Election day is here! We hope you’ll get out to the polls at some point today and make your voice heard. Don’t let misinformation or bad advice keep you from performing your civic duty as a voter. To help with this process, we want to dispel some common misconceptions about voting rights here in Minnesota.
Voting Myths In Minnesota
Let’s sort out some common misconceptions about voting in Minnesota.
1. Individuals with misdemeanor convictions cannot vote – You can absolutely vote if you have a misdemeanor conviction on your record or have pending misdemeanor charges. If you’re being held in jail, you can legally vote by absentee ballot.
2. Felons cannot vote in Minnesota – Back in 2023, Minnesota restored the right to vote to convicted felons who have been released from prison. You can learn more about the change on the ACLU’s website. They are eligible to vote in person or absentee once they are out of prison.
3. Homeless individuals cannot vote – Again, this is untrue. Homeless individuals can register and vote in the precinct in which they live and usually sleep (which can be a street corner, a park, a shelter, or any other location).
4. You need to have an ID to vote – Having a valid form of identification makes it easier to vote, but it’s not required. If you did not bring identification to your polling location to register to vote, you may satisfy the identification requirement by having someone who is registered to vote in your precinct vouch for your identity.
5. You can’t vote after the polls close – As long as you are inside the building where voting is taking place, or you’re in line to vote when the polls close at 8:00 p.m., you are allowed to wait until it’s your turn and legally cast your vote. You cannot be turned away if you are in line before the polls officially close at 8:00 p.m.
Don’t let misinformation keep you from voting, and know that it’s illegal to knowingly spread false information about an election, so speak up if something or someone isn’t following the rules. Make your voice heard and practice your civic duty today!
And if you get a speeding ticket on the way to the polls or have a criminal matter hanging over your head, let the team at Appelman Law Firm help sort it all out. Give our team a call today at (952) 224-2277.
