Minnesota Election Facts

In the 2024 election, 3,272,414 votes were cast, out of 4,285,809 eligible voters (76.35%).

Local election officials in counties, cities, and towns are responsible for creating, distributing and storing ballots; purchasing, testing, and securing election equipment; recruiting and hiring election workers; and registering voters. 

Local election officials report results to the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State. 

The Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State does not count or store ballots. 

In Minnesota, all ballots are cast on paper. If someone is unable to mark their ballot with a pen, they are able to use a ballot-marking device at their polling place. 

Ballots are stored and secured locally before, during, and after each election. 

When someone registers to vote in Minnesota, they must prove that they are who they say they are and that they live where they say they live. There are many ways provided in state law to be able to show that proof. All voter registrations are verified with records from the Department of Public Safety (driver's licenses and state IDs), the Social Security Administration, and other data.

Before any ballot goes to a voter -- whether by mail or in person -- they must swear an oath that they are eligible to vote and acknowledge that it is a felony to falsify information on their absentee ballot application or registration.

Ballots are tracked digitally to ensure each voter only casts one. 

Electronic tabulators -- the machines where voters place their ballots in the polling place – have been in use in Minnesota for decades. During this time, they have been proven to be more accurate and efficient than any other method of tabulating election results.

Voters have confidence that the machines are tabulating correctly because they are tested for accurate performance, both before and after each election. The process and results of the testing are open to the public.

Hand counting has been proven to be far less accurate as there is more opportunity for human error. Additionally, hand counting would delay election results for weeks or months, since each race on each ballot needs to be counted separately.

Election equipment, like ballot-marking devices and ballot tabulators, are certified by federal and state experts to ensure accuracy and security. Additionally, local election officials are required to securely store this equipment and test it before every election. More detailed information on the certification, storage, and testing of equipment is available on our Voting Equipment webpage. 

Many organizations send potential voters absentee ballot applications during voting season. Minnesotans can only receive an absentee ballot once they complete and return the application to their local election office and their eligibility is confirmed. Eligible voters can only receive one absentee ballot. In the rare case a duplicate ballot needs to be issued, the original ballot will not be counted.

There have been accounts of Minnesotans mistaking ballot applications for actual ballots. Ballots are only ever issued to eligible, registered voters who have requested them, and voters who live in mail-only areas. 

Ballots are tracked digitally to ensure each voter only casts one. 

Only citizens of the United States are eligible to vote in elections in Minnesota. 

• This includes local elections such as city, town or school district elections.
• Green card holders are not eligible.
• If you are gaining citizenship soon, wait until after your naturalization ceremony to register.

To vote you must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old on Election Day, a resident of Minnesota for at least 20 days, not currently incarcerated for a felony conviction, and not under a court order that revokes your right to vote. 

Automatic Voter Registration began in April 2024. Under this law, Minnesotans are registered to vote, or their voter registration is updated, without having to proactively check a box when applying for or renewing a driver’s license or state ID.

The Department of Public Safety reviews citizenship-affirming documentation and ensure the potential voter meets all other eligibility requirements to register in Minnesota before sending their information to the Office of the Secretary of State. Examples of citizenship affirming documentation include birth certificates, passports, and certificates of naturalization.

Minnesotans automatically registered will be able to opt out of registering to vote within 20 days of their registration being processed. A mailing will be sent to each prospective voter indicating how they can opt out.

All voter registrations - online or on paper - are processed by local election officials and are tracked using an online database, the Statewide Voter Registration System. 

The Statewide Voter Registration System is updated daily using the following points of data to check existing registrations:

• Inactive voters:  Each year, voters who have not voted or updated their registration in four years are removed.
• Deaths: Deceased voters are removed upon notification from the Minnesota Department of Health or Social Security Administration.
• Felons: The records of those who have been convicted of felonies and are currently incarcerated are marked as challenged based upon notice from the Court System or Department of Corrections. If someone tries to vote with a challenge on their record, they are required to answer questions under oath before being allowed to vote. If an individual attempts to register or to vote when ineligible, their case is referred to a county attorney.
• Revoked Voting Rights:  The court system provides notice when a court has specifically revoked the voting rights of an individual under guardianship. The records of any who are registered to vote are challenged, requiring that they answer questions under oath before being allowed to vote.
• Non-citizens: Driver and Vehicle Services provides a list of noncitizens here on temporary visas. The records of any who are registered to vote are challenged, requiring that they answer questions under oath before being allowed to vote, and their case is referred to a county attorney.
• Moves: The records of voters who have moved are updated based upon National Change of Address data provided by the Postal Service, Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Service data, or information shared between state governments. 

The Statewide Voter Registration System keeps a digital record of every registered voter. This system is regularly updated with data from state and federal partners. Deceased voters are removed from the system upon notification from the Minnesota Department of Health or Social Security Administration.

Some active voters have birth years of 1900 in the system. Minnesota state law did not require voters who registered before 1983 to provide their date of birth. When the state moved to a digital voter registration system, the birth year of 1900 was added as a placeholder. Over the years, the majority of those who were grandfathered into the digital system with the 1900 birthdate have been updated. However, if a voter has not changed their address or name since they registered and consistently voted, they would not have an updated birthdate recorded.