Minnesota Secretary Of State - Get help voting
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Get help voting


There are many ways to get help when you vote. You can bring someone to help, ask an election judge, use a machine to help you mark your ballot or even vote from your car.

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Download Voter Assistance factsheet.

Help from family, friends or neighbors

You can bring a family member, friend, neighbor or anyone you choose to help you vote. The only exception is that you can't get help from someone from your employer or from your union.

Your assistant can help you in all parts of the voting process, including in the voting booth. You can show your ballot privately to an election judge to check that it is correctly marked.

Helpers are not allowed to influence your vote or share how you vote with others.

Curbside voting

If you cannot easily leave your vehicle to enter the polling place, you can ask to have a ballot brought out to you. This is known as 'curbside voting.'

Two election judges from different major political parties will bring out a ballot to your vehicle. If you need to register or update your registration, they will bring you an application as well.

When you are finished voting, election judges will bring your ballot inside for you and put it in the ballot box.

For more details on curbside voting, contact your municipal clerk or county elections office before going to the polling place.

Help from ballot marking machine

Most polling places have a ballot marking machine that can mark a ballot for you. It gives you privacy if you cannot (or choose not) to vote using a pen.

The machine has a screen that displays the ballot in large print or with a high-contrast background. It can also read the ballot to you through headphones.

You can fill out your ballot using a Braille keypad, touchscreen or sip-and-puff device. After you make your choices, it prints your completed ballot.

Learn more about ballot marking machines.

Help from election judges

Election judges are there to help you through the entire process of voting.

If you need help marking your ballot, two election judges from different political parties can assist. They are not allowed to influence your choices or tell others how you voted.

 

 

Voters with print disabilities may request an accessible absentee ballot. 

Print disabilities are disabilities that interfere with the effective reading, writing, or use of printed materials. This definition includes:

  • persons who are blind or visually impaired;
  • those with learning disabilities; 
  • those with a physical disability that interferes with holding and manipulating paper or a pen/pencil.


If you do not have a disability, you are not eligible to receive an accessible ballot.

 

To request an accessible absentee ballot:

  • Complete and submit an absentee application. Links to applications are on the Vote Early by Mail webpage.
  • Once you have submitted your application, contact your county election office and specify that you wish to receive an accessible ballot.