Eligible voters can now register to vote when they electronically file their taxes

ST. PAUL, Minn. – With income tax season opening Monday, January 23, Minnesota taxpayers who need to register to vote or update their voter registration can now do so when they file their income taxes electronically, the Minnesota Department of Revenue and Secretary of State Steve Simon announced today.

This year, all taxpayers using Minnesota-certified electronic filing software will see a new message prompting them to register to vote online at the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website mnvotes.org. To see a list of certified electronic filing vendors, visit Revenue’s website and type in the key word “free file”.

“Minnesota law requires that individual income tax return forms and instruction booklets include voter registration forms.” said Revenue Commissioner Cynthia Bauerly. “This year, we worked with tax software providers to get voter registration information integrated into their products to reach the large segment of taxpayers who file electronically.”

“The voter registration process in Minnesota is easier and more convenient than ever before, and this is another critical step in that direction,” said Secretary Simon. “While Minnesota has over 3.2 million registered voters, an additional 700,000 citizens are eligible, but have not yet registered to vote. I encourage all Minnesotans filing their taxes electronically to take advantage of this resource and make sure their voter registration is up to date. “  

Eligible voters must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, a Minnesota resident, and finished with any felony sentence.

Choosing electronic filing and direct deposit is the most secure way to get your refund. Last year, over 2 million Minnesota taxpayers used electronic software to file their taxes.

Voter Pre-Registration Deadline One Week Away

SAINT PAUL — Today, Secretary of State Steve Simon is reminding Minnesotans that the deadline to pre-register to vote for the November 8 General Election is one week away—Tuesday, October 18. Currently, 3,204,503 Minnesotans are registered to vote, the largest number Minnesota has ever seen ahead of Election Day. 

Eligible Minnesotans can register to vote online at mnvotes.org until 11:59 p.m. on October 18, or return a paper voter registration application to the Office of the Secretary of State or their local elections office by 5 p.m. Voters who do not pre-register may register at their polling place on Election Day. 

Voter registration applications are also available at every state agency, all 87 county offices throughout the state, and online in English, Spanish, Hmong, Somali, Vietnamese, Russian, Chinese, Lao, Oromo, Khmer, Amharic, and Karen. To request an application in an alternative format such as Braille, please call 1-877-600-8683

Minnesotans who are already registered to vote can confirm that their voter registration information is up to date at mnvotes.org, and should encourage their friends, family and co-workers to do the same. While Minnesota has more than 3.2 million registered voters, there are an additional 800,000 citizens who are eligible but have not yet registered to vote.

MN Voter Pre-Registration Deadline Tuesday, October 16

ST. PAUL, Minn.—Oct. 12, 2012—Secretary of State Mark Ritchie today reminded Minnesotans that they only have until end of business on Tuesday, October 16  to pre-register to vote for the November 6  General Election.  To pre-register a voter’s registration application must be received by the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State or their county/municipal election official on or before Tuesday.

"Minnesotans should use the online voter registration lookup at www.mnvotes.org to see if their registration is current and to download a voter registration application, if needed,” said Secretary Ritchie.  “If voters miss this deadline, they can still register at their polling place on Election Day.”

Voter Pre-Registration Deadline is October 16

ST. PAUL, Minn.—October 3, 2012 –Secretary of State Mark Ritchie today reminded eligible Minnesota voters that the deadline to pre-register to vote in the upcoming general election is Tuesday, October 16.

“Minnesota voters can register at their polling place on Election Day, but pre-registering will save you time when you go vote on November 6,” Secretary Ritchie said.

State law requires Minnesotans to be registered at their current address before they are allowed to vote. Registrations remain current until voters move or change their names. Voters must re-register if they have not voted in the last four years.

Minnesotans may pre-register to vote by completing a voter registration application and submitting it to their county auditor's office or the Office of the Secretary of State. Applications are available online at www.mnvotes.org or at county government offices and public libraries.

