Who can register and vote in Minnesota

You must be:

• A U.S. citizen
• At least 18 years old on Election Day
• A resident of Minnesota for 20 days
• Not currently incarcerated for a felony conviction
• You can vote while under guardianship unless a judge specifically has revoked your right to vote.
• You cannot vote if a court has ruled that you are legally incompetent.

Registering to vote for 16- and 17-year-olds
You can pre-register to vote as a 16- or 17-year-old in Minnesota. You must be 18 years old before voting.

Voter registration deadlines

Unlike many states, you can wait until Election Day to register in Minnesota.

However, we encourage you to register before Election Day—it will save you time at the polling place.

• The deadline to register online is 11:59 p.m., 21 days before Election Day.
• The deadline to register on paper is 5 p.m., 21 days before Election Day.
• Otherwise, you can register at the same time you vote, whether on Election Day at your polling place or when you complete your early/absentee ballot. You will need proof of residence to register when you vote.

You must register if you move or change your name

Automatic voter registration

In many cases, your voter registration is automatically updated when you get a Minnesota state-issued ID or driver’s license.

Learn more about automatic voter registration

You can register when you change your address with the Postal Service

If you move to a new Minnesota residence, you can submit a United States Postal Service (USPS) change-of-address form.

USPS will notify election officials of the change. If election officials can match the record in their system, they will update your address and mail a green confirmation postcard to you.

Before Election Day, to make sure it was successfully updated, check your registration status online

Note: This may take some time. Consider other options closer to election day.

You don't need to choose a political party when registering

You do not need to register for one political party when you register to vote. Minnesota does not have political party registration.

Proof of voter registration

Email or call your county election office about how to get your proof of registration.

Voter registration drives

Any individual or organization can help register the public to vote. 

Learn about the rules and best practices

State resources

How to register if...

• I'm a college student
• I'm in the military or living abroad
• I have a criminal record
• I'm under guardianship or have an impairment
• I'm in a nursing home or hospital
• I fear for my personal safety
• I'm in a residential facility
• I'm moving on or close to Election Day
• I'm living temporarily in Minnesota
• I'm homeless
• My home is in foreclosure
• My home was destroyed