Keep Factually independent
Whether you agree or disagree with our analysis, these conversations matter for democracy. We don't take money from political groups - even a $5 donation helps us keep it that way.
Fact check: What are the requirements to register to vote in Minnesota?
Executive Summary
Minnesota voter registration requires U.S. citizenship, Minnesota residency of at least 20 days before the election, and being at least 18 by Election Day, while people with certain felony convictions or court-ordered guardianships may be ineligible until sentence completion or rights restoration. Registration methods include online, mail, and in-person, with online and mail deadlines generally 21 days before Election Day and same-day in-person registration available at early voting sites and on Election Day [1] [2] [3]. Sources vary slightly on age wording and detail about ID requirements, but consistently emphasize proof of residence and identity for first-time mail registrants and online registration requiring a Minnesota ID or last four of SSN [1] [2].
1. What the official eligibility rules actually say — clarifying the baseline
The most consistent claims across the analyses state that a prospective Minnesota voter must be a U.S. citizen, a resident of Minnesota for at least 20 days prior to the election, and 18 years old by Election Day, with some sources noting registration beginning at age 16 for pre-registration if the voter will be 18 by the election [1] [2]. Disqualifying conditions cited include an active felony sentence unless fully discharged or completed and court-ordered guardianships that explicitly revoke the right to vote, as well as being adjudicated legally incompetent to vote; these limitations are presented uniformly in the summaries that contain substantive content [1]. The CAPTCHAs blocking official pages in several source entries mean those pages could not be read directly here, but the available analyses align on the core eligibility elements [4].
2. How you can register — online, by mail, or in person, and where deadlines differ
All substantive sources indicate three registration pathways: online registration, mail registration, and in-person registration, with deadlines that diverge by method. Online registration and mail registration both have cutoffs at 21 days before Election Day (online often listed as 11:59 p.m., mail at 5 p.m.), while in-person registration is allowed through Election Day, enabling same-day registration and voting at early voting locations or polling places [1] [3]. The differing time stamps and procedural specifics—such as the precise online cutoff hour—appear in the Vote.org summary dated January 1, 2025, and a Minnesota voter information summary noted November 18, 2024, providing convergent but slightly different framings of the same deadlines [1] [3].
3. Identity and proof-of-residence requirements — what first-time and remote registrants must provide
Sources agree that registrants must provide proof of identity and Minnesota residence when required. Online registration typically requires a Minnesota driver’s license or state ID number or the last four digits of the Social Security number, while other accepted proofs of residence include tribal ID, utility bills, lease agreements or a combination of photo ID and a document showing current name and address. First-time voters who register by mail may be required to submit a copy of their ID when voting by mail the first time [1] [2]. These procedural safeguards are portrayed consistently, though CAPTCHA-blocked official pages in some entries prevented direct citation from the Secretary of State’s site [2].
4. Points of ambiguity and where sources diverge — age, CAPTCHAs, and dates
There are minor but noteworthy discrepancies in the provided analyses. One source asserts pre-registration is possible at age 16 if the registrant will be 18 by the election; other summaries emphasize the 18-by-Election-Day requirement without discussing pre-registration [2]. Several entries are flagged as CAPTCHA pages that could not be read [4] [5], which limits direct confirmation from the Secretary of State material and creates reliance on third-party summaries [1] [3]. Publication dates shown include January 1, 2025 and November 18, 2024, with the former being the Vote.org snapshot; these dates indicate the information was current through late 2024 and early 2025, but the blocked official pages mean one should verify against the Secretary of State’s site if timing-sensitive changes are possible [1] [3].
5. What to check next — practical verification and caveats before you act
Before relying on these summaries for immediate action, verify the current rules and any recent statutory changes directly via the Minnesota Secretary of State or official MNVotes pages because multiple source entries here were inaccessible due to CAPTCHAs, and small procedural details (exact cutoff times, ID exceptions, or recent restorations of rights for felons) can change between election cycles. The existing analyses provide a consistent picture of citizenship, residency, age, and ID/residence proof requirements and of the three registration methods with their typical deadlines; use the available Vote.org [1] and MNVotes summaries [2] [3] as a practical guide and consult the state site when possible to confirm up-to-date requirements [1] [3].