Voting on Election Day

On Election Day, your polling place is open for voting from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. If you are in line by 8 p.m., you can vote.

On Election Day, you are required to vote at your designated polling place based on where you maintain residence. In St. Louis Park, there are 12 polling places open on Election Day.

Find your designated polling place and learn more about where to vote on Election Day.

In a polling place, only authorized people can be present. Campaigning is not allowed and political materials can't be worn.

Do not enter a polling place unless you are authorized.

Only authorized people are allowed inside a polling place during voting hours, such as voters and their minor children, election workers and someone assisting a voter. People may not gather or linger in the polling place or within 100 feet of the building.

For a complete list of who's allowed inside, see Minnesota Statutes 204C.06.

Do not campaign in or near the polling place.

You have the right to vote without anyone in the polling place trying to influence your vote.

No one can campaign inside the polling place or within 100 feet of the building. If the polling place is on public property, no one can campaign anywhere on the property, even beyond 100 feet. However, the prohibition of signs and campaign materials within 100 feet does not apply to adjacent private property.

Do not wear campaign materials.

In the polling place, you cannot display campaign t-shirts, buttons or literature which relate to specific candidates, official political parties, or ballot questions on the ballot that day. You will need to either cover up or remove these items while in the polling place.

Do not initial or sign your ballot, or mark it with a sticker.

Voters may not place pre-printed stickers on their ballot in the write-in space (Minnesota Rules 8230.1450).

Taking photos is discouraged.

There is no law that strictly prohibits taking photos or videos in the polling place to record your own voting experience. However, the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State discourages this activity for the following reasons:

• Voters have a right to privacy, both as to how an individual has voted as well as whether or not an individual has voted. Either or both of these could be compromised by pictures or video. In addition, other voters' objections to being photographed could lead to disruptions within the polling place.
  
  
• When voter turnout is high there may be lines and polling places may be crowded. Voters have a right to take the time they need to vote, but should not take extra time to take pictures.
  
  
• In addition, Minnesota Statutes 204C.17 and Minnesota Statutes 204C.18 prohibit voters from showing their marked ballot to others. Taking photographs or video of your own marked ballot could violate this prohibition.

How to file a complaint

If you believe someone has violated Minnesota election law, you will need to provide information to the proper authorities. On Election Day, you may contact elections staff at city hall to discuss your concern. Learn more about election law complaints.

Conduct in and near polling places on Election Day is regulated by state and federal laws.

Persons allowed near polling place

An individual must be allowed to go to and from the polling place for the purpose of voting without unlawful interference. Except for an election official or an individual who is waiting to register, to update the voter's registration, or to vote or an individual who is conducting exit polling, an individual must not stand within 100 feet of the building in which a polling place is located.

To learn more, see M.S. 204C.06.

Persons allowed in polling place

During voting hours, the law allows only election workers, people directly engaged in voting, and authorized persons to be present in the polling place. Authorized persons are:

• Persons helping a voter who is disabled or unable to read English.
• Persons who are vouching for a voter’s residence.
• Observers with written authorization from the secretary of state's office, the county auditor, or the clerk for the purpose of observing election procedures.
• Peace officers (law enforcement), if the election workers request their presence to keep order.
• Children when accompanying voters.
• Challengers authorized to observe in the polling place. Learn more about rules for challengers.
• Teachers, elementary and high school students if participating in a mock election that has been authorized by the secretary of state.
• The news media.
• Persons making a written complaint.

To learn more, see M.S. 204C.06.

Prohibited polling place activities

Some persons, items and activities are not allowed in the polling place:

• Disorderly persons.
• Intoxicated persons and/or liquor.
• Persons who are campaigning and/or campaign materials, including literature or buttons.
• Smoking.
• Lingering.

To learn more, see M.S. 204C.06.

Intimidation and interference with the voting process

A person may not directly or indirectly use or threaten force, coercion, violence, restraint, damage, harm, or loss, including loss of employment or economic reprisal against:

(1) any person with the intent to compel that person to register or abstain from registering to vote, vote or abstain from voting, or vote for or against a candidate or ballot question; or

(2) any person with the intent to impede that person's efforts to encourage another to cast a ballot or assist another in registering to vote, traveling to a polling place, casting a ballot, or participating in any other aspect of the election process.

