Online Voter Registration Available Until Oct. 15

Minnesotans are now able to apply online to register to vote, or update their existing registration, thanks to an application developed by the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State and accessed at mnvotes.org . The online process will deliver convenience to voters, reduce errors in voter rosters, and deliver significant cost- and time-savings for local election officials.

In addition to launching online voter registration, the office is making absentee ballot applications available online for military and overseas voters. This will allow those voters to apply for an absentee ballot quickly and easily without the need to print, scan forms, and return by mail, fax or email. In the 2012 general election, 10,506 absentee ballots were cast successfully by military and overseas Minnesota voters.

Secretary of State Mark Ritchie encourages Minnesotans to check their registration online to ensure it is up-to-date. In Minnesota, a person must re-register to vote if their address has changed, if they have changed names, or if they have not voted in the previous four years.

More than 35 municipalities across the state will hold elections on Tuesday, Nov. 5, for various city officers, and 113 school districts will hold elections for school board members or have ballot questions. Eligible voters will be able to register online until 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15. Pre-registration is not required, and eligible voters may register at their polling place on Election Day.

St. Thomas students are encouraged to vote in the Nov. 5 election. Anyone who chooses to vote needs to be a registered voter in the precinct where they live. Visit the Minnesota Secretary of State website to find your polling place.