Minnesota Secretary Of State - I'm in a residential facility
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I'm in a residential facility


If you live in a residential facility and you need to register to vote, you can register online, register on paper, or register when you vote.

If you register at a polling place, a staff person can go with you to the polling place to confirm your address as an alternative to other proofs of residence. Read more details below.

Voting from a residential facility

Voters in hospitals or certain health care facilities may have special opportunities to vote at their facility or via agent delivery. In addition, all voters can vote early by mail or in person.

What is a residential facility?

Residential facilities include:

  • Adult foster care programs
  • Assisted-living facilities
  • Battered women’s shelters
  • Homeless shelters
  • Housing support settings
  • Nursing homes
  • Residential alcohol and chemical treatment programs
  • Residential facilities for persons with developmental disabilities
  • Residential facilities for treatment of mental illness
  • Supervised-living facilities
  • Transitional housing
  • Veterans’ homes

Help with voter registration on Election Day

If you need to register on Election Day, you must provide proof-of-residence. This can be difficult when you live in a residential facility. One simple way you can provide proof-of-residence is to ask facility staff to go with you on Election Day to ‘vouch’ for you. Vouching is when the staff swears that they personally know you live in the facility.

Any staff person can vouch for all eligible voters who are residents of the facility. However, staff must prove their employment with election officials. Methods of proof include:

  • Showing an employee identification badge.
  • Sending a staff list to election officials in advance.
  • Bringing a staff list to the polling place
    • Instructions: prepare a list on your letterhead of staff who are vouching for residents and give it to the election judge at the polling place. The letter must be signed and dated, and include the facility’s name, address, and your name and title. Include this language in the letter: “I certify that the following is a list of employees of this facility who may vouch on Election Day for eligible voters who are residents of this facility, and that this facility meets the definition of “residential facility” contained in Minnesota Statutes 201.061, subd. 3, para.(c).”

Have an agent pick up your ballot (agent delivery)

If you live in a nursing home, an assisted-living facility, residential treatment center, group home or battered women's shelter, you can ask someone to pick up and return an absentee ballot for you.  Read more about agent delivery

Your agent must be at least 18 years old, have a pre-existing relationship with you and cannot be a candidate. An individual cannot be an agent of more than three voters in an election. The agent must show identification with their name and signature when returning a ballot.

Give your agent a completed absentee ballot application and a request for agent delivery of absentee ballot form. Have your agent take both forms to the local election office to receive your ballot.

Your agent can pick up your ballot starting seven days before the election until 8 p.m. on Election Day. Your agent or someone else you designate must return your ballot to the same elections office by 8 p.m. on Election Day. You can also return your ballot by mail, but election officials must receive your ballot on or before Election Day.

 

Vote early with an absentee ballot

You can vote early at your local elections office starting 46 days before Election Day. You can also apply to have an absentee ballot sent to you in the mail.