Those who register prior to the deadline will appear in the roster at their polling place and will not have to provide additional documentation at the polling place on Election Day.  Minnesota allows eligible voters to register on Election Day as long as they provide proper proof of residence. For more information about voting eligibility requirements, visit www.mnvotes.org.

Voters can use the office’s online Voter Registration Lookup at www.mnvotes.org to quickly learn whether they are registered at their current address. This online tool will let voters know whether their polling place has changed due to redistricting and provide additional information such as how to register, the dates of the next election and a list of candidates.

SOS Ritchie reminds voters of State Primary Election Aug 14

SAINT PAUL, Minn.—August 7, 2012—Secretary of State Mark Ritchie today reminded voters that the State Primary Election is Tuesday, August 14. 

"The August 14 primary election is almost here," Ritchie said. “This is the first election since redistricting and those changes directly impacted many Minnesota voters. To help voters find the information they need, such as the status of their voter registration, who will be on their ballot and how to find their polling location, this office created the one-stop election information website www.mnvotes.org.”

A state primary election serves a different purpose than a general election.  For partisan races, a primary election narrows the field of candidates for the three major political parties: Republican, Independence, and Democratic-Farmer-Labor to those who will be on the general election ballot. Primary voters also narrow the field of nonpartisan candidates in contests for judicial, county and local offices.  Voters will elect those who will represent them in public office during the general election held on November 6.

Minnesota has an "open primary," which means that voters are not required to register with a political party. However, primary voters cannot vote for candidates in more than one political party.

On Tuesday, August 14 most polling locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.  Minnesota has Election Day registration, which allows voters to register to vote at the polls.

Unofficial primary election results will be posted after the polls close at 8 p.m. on election night at www.sos.state.mn.us.  Additional voter information is available at www.mnvotes.org

"Primary voters will determine which candidates will be on the general election ballot in November,” said Ritchie "Ultimately, the public officials who will make the policy decisions that affect all Minnesotans will be nominated next Tuesday.  That is why it is so important to take the time to exercise your right to vote and cast a ballot on August 14."

SOS Ritchie Reminds voters to vote by absentee ballot if you can't get to the polls

St. Paul, Minn. - August 2, 2012 - Secretary of State Mark Ritchie today reminded voters to vote by absentee ballot if they are unable to get to the polls for the state primary election being held on August 14. Absentee ballots must be completed and returned on or before Aug. 14 to be counted for the primary.

"The August 14 primary is less than two weeks away, and if a voter knows that they will be unable to make it to their polling location on Election Day there is still time to vote absentee," said Secretary of State Ritchie.

Eligible Minnesota voters can vote by absentee ballot either by mail or in person for one of the following reasons:

•Absence from the precinct (away from home on Election Day)
               •Illness or disability
               •Serving as an election judge in another precinct
               •Religious discipline

To vote absentee in person, voters must go to their county auditor’s office during regular business hours Monday – Friday until Aug. 10, between 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Sat., Aug. 11, or up until 5 p.m. on Aug. 13. In-person absentee voting may be offered at many municipal clerk offices as well. If you are not registered to vote, an election official will provide you a voter registration form to complete along with your absentee ballot materials. To successfully register, voters must show proof of residence.

Voters who choose to vote absentee by mail can download and print an absentee ballot application on the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State’s one-stop election information website www.mnvotes.org .  They may also contact a county auditor or municipal clerk directly to obtain one.  Upon receipt of your application, election officials will send you a ballot by mail to complete.  Absentee voters who wish to track the status of their ballot to ensure their ballot is counted should use the Absentee Ballot Lookup at www.mnvotes.org.

Absentee voting information for military and overseas voters is available at https://minnesota.overseasvotefoundation.org.

“Voters in the state primary choose the candidates that will be on the general election ballot on November 6.  Have a voice in our democracy and exercise your right to vote by casting a ballot in the state primary on August 14,”concluded Secretary of State Ritchie.