Early Voting for this year’s general election begins Friday, September 21, and runs through Monday, November 5, when it closes at 5 p.m. There are basically three ways to vote early prior to Election Day:
Vote-By-Mail
Vote-By-Mail (VBM) allows voters to cast their ballots from any location with the same security protections, but without the hassles and pressures associated with the narrow window of time on Election Day. VBM enables active military service members and their families, voters who are overseas or away from home on Election Day, and anyone who otherwise cannot cast a ballot at the polls on Election Day to participate. Details about Vote-By-Mail are available on the EVS website, as well as instructions, helpful hints, etc. There is also a very handy video that provides step-by-step guidance on how to complete a VBM absentee ballot to minimize any errors, thus ensuring the ballot is accepted and tabulated.

Early In-Person Voting – Early Vote Center
For the general election the main in-person early voting location will be the Downtown Early Vote Center, one block north of City Hall, at 217 S. Third Street. The Early Vote Center will be highlighted with red, white, and blue banners and signage as well as sufficient staff to provide curbside support, interpretations, and other information or assistance to assure a smooth process for all voters taking advantage of this convenience. As in 2017, EVS will extend service hours at the Early Vote Center in the two weeks leading to Election Day. These hours are shown in the calendar.
Direct Balloting
Direct Balloting for the general election begins on Tuesday, October 30, and enables voters to cast their ballot by putting it directly in the tabulator, just like on Election Day. There is no series of secrecy envelopes, no delay in the tabulation, no potential for the ballot not being accepted. Instead, it’s the same experience as for voters on Election Day—including the same levels of security—but offered as a convenience in advance of the “big day.” The Direct Balloting period listed below also includes the extended services hours
In addition, EVS is happy to announce that three additional Early Vote Centers will be opened only for the Direct Balloting period to maximize convenient access to all voters throughout the community. That means from Tuesday, October 30, through Monday, November 5, there will be a total of four Early Vote Centers open to serve Minneapolis voters. More information will be made available on these additional locations as we get closer to the start of Direct Balloting.
POLLING PLACES: UPDATES & CHANGES
Prior to the primary election, a couple of changes to polling places used in the 2017 Municipal Election were made to improve service to voters. These changes remain in effect for the general election and all affected voters were notified via postcard notices in July. Here are the affected precincts:
Ward 2 – Precinct 9 moves from the Augsburg University Oren Gateway Center to Matthews Park Recreation Center, located at 2318 29th Ave S.
Ward 6 – Precinct 5 moves from Minneapolis American Indian Center to Phillips Community Center, located at 2323 11thAve S.
COMMUNICATING WITH VOTERS
Help us help voters! The EVS website—accessible at vote.minneapolismn.gov—has the most accurate and current information about this year’s election, helping us ensure all voters are “election ready.” The website features the Your Voter Guide that has quick links to a number of online tools, including:
Voter Registration Lookup — voters can verify their registration status
Online Voter Registration — voters can complete and submit a registration form
Polling Place Finder — voters can find details about their assigned polling place location
My Ballot — voters will be able to access their sample ballot starting around 46 days before the election
Absentee Ballot Request – voters can request to have an absentee ballot mailed to them
Absentee Ballot Lookup — voters can track the status of their absentee ballot
And, if you haven’t already done so, we encourage you to like/follow/share the EVS social media accounts—
EVS Facebook: www.facebook.com/votempls
EVS Twitter: www.twitter.com/votempls