No person may intentionally hinder, interfere with, or prevent another person from voting, registering to vote, or aiding another person in casting a ballot or registering to vote.

Anyone found in violation of these laws would be guilty of a gross misdemeanor with civil penalties of damages and up to $1,000 for each violation.

To learn more, see M.S. 211B.075.

Undue influence on voters prohibited

A person may not directly or indirectly use or threaten force, coercion, violence, restraint, damage, harm or loss, including loss of employment or economic reprisal, undue influence, or temporal or spiritual injury against an individual to compel the individual to vote for or against a candidate or ballot question. Abduction, duress or fraud may not be used to obstruct or prevent the free exercise of the right to vote of a voter at a primary or election, or compel a voter to vote at a primary or election. Violation of this law is a gross misdemeanor.

Learn more about undue influence on voters prohibited.

Election worker protections

It is illegal to intimidate election workers; interfere with the administration of an election; disseminate personal information of an election official; obstruct access of any election official to the location where elections administration is occurring; tamper with a ballot box; tamper with the Statewide Voter Registration System, registration list or polling place roster; or access the statewide voter registration system without authorization.

Anyone found in violation of this law would be guilty of a gross misdemeanor with civil penalties of damages and up to $1,000 for each violation. Learn more about interference related to the performance of duties by an election official and associated penalties.

Damaging or removing election materials

State law says that no individual shall intentionally:

(a) tear down, mutilate, deface or otherwise damage during the hours of voting any voter instruction poster placed inside or outside of a polling place by an election judge or other election official; or

(b) remove from the polling place before the time for voting ends any ballots prepared for use at the election or any supplies or conveniences placed in voting booths for use by the voters, except as authorized by law.

A violation of this law is a gross misdemeanor. To learn more, see M.S. 204C.06, subd. 3.

State law also says that no individual shall intentionally:

(a) remove from a polling place any election file or election register, except as authorized by law;

(b) damage, deface, or mutilate any ballot, election file, or election register or any item of information contained on it, except as authorized by law; or

(c) add anything to a ballot, election file, or election register, except as authorized by law.

A violation of this law is a felony. To learn more, see M.S. 204C.06, subd. 4.

Law enforcement at the polling place

State law addresses the presence of law enforcement at the polling place on Election Day. 

• Law enforcement can be called to a polling place if requested by an election worker and remain there until peace is restored.
• Law enforcement can be at a polling place to vote or register to vote.
• In all other situations, law enforcement - including federal law enforcement - must be at least 50 feet from the polling place.

Federal law prohibits federal armed agents from being sent to a polling place. (18 U.S. Code § 592)

No individual, including law enforcement, may be at a polling place for the purpose of voter intimidation or interference with another's voting rights.

Federal observers

The Voting Rights Act permits federal observers to monitor procedures in polling places and at sites where ballots are counted. Individuals acting in this capacity are required to obtain authorization from Hennepin County elections to be present in a polling place or site where ballots are counted. Observers are not authorized to touch voting equipment, materials, interact with voters or otherwise impede the voting process.

Access for news media

A news media representative may enter a polling place during voting hours only to observe the voting process.

A media representative must present photo identification to the head election worker upon arrival at the polling place, along with either a recognized media credential or written statement from a local election official attesting to the media representative's credentials. A media representative must not:

• Approach within 6 feet of a voter.
• Converse with a voter while in the polling place.
• Make a list of persons voting or not voting.
• Interfere with the voting process.

As a voter in Minnesota, you have many rights – get to know them!

Go to and from the polling place without interference. 

You have a right to go to and from your polling place for the purpose of voting without unlawful interference.

Have time off work to vote.

You have a right to take time off work to vote without losing your pay, personal leave, or vacation time.

Vote if in line by 8 p.m.

You have the right to vote if you are in line to vote anytime before 8 p.m.

Register on Election Day.

You have the right to register to vote on Election Day if you can show the required proof of residence.

Sign in orally.

You have the right to orally confirm who you are and to ask another person to sign for you if you can't sign your name.

Ask for help.

