What follows is a brief outline of the election and voting rules used in Minnesota. For more specific information, go to the Secretary of State’s website www.sos.mn.gov/elections-voting/Each state establishes its own election and voting rules. Here are some ways in which Minnesota differs from some other states.

Minnesota only uses paper ballots which are counted by vote tabulating machines. Those machines are tested for accuracy before and again after each election.

In Minnesota there are no “Registered Republicans” or “Registered Democrats.” Citizens who successfully complete the registration application process are simply registered to vote in the precinct where they live.

Minnesota allows same day registration on election day. Same-day registrants’ registration applications are sent to the Secretary of State’s office for approval but the person applying to register is allowed to cast a ballot on that day. If the Secretary of State’s Office determines the person was not eligible to vote on election day the case is referred to local authorities for criminal prosecution.

Minnesota allows voting before election day both in person and mail-in/absentee. Within a certain time frame an early absentee/mail-in ballot can be withdrawn and cancelled which then allows the voter to cast a replacement ballot either in person or by absentee/mail-in. This is especially important if a candidate for election were to die during early voting but before election day.

In Minnesota many elections are non-partisan which means candidates for election appear on the ballot without a party designation. On example is school board elections.

To be eligible to vote in Minnesota you must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old on election day, a resident of Minnesota for 20 days, not currently incarcerated for a felony conviction and not under a court order which revokes your right to vote.

In Minnesota local election officials manage elections with support from the Secretary of State’s Office. The Secretary of State’s Office administers the Statewide Voter Registration System. It finalizes registration applications by verifying voter eligibility; the Office has access to state and federal databases to complete this task. The Office creates and continually updates a Roster of registered voters, by precinct, for use by local election officials. The Voting Roster is partially public and available for purchase for certain specific purposes.

County election officials process voter registration applications, prepare ballots, manage and maintain voting machines, train election judges and forward election results to the Secretary of State’s Office.

Cities, towns and school districts set precinct boundaries, establish polling locations, hire election judges and may have other responsibilities if designated by the county.

Further information on these topics may be covered in subsequent columns.

— “Empowering Voters” is a program of the League of Women Voters – New Ulm, a trusted source of nonpartisan voter information, serving New Ulm and the Brown County area to ensure free, fair and safe elections. To learn more, visit newulm.lwv.org or follow our Facebook page.