City of Edina Home Page

Edina, Minnesota

Voting Information

Rule

Voter Registration

To vote, you must be:

  • A U.S. citizen.

  • At least 18 years old.

  • A Minnesota resident for at least 20 days before the election.

  • Properly registered.

At least 20 days before the election:

  • Complete a Voter Registration Application, available at most government offices and public libraries or online.
     

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    Application Download the voter registration application.

 

  • Register in person or mail the application to the Edina City Clerk or Hennepin County Voter Registration Office.

  • Click the following link to visit the Minnesota Secretary of State’s web site for information about voter registration, including links to voter registration applications in a number of languages:  www.sos.state.mn.us/home/index.asp?page=204.

 

Election Day Registration

Voters registering to vote on Election Day must provide proof of residence from one of the following items (stand-along documents):

  • Valid Minnesota Driver's License, Learner's Permit or Minnesota Identification Card (or receipt) -- showing current name and address in the precinct.

  • Tribal ID -- issued by the tribal government of the tribe recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs that contains the name, address, signature and picture of the individual.

  • Voucher -- oath of a voter registered in the precinct who can verify the registrant's address in the precinct. A voucher may vouch for no more than 15 persons in each election.

    • Residential Facility Employee -- of a facility located within the precinct whose name appears on the certified list provided to the precinct from Hennepin County, may vouch for an unlimited number of residents of their facility.

    • A voucher form, found on the back of the Registration Application, must be signed by the person vouching for the voter and by an election judge.

    • A voter who is vouched for cannot vouch for another voter at this election.

    • Challengers cannot serve as vouchers.

    • Voucher must leave the polling place as soon as the vouching process is complete.

  • Late Notice -- sent from the Elections Office.

  • Valid Registration Within Precinct -- applies only if the voter has changed their name or moved within the same precinct.

  • Current Students -- student ID plus a certified housing list from within the jurisdiction where the student is registering and voting (not applicable in Edina).

-OR-

 

Voters may also register by showing a combination of one picture ID from Column 1 along with one type of utility bill, rent statement or student fee statement from Column 2.

 

Column 1

Photo ID's may be expired, but must contain voter's name and photo.

  • MN Driver’s License

  • MN State ID

  • Tribal ID

  • U.S. Passport

  • U.S. Military ID

  • Student ID from MN Post Secondary School

 

Column 2

Utility bills or rent statements itemizing utility expenses or student fee statements must contain registrant's name and current address in the precinct. Utility bills and rent statements due date must be within 30 days before/after Election Day.

  • Cable/Satellite TV

  • Internet Provider

  • Electric

  • Gas

  • Land Line Phone/Cell/VOIP

  • Rent Statement

  • Garbage

  • Water/Sewer

  • Student Fee Statement

Note: Utility bills are acceptable regardless of how they are delivered to customer.

You must re-register if:

  • Your name or address changes (even just an apartment number)

  • You have not voted in four years.

 

Absentee Ballots

You can vote by absentee ballot if you are unable to vote in person on Election Day because you are:

  • Away from home.

  • Ill or disabled.

  • An election judge serving in another precinct.

  • Unable to go to the polling place due to a religious holiday or religious beliefs.

 

Absentee Ballots are available for the 30 days before Election Day.  To receive an absentee ballot, submit a written application to the City Clerk’s office.  Absentee Voters can cast their ballot in two ways:

  1. Vote in person at Edina City Hall

    • During regular hours
      Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

    • During these extended hours
      Saturday before election day, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
      Monday before election day until 5 p.m.

  2. Submit your ballot by mail.

Call 952-826-0363 to have an application mailed to you. 

If you have a permanent disability, contact the Edina Elections to learn about how to apply to receive an absentee ballot application on an ongoing basis.

Click the following link to visit the Secretary of State’s web site for information about absentee ballots, including links to an absentee ballot application: www.sos.state.mn.us/home/index.asp?page=211.

Get Acrobat Reader You'll need version 3.01 or later of Adobe Acrobat Reader™ to view and print this document.
Application Download the absentee ballot application.

Voting Assistance

Ask the election judges for assistance:

  • To read or mark a ballot.

  • To obtain a magnifying device or a chair to use in the voting booth.

  • To vote at the curb.

  • To use an AutoMARK voter assist terminal.

 

AutoMARK:  Voter-assist terminals for individual with disabilities.

Federal legislation passed by Congress, the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), requires that each polling place be equipped with a voter assist terminal for individuals with disabilities. These devices are designed to provide voters with disabilities the opportunity to vote independently and privately. HAVA requires the devices must be available for the 2006 elections. Funding for the purchase of the equipment was allocated by the federal government to each state. The State of Minnesota has certified the AutoMARK from Election Systems and Software for use in Minnesota to meet the HAVA requirement to provide a voter assist terminal. Hennepin County purchased the equipment for each city with HAVA grant funds from the State of Minnesota. As a result, the AutoMARK will be available in every Edina polling place for voters with disabilities on election day and also will be available for absentee voters at City Hall during the 30 days before each election..

How does it work?

The voters receive the same optical scan paper ballot whether they will vote using a pen or the AutoMARK ballot marking device. The AutoMARK is a tool - an “electronic pen” - to assist the voter in marking the ballot. The AutoMARK has special features to assist voters with disabilities that make it difficult to mark an optical scan paper ballot (i.e. blind, poor eyesight, unable to hold a pen). When the voter inserts the ballot into the AutoMARK, an electronic version of the ballot appears on the screen. The screen provides options for reverse contrast, enlargement for easier reading, or for being turned off for privacy if a voter chooses to access the ballot by using earphones and keypad. The recorded audio description of the ballot can be used in place of or in conjunction with the visual version on the screen. The voter makes selections by the touch screen, the keypad, or alternative adaptive method.

The AutoMARK ballot marking device provides voters the opportunity to review and verify their selections. Upon the voter’s direction, the AutoMARK marks the ovals on the optical scan ballot. The voter then inserts the ballot into the M-100 ballot counter used by all voters in the precinct. The voting process remains the same for voters who do not need the assistance of the AutoMARK for marking a ballot. Votes are tallied by the ballot counter to produce precinct results.

Want to learn more?

For further information, contact the City Clerk’s Office at 952-826-0363 or find more information about the AutoMARK go to the company’s website at ES & S AutoMARK.

2008 Important Election Dates

Primary Election - Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008 (Polls open – 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.)

  • Pre-registration deadline –  Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2008

  • Absentee Ballots – Available beginning Aug. 8, 2007.  Citizens needing an absentee ballot may vote in person at City Hall from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.  Extended hours for absentee voting Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008 (10 a.m. – 3 p.m.), and Monday, Sept. 8, 2008 until 5 p.m.  Call 952-826-0363 for additional information

General Election - Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008 (Polls open – 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.)

  • Pre-registration deadline –Wednesday, October 15, 2008

  • Absentee Ballots – Available beginning Oct. 4, 2008.  Citizens needing absentee ballots may vote in person at City Hall from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Extended hours for absentee voting are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 8, 2008, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008. Call 952-826-0363 for additional information.

Time Off to Vote
In a state or federal election, every employee has the right to be excused from work to vote the morning of Election Day without penalty or loss of salary or wages per Minnesota Statute 204C.04.

For more information, contact any of the following:

Voter Registration
PH:  952-826-0363, TDD: 952-826-0379

Minnesota Secretary of State
PH:  651-215-1440

Hennepin County Elections
PH:  612-348-5151

Minnesota League of Women Voters