Voter Guide

What's happening in 2006?

2006 is an important year to vote! Many public officials will be chosen this fall.

Federal

• One United States Senator
• Eight United States Representatives

State

• Governor and Lieutenant Governor
• Secretary of State
• Attorney General
• State Auditor
• 67 State Senators; 134 State Representatives 1 Supreme Court Justice, and many Appeals, and District Court judges

Local

• County elective offices
• Many mayors and city council members
• Many school board members

There is one proposed amendment to the Minnesota Constitution on the ballot this November. The text is as follows: "Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to dedicate revenue from a tax on the sale of new and used motor vehicles over a five-year period, so that after June 30, 2011, all of the revenue is dedicated at least 40 percent for public transit assistance and not more than 60 percent for highway purposes?"

When are the elections?

State general:  Tuesday, November 7, 2006
Voting hours 7 am to 8 pm (voting begins at 10 am in some townships)

What if I work on Election Day?

Minnesota law allows you to take time off from work with pay to vote during the morning of state elections. If you will be away from home on Election Day, take a look at the What is absentee voting? section.

Who can vote?

You can vote if you are all of the following:

• 18 years of age or older on Election Day
• a US citizen
• a Minnesota resident for at least 20 days before the election
• a resident of your precinct on Election Day
• not a convicted felon deprived of your civil rights
• not under "guardianship of the person"
• not legally incompetent

Where do I vote?

Generally you vote in the neighborhood where you live. You may call your county auditor or city clerk for the address of your polling place. If you recently registered to vote (see below), you will receive a postcard that tells you the location of your polling place. You can also look up your polling place location on the Secretary of State's web site at www.sos.state.mn.us.

* Redistricting may have changed your polling place.

Redistricting

Every ten years congressional, legislative, county, city wards, and other local election district boundaries are redrawn. This "redistricting" process follows the census and is the method by which election districts are adjusted to account for shifts in population. Redistricting is the process by which equal representation is assured among all election districts.

Getting registered...

Before you can vote, you need to be on the official list of voters. This is called being "registered." You need to register if you just became eligible to vote, moved, changed your name, or haven't voted in the last four years.

The easiest way to register is to complete a voter registration card and mail it to or drop it off at the office of your city clerk, county auditor, or the Secretary of State's Office.

When you fill out the card, remember that you can only vote where you live! For example, if you are a student living at school, you must choose whether to register at home or at school, but not both.

Where can I get a voter registration card?

• At state, county, or city offices
• At public libraries
• Where you apply for, renew, or change your Minnesota driver's license or ID card
• In state income tax booklets (in even-numbered years)
• From the registrar's office or student association at colleges, universities, and technical schools
• From many businesses, stores, and community groups
• rom the government pages of most phone books
• Secretary of State Website at www.sos.state.mn.us.

Can I register on Election Day?

If you miss registering before the election, you can register on Election Day at your polling place. However, you will need proof of your identity and the address where you are living on Election Day.

Use one of these for proof...

• Minnesota driver's license, learner's permit, or identification card, or receipt for one, with your current address
• If the Minnesota license or ID has a former address, you may bring a recent utility bill* to use with your license
• "Notice of Late Registration" postcard
• Someone who is registered in the precinct where you live who will vouch for your residence
• U.S. passport with utility bill*
• U.S. military photo ID card with utility bill*
• If you are a student, you can use...
  • Student photo ID, registration, or fee statement with your current address
  • Student photo ID with utility bill*
  • Student photo ID if you are on a student housing list on file at the polling place

* Note:  The utility bill must have your name, current address, and be due within 30 days of the election. Utility bills may be for electric, gas, water, solid waste, sewer, telephone, or cable TV.

How do I vote?

1. Register to vote.
2. Go to your polling place on Election Day. An Election Judge will check to see if you are on the list of registered voters and, if so, will have you sign the list. Then you'll get a ballot. If you can't get to your polling place on Election Day, you can apply for an absentee ballot.
3. Vote! The Election Judges will show you the process for marking and depositing your ballot in the ballot box. They also will help you read or mark the ballot if you need assistance.

Help is on the way...

If you could use help with voting, ask at the polling place for assistance reading or marking your ballot, or you may ask a friend to help you.

All polling places should be fully accessible with clearly marked accessible doors and parking spaces.

If you can't easily leave your car, you may ask for the ballot to be brought to you in your car.

If you are confined due to illness or disability, you can vote by absentee ballot. Call your county auditor or city clerk for details.

If you have limited vision, you may ask your county auditor for voter registration and absentee ballot instructions in large print, on cassette tape, or in braille. If you are hearing impaired, every county and most cities will have a TDD device for questions.

What is absentee voting?

You can vote by absentee ballot if you are unable to vote in person on Election Day because you are...

• away from home
• ill or disabled
• an Election Judge serving in another precinct
• unable to go to the polling place due to a religious holiday or beliefs.

With absentee voting you can vote either in person or by mail during the 30 days before Election Day. Call your county auditor or city clerk for the details.

In person:  Apply and vote at your county auditor's office during normal office hours or from 10 am to 3 pm on the Saturday afternoon or until 5 pm on the Monday before the Election. Many city clerks also administer absentee voting.

By mail:  Apply early so you can mail back or deliver your absentee ballot before Election Day. Call, write, or fax for an application. You can return your application by fax. If you are in the military or outside the US, vote based on where you last lived in Minnesota. Your parent, spouse, brother, sister, or adult child can apply for you. Apply early!

For more information, see the Secretary of State Election Website