Eligibility to vote

You are eligible to vote in Minnesota if you are:

• At least 18 years or older
• A citizen of the United States
• A resident of Minnesota for 20 days immediately preceding the election day

You are not eligible to vote in Minnesota if you are:

• A convicted felon whose civil rights have not been restored
• Under the guardianship of another person
• Found by a court of law to be legally incompetent

Registering to vote

To register to vote, you must fill out a voter registration card. When filling out the card, you must sign and date the oath printed at the bottom . By signing the card, you are swearing that you are eligible to register to vote. The card can be submitted at any time except during the 20 days immediately preceding any election.

• July 20, 2010, Last day to pre-register before the 2010 Primary Election
• August 10, 2010 Registration opens on Primary Election Day
• October 12, 2010, Last day to pre-register before the 2010 General Election
• November 2, 2010, Registration opens on Election Day

If you are not able to register prior to the August 24th or October 12th cutoff dates, you can register on election day at your polling place. Any voter who sends in a voter registration card which is received afterthe above preregistration cutoff dates will be sent a "Noticeof Ineffective/Late Registration" letter. The "Notice of Ineffective/late Registration" letter can be used as proofof residency when registering to vote on Election Day at the polling location.

Availability of Voter Registration Cards

Voter registration cards are available at the Brown County Government Center in New Ulm. You may mail or deliver your card to us. Cards are also available at your local city hall, post office, school district office, license bureau and libraries.

A voter registration card can be mailed to you by:

• Calling our office and requesting a card
• Printing a voter registration card on your personal computer and mailing it to our office (it does not need to be mailed back to the state address):

  Brown County Auditor-Treasurer
  P.O. Box 115
  New Ulm, MN 56073-0115

You can also register to vote when applying for or renewing your drivers license. The information will be forwarded to our office.

Reregistering to Vote if You have Changed your Name or Address

Any previously registered voter who changes his or her name or address must reregister to vote. A change of name or address requires a new registration and a new signature from the applicant.

If you moved since last registering to vote, it is important to update your voter registration information so that you can vote for the candidates who will represent you.

Remember: If you move, you must vote in your new precinct. Do not return to your old precinct to vote.

Canceled Registrations

A voter registration is canceled for the following reasons:

• The voter has been convicted of a felony without having his or her civil rights restored
• The voter is under guardianship of another person
• The voter has been found by a court to be legally incompetent to vote
• The voter is not a citizen of the United States
• The voter has not voted for more than four years

Postal Verification Card

Upon receiving a voter registration card properly completed and submitted, the Brown County Elections Official will enter the information into the statewide voter registration system. A postal verification card will be mailed to you verifying your name, residential address, precinct, polling location and voting districts.

Election Day Registration Information

In Minnesota you may register to vote on Election Day. You will need to bring one of the following proofs of residence to register at the polling place:

• A Minnesota driver's license, learner's permit, or Minnesota identification card with your current address
• A previous registration in the same precinct at another address
• A "Notice of Ineffective/Late Registration" - if you have attempted to register in advance but for some reason your registration was rejected, you receive this official notice from our office
• Someone who is registered in your same precinct and who knows you reside in the precinct, may accompany you to the polls and vouch for you
• A combination of a picture ID and a current utility bill (gas, electric, cable TV, water, solid waste or sewer services) can be used. The utility bill must show the voter's name and current address in the precinct and must not be over 30 days old. The photo ID establishes the voter's identity.

College Students

The above proofs of residency also apply for college students as well as:

• A current valid student identification card from a post-secondary educational institution in Minnesota, if a list of students from that institution has been prepared and certified to the County Property Records and Licensing in the manner provided in the rules of the Secretary of State.
• A current student fee statement that contains the student's valid address in the precinct together with a picture identification card.

Time off Work to Vote

Every employee who is eligible to vote in an election has the right to be absent from work for the purpose of voting during the morning of the day of that election, without penalty or deduction from salary or wages because of the absence.

Assistance to Persons with Disabilities

All polling places are required to be accessible to persons with disabilities and election judges are available for assistance. Voters who are physically unable to enter a polling place may, with the assistance of two election judges of different political parties, register to vote without leaving their vehicle. Absentee balloting is also available prior to Election Day.