Election season is no longer right around the corner—it’s here!
2020 has been anything but ordinary, and the election is going to be no exception. With social-distancing and stay-at-home orders put into place, many voters are choosing to register online and vote-by-mail instead of in-person. When and whichever way you choose to vote, here’s a timeline guide to the 2020 election.
Registering to Vote
The first step to voting in the 2020 election is registering to vote. In Minnesota, you can register to vote on Election Day, but only if you’re voting in-person. If you plan on voting by mail, you must register to vote before then. You can register to vote one of three ways: online, by mail, or in-person.
To register online, you must provide an email address and an identification number such as the last four digits of your social security number or a driver’s license number. The deadline to register to vote online is Tuesday, October 13, 2020.
If you cannot provide an email address or an identification number, you must register by paper. To register by mail, fill out and send your voter registration application to the Ramsey County Elections Office. The deadline to register by mail is Tuesday, October 13, 2020.
To register in-person, turn in your completed voter registration application to the Ramsey County Elections Office before Election Day. You can also register at your polling station on Election Day, but remember to bring approved identification with you such as your driver’s license or passport. Remember, Election Day is November 3, 2020!
How to Vote
Now that you have registered to vote, it’s time to decide how you will vote: by mail or in-person. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many voters may choose to vote by mail this election to avoid close contact with others. In Ramsey County, those who choose to vote by mail can participate in early voting beginning on Friday, September 18, 2020.
If you choose to vote by mail, you must request an absentee ballot on the Minnesota Secretary of State website. If you prefer to request your absentee ballot on paper, you can submit a paper application by mail to PO Box 64098, Saint Paul, MN 55164, email it to elections@ramseycounty.us, or turn it in in-person to the Plato Building located at 90 Plato Blvd. West, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55107. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Monday, November 2, 2020.
Once you’ve filled out your absentee ballot, you can mail it back in the pre-paid, pre-addressed envelope at your home post office or any USPS location. Ballots must be postmarked by Tuesday, November 3, 2020 and delivered to Ramsey County Elections office by Tuesday, November 10, 2020.
If you choose to vote in-person, be sure to find out where your polling place is. CTV will be posting locations of polling places on our Facebook and Twitter in the upcoming months, so look out for them there! Polling places in Ramsey County are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m..
No matter where or when or how you do it, make sure to use your voice and vote in the 2020 election.
