Today, Oct. 17, is the deadline to pre-register for the Nov. 7 municipal election. Pre-registration can help ensure a smooth Election Day experience for voters, with less time spent waiting in lines and no need to bring documents to vote.
Unlike many states, voters can wait until Election Day to register in Minnesota. The City of Minneapolis encourages voters to register before Election Day in order to save time at the polling place. Voters can register online until 11:59 p.m. tonight. Voters who plan on dropping off their paper registrations at election offices today must do that by 5 p.m. this afternoon. Voters can check their registration online to confirm that they are registered and ready for the election.
Voters who miss today’s pre-registration deadline may register in person at the Early Vote Center or at their polling place on Election Day. They will need to bring proof of residence with them to register.
Changes in State law expand voter registration to more people
Earlier this year, the State restored voting rights to people convicted of a felony if they are no longer incarcerated for a felony offense. This includes non-incarcerated felons who are on probation and those who are part of work release programs. Approximately 55,000 Minnesotans now have their voting rights restored.
Changes in State law are also allowing people under 18 to pre-register to vote. The voting age has not changed, so people still have to be at least 18 to vote. But 16-year-olds and 17-year-olds can now pre-register so their voter registrations will become active when they turn 18. Then they’ll be on the voter registration rolls when they go to the polls or vote early or vote by mail.
If you’ve never voted before and need to register, now is the perfect time. If it’s been more than four years since you last voted, or you’ve moved or changed your name since you last registered, you’ll also need to re-register
Early voting now underway
Early voting has begun for the Nov. 7 municipal election. All 13 City Council seats are on the 2023 ballot.
Voters can cast their ballots by mail or in person at the Early Vote Center, 980 East Hennepin Ave. The City has mailed more than 3,000 requested mail-in ballots to Minneapolis voters, and anyone who requested one should allow 7-10 days for it to arrive.
All mail-in ballots need to be received by Election Day (Nov. 7) to count. If voters choose to deliver their ballot in-person to the Elections & Voter Services office, it still must be returned by 8 p.m. on Election Day: Nov. 7. Mail ballots cannot be dropped off at polling places on Election Day.
More information on how to vote by mail is available at vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/bymail.
Sample ballots available now
You can see exactly what the ballot in your precinct will look like. Just go to vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/ballot and a link there will take you to a Minnesota Secretary of State webpage where you can get your sample ballot. It’s a great way to make sure you’re prepared for the voting booth, and you can bring it with you to the polls as a reference.
This election uses ranked-choice voting
Minneapolis voters will use ranked-choice voting this fall to elect members of the City Council. Ranked-choice voting is a way of voting that eliminates the need for separate primary elections. Voters rank up to three candidates for each office. The ballot has three columns, and choices are made from left to right in those columns. Ranked-choice voting is used only for municipal elections in Minneapolis.
More information on ranked-choice voting is available at vote.minneapolismn.gov/rcv.
Get elections info at vote.minneapolismn.gov
The City has an elections-focused website: vote.minneapolismn.gov. This website is a central place to go for accurate, timely information about this year’s election and ranked-choice voting. The fresh, intuitive design is focused on the user, with content on the site arranged according to specific audiences including voters, candidates, volunteers and students.