Hello, MCAD Students,
We are just a few weeks out from the general election. Whether it's local, state, or national, each election presents a chance to shape the future of our society. This fall, your ballot will have lots of races, from Governor, U.S. Senator, and U.S. House member to state legislators to school board races and other local offices, and a state constitutional amendment. This email will give you the information you need to be confident, comfortable, and successful.
The first step is to register. If you haven't already registered to vote-or if you have moved or changed your name- now is the perfect time to do it! Below are some voter registration resources to get you started. If your residence is in another state and you want to register to vote there, visit Vote.Gov for your state’s process.
Voter Eligibility
To register to vote in Minnesota, you must:
- Be a citizen of the United States
- Be at least 18 years old on Election Day
- Have resided in Minnesota for at least 20 days before Election Day
- Not have your voting rights taken away (including current incarceration on a felony)
- You can pre-register if you are at least 16 and meet the other qualifications
Registration Deadlines
The deadline to register early to vote in Minnesota ahead of the election is 21 days before Election Day (received paper or online form), which is October 13 this year. Register now and you won’t have to worry about it! You can also register when you vote if you have the required types of documents to present. Get all the details on the registration process here.
Where Do I Register and Vote From, School or ‘Home?’
Minnesota law says that you determine which is your residence, and that means regardless of what’s on your license, or where you may have the majority of your belongings, you say which address is your residence. That’s what you use when you register. If your residence isn’t local, either request an absentee ballot or plan a trip home by November 3.
Minnesota Voter Registration Forms
You can register online on the Secretary of State’s website. If you’d rather download and print the Minnesota voter registration form, you can do that here.
Instructions for Completing the Registration Form
The form takes about 3 minutes and asks your personal information, ID numbers, and address.
1) Online: Steps to complete the online form are featured here, if you want to see them ahead of filling out the form.
2) Fill out the paper registration form; mail/drop off the completed paper form to your county elections office.
Absentee and Early Voting
If you want an alternative to voting in person at your assigned polling place on Election Day, you can vote early or by absentee ballot. Learn more about early voting and absentee ballots here.
Voting Locations and Hours
MCAD serves as the polling location for our neighborhood, so you can vote in the College Center on November 3 from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Voter Rights and Responsibilities
As a voter, you have rights and responsibilities. Learn about them here.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Have questions about voter registration? Check out some FAQs here.
Additional Resources
For more information about voter registration and election procedures in Minnesota, visit MNVotes.gov and specifically the college and university section. These links provide lots of information on voter registration, eligibility, and important deadlines.
If you have any questions or need assistance with the registration process, please don't hesitate to reach out! To learn more about voting and your resources, visit our campus voting webpage.
Best,
Nick