Registering is the first step towards voting.

Step 1: Register to Vote

Voter registration can be done at any time, including on Election Day. 

Registering before an election can save time at the polls and help avoid issues that could prevent you from casting your ballot on or before Election Day (early voting starts 46 days before every election!).

You are eligible to register and vote in Minnesota if you:

  • are a United States citizen;
  • are at least 16 years old  and understand you must be at least 18 years old on Election Day to be eligible to vote;
  • maintained residence in Minnesota for 20 days immediately before Election Day;
  • maintained residence at the address given on your registration form;
  • are not under court-ordered guardianship in which the court order revokes your right to vote;
  • have not been found by a court to be legally incompetent to vote;
  • are not currently incarcerated for a conviction of a felony offense;

Giving false information on a voter registration application is a felony punishable by not more than 5 years' imprisonment, a fine of not more than $10,000, or both.

What to know about being eligible to vote if...

Check your registration to see if you're registered at your current address.

Register Online

If you've never registered, or if you've moved or it's been more than 4 years since you last voted, you can register now.

Online registration is fast and easy. You need either your Minnesota Driver's License or ID card number, or the last four digits of your social security number, in order to complete your registration online. 

Other Registration Options 

You can also register by completing and submitting a paper voter registration application. Registration forms are available in multiple languages, in large print, and via other accessible options.

Preregistration closes 20 days before each election. If you haven't preregistered, you can also register when you vote, either at your polling place on Election Day or when voting early. You need to provide an accepted proof of residence when registering to vote.

Frequently Asked Questions About Preregistering to Vote

What address should I use on my registration form?

You must be registered to vote at your current address. It is up to you as the voter to determine what you consider your residence to be, as the address you consider home. Generally, this will be where you sleep at night. If you are temporarily away from home but intend to return, you can still register and vote at the address you consider your home and where you intend to return.

What if I don't have a permanent address?

Register and vote based on where you consider your home to be at the time you vote. Your current residence is generally where you sleep at night, so if you do not have a permanent address and you are sleeping at a friend’s house, a shelter, or outside, that is your voting residence. If you sleep outside or someplace without a street address, write a description of the location on line four of the voter registration application.

What if I don't receive mail where I live?

If you are currently staying at an address or location where you cannot receive mail, but that is your voting residence, you still need to put that address or location on your voter registration application to be properly registered. If you do not receive mail at your voting residence, your voter record may be marked ‘challenged’ because the county could not confirm your address through a postal verification. You will still be able to vote. When you go to vote, you will be asked to swear an oath or affirm that you are living at your voting residence.

Why should I preregister if I can just register when I go to vote?

Preregistering will save you time when you go to vote. You can skip the additional line and wait to register before getting your ballot. If your voter registration is current and active, you do not need to bring identification or proof of address with you when voting.

How do I register if I'm worried about my personal safety and need to keep my address private?

Your name and address are public information when you register to vote. There are some options to keep this information private.
If you have very high safety needs, you can enroll in the Safe at Home Address Confidentiality Program through the Office of the Secretary of State. Program participants have a post office box assigned to use in place of their address, with all mail forwarded by the program, including absentee ballots for voting. Names and addresses of participants are not shared with county election offices and are not public.

You can also submit a Request to Withhold Voter Information from Public Information form to your county election office. Your name and address will still appear on the list of voters at the polling place on Election Day, but will not be available to members of the public.

Registering when you vote

Preregistration closes 20 days before each election. If you haven't preregistered, you can register when you vote, either at your polling place on Election Day or at an early voting location. You need to provide an accepted proof of residence when registering to vote.

Same Day Registration: Frequently Asked Questions

What if I'm ready to vote but I'm not registered?

You can still register when you vote. You will need to bring proof of identity and residence with you to the polls.

What do I need to bring with me to the polls to register when I vote?

You need proof of identity and residence, as required by state law, to register to vote. The most common option used by voters is a Minnesota Driver’s License or ID card with your current address. If you do not have one of these, you must supply one of the other accepted proofs required by law.

How can I register if I don't have an ID with my current address?

If your Driver’s License or ID does not have your current address, you can still register if you can provide one of the other accepted proofs. One option is to visit an Olmsted County License Bureau to update your license or ID. Your yellow receipt for your new license or ID with your current address is accepted proof for registration. You can also provide a current bill or statement, dated or due within 30 days of the date of the election, with your current name and address, along with your old ID or another approved photo ID.

Other options to use as the required proof:

  1. Have another registered voter you know in your precinct confirm your address, also known as ‘vouching’.
  2. Use your college student ID if you live on campus and your school has provided a student housing list to the elections office.
  3. If you have a valid registration already in your current precinct and just need to update your name or address within the same precinct, you can provide your prior name or address to verify your registration.
  4. Bring your Notice of Late Registration if you submitted a voter registration application after the preregistration deadline, but in time to receive this notice from Olmsted County.
  5. If you live in a residential facility, a staff member can go with you when you vote to confirm your address after providing proof of their employment at the facility.

Contact Us

City of Rochester

201 4th Street SE
Rochester, MN 55904

PHONE: 507-328-2311
FAX: 507-328-2901

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