Register to Vote

Eligibility

To register to vote, a person must meet the following requirements and complete the voter registration application:

At least 16 years old* to register and 18 years old on or before the day of the election in which they intend to vote
United States citizen
Have maintained a residence in Minnesota for at least 20 days before the election and maintained residence at the address on the voter registration application
Not under court-ordered guardianship in which the court order revokes the right to vote
Not found by a court to be legally incompetent to vote
Not currently incarcerated for a conviction of a felony offense

*Due to recent changes in state law, pre-registration is now available for people 16 or 17 years old. However, a person must still be at least 18 to vote in the election. If you are 16 or 17 and pre-register to vote, your registration will automatically take effect when you turn 18.

When is re-registration needed?

You must re-register if:

Your name, address, or apartment number changes
You have not voted in at least four years

Checking Registration Status

Check your registration status online at the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State website. It is highly recommended that you do this at least one month before you vote. This will give you time to complete the registration process if needed.

Registering Before Election Day

If you know you are not registered to vote under your current name and/or at your current residential address, you should register before Election Day. This will make your trip to the polls quicker. State law requires you to register at least 20 days prior to Election Day in order to ensure that you appear on the list of registered voters at your precinct on Election Day. You may also register at the polls on Election Day or when you vote before Election Day.

You can preregister at least 20 days before any election by completing an online registration application or mailing a completed paper registration application to Hennepin County. Complete all required fields, write legibly, and double-check your information. Incomplete or incorrect registration applications will cause your registration to be delayed or will require you to take extra steps to prove your residence when you go to vote.

Minnesota Law allows automatic voter registration when registering for certain state government services like a Minnesota ID or driver's license. This process will go into effect as each agency is able to implement it over the next two years. If you are automatically registered, a postcard will be mailed to the address on record, allowing you to opt out of the registration up to 20 days after you complete that transaction. Your registration has not been updated if you do not receive a postcard.

If you recently moved or changed your name, you can register to vote when you update your Minnesota-issued ID card or driver's license. Ask the DMV representative to help you to make sure your voter registration is updated at the same time.

Register on Election Day

Proof of residence is required to register at your polling place on Election Day.

Option 1: Bring ID with your current name and address

The following items are considered acceptable IDs in accordance with Minnesota statutes:

Valid Minnesota driver's license (or receipt)
Minnesota learner's permit (or receipt)
Minnesota ID card (or receipt)
Tribal ID card with your name, address, photo, and signature

Option 2: Bring a photo ID and a document with your current name and address

The ID can be expired, and the document can also be shown electronically on a device such as a smartphone or tablet.

The following are accepted photo IDs:

Driver's license, state ID card, or learner's permit issued by any state
United States Passport
United States Military ID card
Tribal ID card with name, signature, and photo of the voter
Minnesota university, college, or technical college ID card
Minnesota high school ID card

The following are accepted documents:

Billing statement or the start of service statement for phone, TV or internet, utilities, banking services, credit card, rent, or mortgage (must be due or dated within 30 days of the election and must have voter's name and address)
Residential lease or rental agreement (must be valid through Election Day)
Current student fee statement

Option 3: Registered voter in the precinct who can confirm your name and address

A registered voter from your precinct can go with you to the polling place to sign an oath confirming your address. This is known as vouching. A registered voter can vouch for up to eight people. A person who registers on Election Day and was vouched for cannot subsequently vouch for others.

Option 4: Valid registration in the same precinct

If you were previously registered in the precinct but changed names or moved within the same precinct, you only need to tell the election officials your previous name or address. No additional documentation is needed.

Option 5: Notice of late registration

If you preregistered to vote less than 20 days before Election Day, you may get a Notice of Late Registration in the mail. Bring this notice with you when you vote and use it as your proof of residence to register.

Option 6: Staff person of a residential facility

If you live in a residential facility (nursing home, assisted living facility, etc.), a staff person can visit the polling place to confirm your address. This is known as vouching. A staff member can vouch for all eligible voters living in the facility; there is no limit. The staff person must prove their employment at the facility. There are several ways to do this, including by showing an employee badge. Learn more about residential facilities.

FAQs

Can I vote early if I'm not a registered voter?

Yes, when you apply for an absentee ballot, you will be provided with the required voter registration materials. Please be prepared to show photo ID and proof of residence. Apply on the Secretary of State's website.

What happens after my absentee ballot is returned?

After your absentee ballot is received at the elections office, it is reviewed by an absentee ballot board. This board checks that the signature envelope was filled out correctly. Each envelope is reviewed by at least two members of the board.

