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Minnesota verifies voter identity, residence, and eligibility through registration requirements, government records, and election-worker review so only eligible U.S. Citizens can vote.

Eligibility Requirements

• Voters must be U.S. citizens, Minnesota residents for at least 20 days, at least 18 years old by Election Day, and legally eligible to vote.
• Voters must provide identification, proof of residence, and an oath confirming their eligibility.

Identity and Address Verification

• Registration information is checked against Driver and Vehicle Services, Social Security Administration, Department of Health, and court records.
• Officials mail a non-forwardable Postal Verification Card to confirm the voter’s address. Records requiring additional review are flagged.

Registration through Automatic Voter Registration

• At the Division of Motor Vehicles, citizenship documentation is reviewed through a two-step process. Records that cannot be verified are flagged for review .

Same-Day Registration and Vouching

• Same-day registrations are recorded for follow-up verification. Same-day registrants must provide identification and proof of residence and undergo the same eligibility checks as other registrants.
• Vouching confirms residence only. The voter must still provide identification and meet all other eligibility requirements.

Challenges and Complaints

• Appointed challengers at the polls may question a voter’s eligibility only when they have personal knowledge that the voter is not eligible to vote at that location. Suspicion alone is not enough.
• Suspected misconduct, discrimination, voter intimidation, or other election irregularities may be reported through the appropriate county or state complaint processes.

Minnesota verifies voter identity, residence,and eligibility through registration requirements, government records, and election-worker review so only eligible U.S. Citizens can vote.

Eligibility Requirements

• Voters must be U.S. citizens, Minnesota residents for at least 20 days, at least 18 years old by Election Day, and legally eligible to vote.
• Voters must provide identification, proof of residence, and an oath confirming their eligibility.

Identity and Address Verification

• Registration information is checked against Driver and Vehicle Services, Social Security Administration, Department of Health, and court records.
• Officials mail a non-forwardable Postal Verification Card to confirm the voter’s address. Records requiring additional review are flagged.

Registration through Automatic Voter Registration

• At the Division of Motor Vehicles, citizenship documentation is reviewed through a two-step process. Records that cannot be verified are flagged for review .

Same-Day Registration and Vouching

• Same-day registrations are recorded for follow-up verification. Same-day registrants must provide identification and proof of residence and undergo the same eligibility checks as other registrants.
• Vouching confirms residence only. The voter must still provide identification and meet all other eligibility requirements.

Challenges and Complaints

• Appointed challengers at the polls may question a voter’s eligibility only when they have personal knowledge that the voter is not eligible to vote at that location. Suspicion alone is not enough.
• Suspected misconduct, discrimination, voter intimidation, or other election irregularities may be reported through the appropriate county or state complaint processes.

Minnesota uses these processes to ensure that voting equipment and paper ballots are secured.

Tested and Secured Equipment

• Voting equipment must meet federal and state certification requirements for accuracy, security, and accessibility.
• Counties and municipalities conduct public accuracy tests before and after every election.
• Election judges from different political parties observe the tests.
• After testing, voting machines are secured and sealed until voting begins.

Local Trained Election Workers

• Election judges take an oath to administer elections fairly and receive training on Minnesota election procedures and state and federal election laws.
• Bipartisan teams oversee key election activities, including equipment testing and ballot processing and reporting.

Absentee and Early Voting

• Absentee ballots require identity verification, a witness, and the voter’s signature.
• At least two members of an absentee ballot board review each ballot envelope before accepting it.
• Accepted absentee ballots are recorded in the Statewide Voter Registration System and securely stored until counting.

Local Counting and Reporting

• Local election officials count and verify ballots in their own jurisdictions. The Secretary of State’s Office receives statewide results but does not handle or count voted ballots.
• Officials document the results, secure and seal the voted ballots and equipment, and securely report the totals to county or municipal officials.

Secure Election Records

• After counting and auditing, voted ballots and other election materials remain securely stored by local election offices.
• Minnesota retains these materials for 22 months, as required by state and federal law.

Minnesota uses these processes to ensure that voting equipment and paper ballots are secured.

Tested and Secured Equipment

• Voting equipment must meet federal and state certification requirements for accuracy, security, and accessibility.
• Counties and municipalities conduct public accuracy tests before and after every election.
• Election judges from different political parties observe the tests.
• After testing, voting machines are secured and sealed until voting begins.

Local Trained Election Workers

• Election judges take an oath to administer elections fairly and receive training on Minnesota election procedures and state and federal election laws.
• Bipartisan teams oversee key election activities, including equipment testing and ballot processing and reporting.

Absentee and Early Voting

• Absentee ballots require identity verification, a witness, and the voter’s signature.
• At least two members of an absentee ballot board review each ballot envelope before accepting it.
• Accepted absentee ballots are recorded in the Statewide Voter Registration System and securely stored until counting.

Local Counting and Reporting

• Local election officials count and verify ballots in their own jurisdictions. The Secretary of State’s Office receives statewide results but does not handle or count voted ballots.
• Officials document the results, secure and seal the voted ballots and equipment, and securely report the totals to county or municipal officials.

Secure Election Records

• After counting and auditing, voted ballots and other election materials remain securely stored by local election offices.
• Minnesota retains these materials for 22 months, as required by state and federal law.

Minnesota verifies election results through bipartisan ballot reconciliation, public audits, canvassing, and recounts.

Reconcile Ballots and Results

• After the polls close, election judges compare the number of ballots issued, the voting equipment total, and the number of physical paper ballots.
• Officials document precinct results, confirm that ballots are properly accounted for, and securely transmit the results to county or municipal officials.
• Results remain unofficial until the canvassing and certification process is completed.

Conduct Public Post-Election Audits

• A bipartisan, public post-election audit is conducted for local, state, and federal elections.
• At least two precincts in every county are randomly selected for a hand count.
• The hand-counted results are compared with the voting equipment totals to check accuracy.

Canvass and Certify Results

• County and state canvassing boards publicly review and certify election results. Their meetings are open to observers in person, with remote or hybrid access.
• Officials review voter records against relevant government databases. Potentially ineligible voters are flagged and may be referred for further investigation.

Recounts and Election Contests

• Candidates may request a recount or contest an election.
• Recounts may be publicly funded when the results fall within the required margin. Other recounts may be available if the requesting candidate provides funding.
• The public may observe recounts and attend county and state canvassing-board meetings.

Minnesota verifies election results through bipartisan ballot reconciliation, public audits, canvassing, and recounts.

Reconcile Ballots and Results

• After the polls close, election judges compare the number of ballots issued, the voting equipment total, and the number of physical paper ballots.
• Officials document precinct results, confirm that ballots are properly accounted for, and securely transmit the results to county or municipal officials.
• Results remain unofficial until the canvassing and certification process is completed.

Conduct Public Post-Election Audits

• A bipartisan, public post-election audit is conducted for local, state, and federal elections.
• At least two precincts in every county are randomly selected for a hand count.
• The hand-counted results are compared with the voting equipment totals to check accuracy.

Canvass and Certify Results

• County and state canvassing boards publicly review and certify election results. Their meetings are open to observers in person, with remote or hybrid access.
• Officials review voter records against relevant government databases. Potentially ineligible voters are flagged and may be referred for further investigation.

Recounts and Election Contests

• Candidates may request a recount or contest an election.
• Recounts may be publicly funded when the results fall within the required margin. Other recounts may be available if the requesting candidate provides funding.
• The public may observe recounts and attend county and state canvassing-board meetings.