You have the right to ask anyone for help, except for an agent of your employer or union.

A voter who requires assistance in marking a ballot, by reason of blindness, disability, or inability to read or write, may be given assistance to do so by a person of the voter’s choice, other than the employer or agent of that employer or officer or agent of the voter’s union.

Read this statement in other languages(PDF, 586KB).

Bring children to the polls.

You have the right to bring your children with you to vote.

Vote if you are not incarcerated for a felony conviction

You can vote if you are not currently incarcerated, even if you are on probation or parole, or have other conditions such as restitution.

Vote if under guardianship.

You have the right to vote if you are under a guardianship, unless a judge has revoked your right to vote.

Vote without being influenced.

You have the right to vote without anyone in the polling place trying to influence your vote.

Get a replacement ballot.

You have the right to a replacement ballot if you make a mistake on your ballot before you cast it.

File a complaint.

You have the right to file a written complaint at your polling place if you are unhappy with the way an election is being run.

Bring a sample ballot.

You have the right to take a sample ballot into the voting booth.

Bring the Voter’s Bill of Rights.

You have the right to take a copy of the Voter’s Bill of Rights (Minnesota Statutes 204C.08, subd. 1d) into the voting booth.

Federal and state laws require that all polling places be accessible and usable by all voters. 

Minimum requirements for accessibility include:

• At least one set of doors must have a minimum width of 32 inches if the doors must be used to enter or leave the polling place.
• Any curb adjacent to the main entrance to a polling place must have curb cuts or temporary ramps. Where the main entrance is not the accessible entrance, any curb adjacent to the accessible entrance must also have curb cuts or temporary ramps.
• Where the main entrance is not the accessible entrance, a sign shall be posted at the main entrance giving directions to the accessible entrance.
• At least one set of stairs must have a temporary handrail and ramp if stairs must be used to enter or leave the polling place.
• No barrier in the polling place may impede the path of persons with disabilities to the voting booth.
• At least one parking space for persons with disabilities, which may be temporarily so designated by the municipality for the day of the election, must be available near the accessible entrance.
• The doorway, handrails, ramps, and handicapped parking must conform to the standards specified in the state building code for accessibility by persons with disabilities.

The city can only designate polling places that meet these standards, unless no available place within a precinct is accessible or can be made accessible.

All polling places

For all state elections, voting instructions will be available in all polling places on Election Day in the three most commonly spoken non-English languages in the state. Currently, those languages are:

• Spanish
• Hmong
• Somali

Instructions on “How to Vote” in these three languages will be posted in the polling place and available for use by voters when casting a ballot. A translated notice will also be posted in three languages indicating the availability of these instructions.

Additional translated posters have been printed and will be available for reference at the polling place.

Interpreter services are also available at your polling place on Election Day. Ask an election worker for help if you require this service. You may also bring another person with you to assist with translation at your polling place.

Designated language minority districts

The Office of the Secretary of State worked with the State Demographer to identify language minority districts where three percent or more of the population in a corresponding census tract speak English "less than very well" according to the most recent census data. The language minority district spreadsheet(XLSX, 34KB) includes the designated tracts, language(s) for each tract, whether the tract meets the 3% or 20% threshold, and precincts in that tract.

For all precincts in language minority districts, voting instructions and sample ballots will be translated into the most commonly spoken non-English language for all precincts in that census tract. These materials will be posted and available for voters as a reference when casting a ballot.

In St. Louis Park, precincts 6, 8 and 9 meet the 3% threshold and will have translated voting instructions and sample ballots in Spanish at the polling place.

In addition to the above requirements, in census tracts where 20% or more of the population speak English "less than very well," 10 or more registered voters may file a request with the secretary of state or their county auditor to have an interpreter in the polling place provide translation services for voters. The request for interpretive services at polling place form(PDF, 129KB) is available for making this request. Currently, no precincts in St. Louis Park meet the 20% threshold according to the most recent census data.

If interested citizens or organizations believe that the need exists for translated materials or interpretive services in a precinct that was not designated as a language minority district, they can provide information to the secretary of state or county auditor to demonstrate this need. Pending review and approval, the above requirements would apply to those precincts.