How does the ballot board decide if a ballot is accepted?
They look at these things on the signature envelope:

Ensure the name and address match what was on the absentee application
Ensure the ID matches what was on the absentee application
Ensure the voter has signed the envelope
Ensure a witness has completed the witness portion

The board will also:

Ensure the voter is registered, or has included a properly completed voter registration application
Ensure the voter has not already voted in the election

What happens after my absentee ballot is accepted?
Accepted ballots are set aside in a secure area until one week before the election, separated by precinct. Starting one week before the election, the signature envelopes are opened and the ballot envelopes are removed and set aside so that no one knows whose ballot is whose. Once the ballot envelopes are separated, they are opened, reviewed by election judges, duplicated if necessary, and inserted in the ballot counter. Examples where judges would need to duplicate a ballot include if a ballot was damaged, unreadable by the tabulator, or on the incorrect ballot style for that precinct.

When are ballots counted?
Absentee ballots may be inserted into ballot counters as soon as one week before election day. However, no totals are produced until polling places close at 8pm on election night.

What happens if my absentee ballot is rejected?
If your ballot is rejected more than 5 days before the election, you will be mailed a replacement ballot along with an explanation of why your ballot was rejected. If your ballot is rejected within 5 days of the election, election officials will attempt to contact you to let you know.

How do they make sure people can’t vote twice?
All ballots are tracked individually and linked to a voter in Minnesota’s voter registration database. Once a ballot is accepted, if that voter tries to vote again, the election official or election judge will see that the voter has an accepted ballot. Lists in the polling place are even updated throughout election day as ballots are accepted.

How can I serve as an election judge?

The city hires election workers to assist with each election. If selected, you'll be placed in one of four polling locations to ensure every eligible ballot is cast and counted. You'll verify voter eligibility, assist with voter registration, distribute ballots, and certify results. Election workers are paid $13 – $15 per hour. Apply to serve as an election judge.

Can I place my absentee ballot directly into a ballot counter at city hall?

Direct balloting will begin on October 18, 2024. All eligible voters can vote early at City Hall by placing their ballot directly into a ballot counter. Votes are counted immediately, and results are reported after the polls close on Election Day, November 5, 2024.

Where can I return my voted ballot I received through the mail?

A voter may return their own completed ballot using one of the following options:

Return your ballot to Hennepin County Elections using the self-addressed, stamped envelope provided.
An alternative is to drop it off in person at City Hall during regular business hours:
- Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
  - We can only accept ballots for Champlin voters.
  - You may not return your voted ballot to any polling place on Election Day.
  - Ballots received after 8 p.m. on Election Day will NOT be counted.

How do I know if my absentee ballot has been counted?

You can track the status of your absentee ballot at any point in the process and confirm that it was received and counted at the secretary of state’s website. Please note, in order for the tracker to work you must enter all information exactly the same as what you put on your application. You can also check the status of your ballot by contacting Hennepin County Elections at 612-348-5151.

Status notations:

Initialized – Your ballot application has been received by election officials and is being processed.
Sent – Election officials have verified the information on your ballot application and have issued your ballot materials (either in person or through the mail).
Received – Election officials have received your completed absentee ballot.
Accepted – Your ballot is counted. Election officials have verified that you have met all requirements under state law to have your ballot counted.
Rejected – Your ballot has not been counted because required information was either missing or unverifiable on the ballot envelope you returned to elections officials. Election officials will send you a replacement ballot for completion. If this is within five days of Election Day, a replacement ballot will not be sent through the mail. Election officials will attempt to contact you by telephone or email to notify you that your ballot was rejected and provide you with options for casting a replacement ballot.

Where can I return a voted ballot for someone else?

Under current state law, an individual returning a ballot for someone else will be required to show ID and complete an agent delivery log.

A person may return a voted ballot for up to three people in any election, not including their own ballot, using one of the options below:

In person at City Hall during regular business hours:
- Mon – Fri, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

An individual can drop ballots for others into a blue USPS box at any time.
- The limit does not apply to this method of ballot return.
Please note we can only accept ballots for Champlin voters.
You may NOT return a voted ballot to any polling place on Election Day.
Ballots received after 8 p.m. on Election Day will NOT be counted.

I already completed and submitted an absentee ballot, can I change my vote?

If the date is more than 19 days before Election Day and you have already voted early by absentee ballot, either in person at city hall or through the mail, you may request that your ballot be destroyed. At that time you may request a new ballot be issued to you. After that time if your ballot has been accepted, you may not change your vote.

Who should I contact?

Champlin Elections — 763.923.7109
Hennepin County Elections — 612.348.5151
Minnesota Secretary of State's Office — 1.800.600.VOTE (8683)

Note: Elections staff can only provide you with information regarding your own ballot or registration status. We can't give you information about other voters.

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Register to Vote

Eligibility

When is re-registration needed?

Checking Registration Status

Registering Before Election Day

Register on Election Day

Contact Us

Julie Tembreull

FAQs

Contact Us

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