to verify the person’s identification in other ways such as mail delivery of a postal verification card or if already registered when they next vote in person.  

Voting in Person:

Voters who have current voter registration do not need to provide ID when voting in person either early or on Election Day.

Voters who register or update their registration at the polling place will need a photo ID and proof of residence. There are many options:

• Government ID: A valid MN driver’s license, MN learner’s permit, MN state ID card; or a receipt for one of them; or a tribal ID card with the voter’s name, address, photo, and signature.
• A combination of a photo ID and a document with a current address from these ID lists.
• Students: Colleges and universities that enroll students accepting state financial aid must send election officials a student housing list that serves as their proof of residence. They may use a college ID, or any other photo ID from ID lists.  (More information for students: Here)

Absentee Voting by Mail:

• To cast a ballot by mail, the voter must print on the white envelope one (or both if they do not remember which) of the numbers they used to request the mail ballot. 
• Also, a voter needs a witness to complete their absentee ballot. Any U.S. citizen age 18+ (including a spouse or relative) or a notary may be a witness. The witness must sign the signature envelope (or title if a notary) and list their address. 

Minnesota does not have provisional ballots.

Moving within Minnesota.

Voters must re-register if their name or address changes. 

• A voter can do that online or by mail up to 21 days before Election Day. 
• Voters already registered in the precinct in which they are voting can update address or name change at the polling place by telling the poll worker their prior address or name.
• Voters who have moved away from their former precinct may re-register and vote at the polling place for their new address during early voting or on Election Day.

 Voters who have moved to Minnesota

• To vote in Minnesota, a voter must live in the state for at least 20 days before Election Day.

Voting Military

Service members and their dependents may register and request a ballot using the federal voter registration/ballot request form (“FPCA”). You will have the following identification options when completing the form:

• U.S. Passport
• U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
• Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number

If you do not have these IDs, leave this section blank.

Voting Overseas

U.S. citizens living overseas may register and request a ballot using the overseas voter registration/ballot request form. You will have the following identification options when completing the form:

• U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
• Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number
• U.S. Passport

If you do not have these IDs, leave this section blank.

Military and Overseas Voting Processes by Mail 

Military members serving outside their home precinct, spouses and dependents of military members, and citizens living abroad can apply to have an absentee ballot sent to them wherever they are in the world.

Registering and Requesting an Absentee Ballot 

An individual can fill out the applications online or on paper and send them to their election office. The application for a ballot also serves as a voter registration application. Voting materials can be sent to voters by email, mail or fax. 

However, emailed or faxed materials must be printed and returned to the election office by mail. Voters cannot return their ballots by email or fax. 

To ensure address information remains up-to-date, voters should reapply each year and after a change in address. See Deadlines and suggested timelines. 

More information can be found on the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website or through the Federal Voting Assistance Program website.

Receiving an Absentee Ballot 

The voter should complete and return the ballot as soon as possible after it is received. A voter cannot return their ballot by email or fax. Overseas and military voters do not need to have a witness when they vote their ballots.

Tracking Ballot Status: 

If an individual requested a ballot but did not receive it, the voter may track their ballot here or contact their election office to ask about the status of their ballot request.

Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot

If a military or overseas voter requested a ballot and did not receive it in time to complete and return it before the election, a voter may use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) which works like a backup ballot. 

After the ballot is sent, the voter can check if it was received by checking the Ballot Tracker or calling their election office.

Right to Vote & Eligibility

Individuals with a criminal record are eligible to vote. A criminal record does not affect the right to vote in Minnesota unless an individual is currently incarcerated serving a felony sentence.

A person can vote if…

• they are charged with or convicted of a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor.

• they are in jail, but they are not currently serving a felony sentence.
• they have been charged with a felony, but they haven’t been convicted.
• they have been given a stay of adjudication.
• they have been convicted of a felony (in any state) but are not currently incarcerated serving a felony sentence.
• they have been convicted of a felony but are currently on probation or parole, or they are currently on work release.

Regaining eligibility 

Individuals are entitled to register and vote after they complete incarceration for a felony.