Election Day in MN: When the polls are open, where I can vote, what's on my ballot

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – Election Day in Minnesota is Tuesday, November 5th. Here's everything you need to know before you vote.

When the polls close, stay with FOX 9 to watch live election results on FOX 9, FOX9.com, FOX LOCAL, YouTube and TikTok.

When are the polling stations open?

Polling place in Ramsey County, Minnesota. (FOX 9)

Most polling stations open at 7 a.m. on election day and close at 8 p.m. As long as you're in line by 8 p.m., you're allowed to vote – even if you're at the front of the line after 8 p.m

However, for state and federal elections, cities with fewer than 500 residents do not have to open until 10 a.m., but most choose to open at 7 a.m

Where is my polling station?

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

There you will fill out the prompts to determine 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.

What's on my ballot?

This year, Minnesotans are voting for president in several statewide elections, including the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, and a statewide ballot, as well as the Minnesota House of Representatives. In many communities, local races are also on the ballot.

Read more about what's on your ballot here.

Who can vote?

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.

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 mail-in 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 total number of postal votes will only be finally determined after the polling stations 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.

For concerns related to the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), such as: For example, 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 next steps.

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 election office, visit the Secretary of State's website here.

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