Voting In Minnesota

You only need ID to vote if you have not registered before arriving at the polling precinct. You may register to vote at your polling place on Election Day. ID needed to register to vote at the polling precinct must consist of a combination of one approved photo ID and one approved bill. Photo ID examples include:

• Minnesota driver's license with current name (licenses from out-of-state are not acceptable.)
• Minnesota state ID. (An ID from another state is not acceptable.)
• U.S. Military ID
• U. S. passport
• Minnesota Tribal ID

• Electric bill
• Gas bill
• Water bill
• Sewer bill
• Solid waste bill
• Cable television bill
• Telephone bill
• Rent statement dated within 30 days of election day that itemizes utilities
• Current student bill statement
• A current student fee statement

Completed mail ballots must be received by your county auditor no later than the day before Election Day, November 3, 2008 by 5:00pm. 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
• You are unable to go to the polling place due to a religious holiday or beliefs.

With absentee voting, you can vote either in person before Election Day at a location designated by your county elections official or by mail. You must submit a written application to your county auditor. Call your county auditor for details. To vote by mail, submit the absentee ballot application form to your county auditor. The ballot will then be mailed directly to you.

Overseas citizens and U.S. military personnel can register to vote and request an absentee ballot at the Overseas Vote Foundation.

In person absentee voting is allowed but an excuse is required. An eligible voter may vote by absentee ballot during the 30 days before the election in the office of the county auditor and at any other polling place designated by the county auditor. To vote in person, apply and/or vote during normal office hours or from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm the Saturday before the election or from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm the Monday before the election. To vote by mail, submit the absentee ballot application form to your county auditor. The ballot will then be mailed directly to you.

Employees are allowed to take time off to vote during the mornings of election days. This time off should be treated as paid leave.