Voting Access Scorecard - Minnesota
The Franchise Project’s Voting Access Scorecard ranks how accessible voting is in Minnesota. The Voting Access Scorecard measures the accessibility of American elections by analyzing state election laws and practices. Each state’s performance is based on 30 measurable metrics shown to affect accessibility and foster participation. All metrics are weighted equally to fairly assess all states and their practices. If answered in the affirmative, each metric is worth 1 point, for a total of 30 points. Note that if a practice varies by county or municipality, e.g. the number of early voting locations in Wisconsin, the state only received 0.5 points for that metric. Note: Y=Yes, N=No, and V=Varies by Municipality/County.
Currently, Minnesota ranks 5. Nice! But there's still more you can do to make sure everyone has the right to vote. Take action now!Overall score: 23.5 / 30
Y=Yes, N=No, V=Varies by County/Municipality
| State registration deadline is the Friday before Election Day or later MNS 201.054: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=201.054 Minnesota Secretary of State: http://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/register-to-vote | N |
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| State offers Election Day registration MNS 201.054: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=201.054 Minnesota Secretary of State: http://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/register-to-vote | Y |
| State has automatic registration MNS 201.054: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=201.054 Minnesota Secretary of State: http://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/register-to-vote | N |
| State does NOT create barriers to voter registration by third parties (e.g. allows third party registration, does not require registration drive training or notification) Minnesota Secretary of State: http://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/get-involved/voter-registration-drives/ | Y |
| State does NOT impose fines or criminal penalties for negligent/accidential voter registration mistakes Minnesota Secretary of State: http://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/get-involved/voter-registration-drives/ | Y |
| State offers early voting/in-person absentee voting in multiple locations per municipality/county Early vote locations set by local officials. Minnesota Secretary of State: http://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/other-ways-to-vote/vote-early-in-person/ | V |
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| State offers early voting/in-person absentee voting during evenings and/or weekends Minnesota Secretary of State: http://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/other-ways-to-vote/vote-early-in-person/ | Y |
| State allows no-excuse early voting/in-person absentee voting Minnesota Secretary of State: http://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/other-ways-to-vote/vote-early-in-person/ | Y |
| State holds all elections entirely by mail Minnesota Secretary of State: http://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/other-ways-to-vote/vote-early-by-mail/ | N |
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| State does NOT require an excuse to vote by mail Minnesota Secretary of State: http://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/other-ways-to-vote/vote-early-by-mail/ | Y |
| State deadline to return absentee ballot is NO earlier than Election Day (via any type of delivery) Minnesota Secretary of State: http://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/other-ways-to-vote/vote-early-by-mail/ | Y |
| State allows all voters to sign up to vote by absentee permanently Minnesota only has a permanent absentee ballot application request process; once the voter receives the application each cycle, the voter must still complete and return it in order to vote by absentee. Minn. Rev. Stat. §203B.04(5): https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=203B.04#stat.203B.04.5 | N |
| State allows voters to request vote by mail ballot online Minnesota Secretary of State: http://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/other-ways-to-vote/vote-early-by-mail/ | Y |
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| State allows voters to register online Minnesota Secretary of State: http://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/register-to-vote/ | Y |
| State allows voters to check their Election Day polling location online Minnesota Secretary of State: http://pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us/ | Y |
| State allows voters to check their vote by mail status online Minnesota Secretary of State: https://mnvotes.sos.state.mn.us/AbsenteeBallotStatus.aspx | Y |
| State does NOT require a Photo ID to vote on Election Day Minnesota Secretary of State: http://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/election-day-voting/do-i-need-to-bring-id/ | Y |
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| State does NOT require a Photo ID to vote early or by mail Minnesota Secretary of State: http://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/election-day-voting/do-i-need-to-bring-id/ | Y |
| If ID required, State allows voter to vote through alternative process that does not require voter action (Note: full points received if no ID required at all) Minnesota Secretary of State: http://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/election-day-voting/do-i-need-to-bring-id/ | Y |
| During voter maintenance process, if address has not changed, state allows voter to simply mail back confirmation form MNS 201.13(3)(b): https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=201.13 If the address change is instate, the SOS automatically updates the registration info and sends registrant a notice of the change; the notice informs the voter that if the change is incorrect, the voter must return the notice within 21 days, otherwise registrant remains registered at new address); 201.13(c) (if the address change is out-of-state, "the county auditor shall promptly mail to the voter at the voter's new address a notice advising the voter that the voter's status in the statewide voter registration system will be changed to "inactive" unless the voter notifies the county auditor within 21 days that the voter is retaining the former address"); BUT SEE 201.171 (if voters are designated as inactive, for instance because they haven't voted in four years or they failed to return the postcard on time, they must re-register) | Y |
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| State is NOT a member of Interstate Crosscheck Bryan Caskey, Kansas Secretary of State, Director of Elections (email communication, May 24, 2023) | Y |
| State is Member of ERIC ERIC, http://www.ericstates.org/whowear John Lindback, ERIC Executive Director (email communication, May 25, 2023) | Y |
| State refused to comply with the Pence-Kobach voter registration data request Minnesota Secretary of State: http://www.sos.state.mn.us/about-the-office/news-room/secretary-simon-statement-on-request-from-presidential-advisory-commission-on-election-integrity/ | Y |
| State allows individuals to vote when their sentence is complete MNS 201.014: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=201.014 | Y |
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| State allows individuals to vote during their term of incarceration MNS 201.014: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=201.014 | N |
| State allows individuals to vote after incarceration, while on probation or parole MNS 201.014: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=201.014 | N |
| State voting technology requires a paper trail MNS 206.80: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=206&view;=chapter#stat.206.80 | Y |
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| State requires poll worker training Minn. Rules 8240.1300: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/?id=8240.1300 Minn. Rules 8240.1600: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/?id=8240.1600 | Y |
| State law requires voting machines to meet federal standards, testing by a federally accredited laboratory, or federal certification See MNS 206.57: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=206.57 | Y |
| State provides readily accessible voting technology information Minnesota Secretary of State: http://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/election-day-voting/ | Y |
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