Minnesota Election Guide: What you need to know for the 2024 election

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – As Election Day approaches, there are several important elections taking place in Minnesota and across the country.

Voters will decide the next president of the United States in a heated race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.

Minnesota voters will also decide the state’s next U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senator and Supreme Court justices, in addition to deciding control of the Minnesota Legislature and other local elections. Here’s everything you need to know about the 2024 general election on Tuesday, November 5th.

How to register to vote and deadlines

Minnesota residents can register to vote either online, by mail or in person before Election Day.

Officials suggest registering to vote in advance to save time on Election Day. Registration will temporarily close 20 days before the election and then reopen on Election Day so people can vote at their polling place on Election Day.

READ MORE: How to register to vote in Minnesota

Here are the registration deadlines:

• Online registration deadline: Tuesday, October 15th
• Registration deadline by post: Must be received by Tuesday, October 15th
• Deadline for personal registration: Tuesday, November 5th.

To be eligible to vote, you must:

• A US citizen
• At least 18 years old on election day
• Based in Minnesota for 20 days
• Not currently incarcerated for a felony conviction
• Not because of a court order that takes away your right to vote

Click here to learn more ways to register to vote.

How to check your voter registration

Voters can check their registration status on the Minnesota election website here.

To determine whether you are registered, fill out a form providing your first and last name, date of birth and street address.

Where is my district?

You can check your precinct and polling place by visiting the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office (SOS) website here.

There you will fill out the prompts to find your police station address and your police department affiliation. The page also contains additional information about your congressional district, school district, judicial district, county commissioner, and state Senate and House districts.

The website also includes ballot drop box locations, the list of candidates, and a sample ballot for your district.

Track your ballot

Anyone who submits a mail-in or absentee ballot can track the status at the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office.

To determine status, enter your name, date of birth, and information for the ID type listed on your ballot. If a voter does not provide an identification number, they will not be able to use the tracking service.

The Secretary of State’s Office notes that the website is updated nightly and it may take several days for election officials to process your application. The ballot will appear on the website the day after it is processed.

Further information can be found on the Secretary of State’s website here.

What’s on my ballot?

Aside from the 2024 presidential race between Harris and Trump, there are other races taking place this election cycle. Depending on where voters live, different candidates and races will appear on their ballots, such as for U.S. Representative and state representative. However, all votes include races for U.S. senatorial seats, judicial seats and constitutional amendments.

To find out which races and candidates are on your ballot, click here.

When do polling stations open and close?

Polling stations are generally open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on election day.

However, cities with fewer than 500 residents are not required to open a polling station before 10 a.m. A full list of communities and their opening times can be found on the Secretary of State’s website here.

The State Department website also states that you are allowed to vote as long as you wait in line by 8 p.m.

What do I need to bring with me to vote?

If you are a registered voter, meaning you registered at least 21 days before the election and have not moved or changed your name since then, you do not need to provide ID.

However, if you have yet to register or update or have not voted in at least four years, you must provide proof of residency before voting.

On Election Day, you must bring a current Minnesota ID with your name and address or a photo ID and a document with your current name and address.

Approved photo IDs (may be expired):

• Driver’s license, state ID card, or learner’s permit issued by a state.
• US passport
• US military or veteran ID card
• Tribal ID card with name, signature and photo
• Identification card from Minnesota university, college or college
• Minnesota High School ID Card

Approved documents (these can be viewed on an electronic device):

• Bill, account or service statement due or dated within 30 days of election for: telephone, TV or Internet, waste, sewage, electricity, gas or water, debit or credit card, rent or mortgage
• Residential rental agreement or rental agreement that is valid until election day
• Current tuition bill

An already registered voter can “vouch” for you at the polling station. This means that the registered voter from your district can accompany you to the polling place and sign an oath confirming your address. A registered voter can sponsor up to eight people.

How are votes counted?

On election day, polling stations are managed by election judges. Key tasks such as assisting voters and counting ballots are carried out by two judges from different major political parties. On election night, judges verify that the number of ballots cast matches the number of votes by verifying that the number of signatures on the roll or voter receipts matches the total number of ballots.

Additionally, mail-in ballots received on Election Day cannot be counted until it is confirmed that the voter has not already voted in person. After the election, local officials will update voter information and resolve any discrepancies, as noted on the Secretary of State’s website.

In the meantime, the postal voting process begins before Election Day. Once a mail-in ballot arrives at the election office, it is reviewed by at least two board members to ensure the signature envelope is properly completed.

Ballots are stored securely until 19 days before the election, after which the envelopes are inspected by election judges before processing. However, the final total number of postal votes will not be determined until the polls close.

Further information about the postal voting process can be found on the Secretary of State’s website here. To learn more about post-election procedures, click here.

How to report voting problems

District attorneys have the legal authority and jurisdiction to investigate possible violations of election law. If you suspect election misconduct, discrimination, voter intimidation, or other irregularities, you can file a complaint with your county’s attorney general’s office, which can be found online here.

If you have concerns related to the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), such as issues with voting machine standards, published election information, or voter registration, fill out an online form here and visit the Secretary of State’s website to learn more about the next Steps to learn.

For more information about reporting voting issues, click here.

How do I find a district election office?

A county election official helps maintain voter registration records, conducts absentee and in-person voting, and handles other aspects of the election process.

Every county in Minnesota has an election official and someone to contact for absentee voting, military absentee voting and overseas absentee voting. To find your county elections office, visit the Secretary of State’s website here.