Two weeks into early voting, Minneapolis is seeing a high number of voters casting ballots ahead of Election Day, Nov. 7.
Since early voting began Sept. 22 and through yesterday, a total of 2,117 early ballots have been received for the City election. That’s more than 14% higher than the 1,844 ballots received during the first 11 days of early voting during the last City election in 2021. Of the ballots received so far, 1,797 were cast at the Early Vote Center at 980 E. Hennepin Ave.
There are three ways voters can cast their ballots: by mail, in person at the Early Vote Center or at their polling place on Election Day. As we get closer to the election, the City is working to remind folks how to use ranked-choice voting, and to make sure people know how to register to vote, how to find their polling place, and to answer any other questions about voting.
Standard hours for the Early Vote Center are Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., with extended hours including weekends in the final days before Election Day. Visit vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/vote-early-in-person for complete hours and more information.
To vote early by mail, voters may request an absentee ballot. Ballots are then mailed out, and they include everything a voter needs to send back a completed ballot. Visit vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/vote-by-mail/ for an absentee ballot application that can be printed out and mailed, faxed or emailed in to request a ballot. Also online is a link to the Secretary of State’s absentee ballot lookup tool to follow the status of an absentee ballot that has been submitted. You can also watch this video on voting by mail for more information.
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.
Oct. 17 is the deadline to pre-register to vote
Registering to vote is fast and easy. 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.
Oct. 17 is the deadline for pre-registering in 2023. Voter registrations can be submitted any time, and can help ensure a smooth Election Day experience for voters, with less time spent waiting in lines and no need to bring documents with you on Election Day.
In addition to submitting voter registration applications by mail or in person to elections offices, voters have the option to register or update their registrations online. To pre-register, start the process at vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/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.
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.