Voter assistance

Help from family, friends or neighbors

You can bring a family member, friend, neighbor or anyone you choose to help you vote. The only exception is that you can't get help from someone from your employer or from your union.

Your assistant can help you in all parts of the voting process, including in the voting booth. You can show your ballot privately to an election judge to check that it is correctly marked.

Helpers are not allowed to influence your vote or share how you vote with others.

Help from ballot marking machine

All polling places have a ballot marking machine that can mark a ballot for you. It gives you privacy if you cannot (or choose not) to vote using a pen.

The machine has a screen that displays the ballot in large print or with a high-contrast background. It can also read the ballot to you through headphones.

You can fill out your ballot using a Braille keypad, touchscreen or sip-and-puff device. After you make your choices, it prints your completed ballot.

Learn more about the ballot marking machine

Help from election judges

Election judges are there to help you through the entire process of voting.

If you need help marking your ballot, two election judges from different political parties can assist. They are not allowed to influence your choices or tell others how you voted.

Curbside voting

If you cannot easily leave your vehicle to enter the polling place, you can ask to have a ballot brought out to you. This is known as 'curbside voting.'

Two election judges from different major political parties will bring out a ballot to your vehicle. You can register or update your registration if needed.

When you are finished voting, election judges will bring your ballot inside for you and put it in the ballot box.

Pick up a ballot for someone else

In certain circumstances, voters can choose someone to pick up and return a ballot for them.

See the rules

Polling Place accessibility

Federal and state laws require that all polling places be accessible and usable. Standards include:

Curb cuts where needed
Accessible parking spaces, if parking is provided to all voters
Signage indicating an accessible entrance and route in building
Accessible voting booth with chair
Seating available for voters waiting to vote
Notepads available to communicate in writing
Magnifier for election material and the ballot
Sufficient space for voters in wheelchairs

If you encounter any issues with accessibility while voting in Minneapolis, please contact 311 to report the issue.

Language resources

In polling places and early vote centers, election judges who are able to provide language assistance to voters wear a button indicating the language they speak. Translated voting information and materials, including voter registration applications and absentee ballot applications, can be found using the Secretary of State website linked below.