Minnesota voters have one week to pre-register to vote for the state's Aug. 12 Primary Election.
This year, voters will decide a U.S. Senate seat, all of the state's eight U.S. House seats, governor, state officers and other Minnesota House Seats. The 2014 election also includes county commissioners, county sheriffs, county attorneys, auditors, treasurers and recorders.
Secretary of State Mark Ritchie urges eligible voters to sign up before the July 22 deadline at www.mnvotes.org to save wait times at the polling place. Nearly 5,700 voters have successfully registered online.
Voters may also pre-register by contacting their local elections office to request a voter registration application form, or download and print an application--available in several languages--here.
Voters who miss the July 22 pre-registration deadline can still register at their polling place on Primary Election Day by bringing an approved proof of residence. Voters may continue to register to vote online for the Nov. 4 General Election through 11:59 p.m. Oct. 14.
The website includes helfpul tools for requesting an absentee ballot, looking up the status of a ballot, checking to see if you're registered to vote at your current address, viewing a sample ballot and finding a polling place.
Here are other key dates:
July 22: Pre-registration deadline for Primary Election. Voters should pre-register to avoid long lines at the polls. However, you may still register on Primary Election Day.
Aug. 12: Primary Election Day
Sept. 19: Absentee ballots will be available for the General Election
Oct. 14: Pre-registration deadline for the General Election. Voters who miss this deadline may still vote on election day.
Nov. 4: General Election Day.
