Protecting Democracy #1: Sharing Information About Voting Rights and Sites

 

 

Part 1: Connecting With Subsets of Voting Groups

On July 24, 102 days before the midterm election, community members and small business owners gathered for a voter rights information session hosted by Main Street Alliance, Groundwork Institute, and Unidos. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, the state’s top elections official, presented voter and election information.

Simon, whose office focuses on nonpartisan voter outreach, offered his two goals for this midterm election: high turnout and low drama.

Minnesota historically boasts high voter turnout; in 2024, the state had a 76.4 percent turnout of eligible voters. As one of the first states in the country to legalize same-day voter registration in 1973, Minnesota has a proven record of making the voting process accessible. The Minnesotan law for mail-in-voting has been copied in other states.

Simon attributes the state’s historic election success to the balance between accessibility and security in election laws, while also emphasizing the Minnesotan culture that uplifts democracy. “We value democracy in Minnesota,” Secretary Simon said. “We make sure that elections are taught and talked about in our schools. Our businesses and the nonprofit community are on us about voting and elections in a vigorous way.”

Simon voiced concern about potential federal interference in the upcoming election. He noted that the potential hazards are being addressed through multi-state and in-state plans.

Federal officials recently announced a plan to send election monitors to six states, including Minnesota; Simon shared that they would most likely be attorneys from the U.S. Department of Justice — not ICE or border patrol agents.

In Minnesota, there is a 100-foot perimeter around polling places that restricts the attempt to influence or intimidate voters. Police officers cannot be preemptively stationed at a polling location.

The event emphasized that small business owners are trusted members of the community, uniquely affected by policy. This makes them an essential group to aid in voter education — sharing voter resources, encouraging voter registration, or hosting voter education events.

Action = Change

Deep canvassing: Ryan Greenwood, Take Action’s political director, shared the importance of deep canvassing — a technique that involves story exchange and empathy-led dialogue. Greenwood indicated that stories can act as a seed to plant alternative narratives and broaden perspectives. To learn more, attend a Take Action deep canvassing training session. RSVP

Democracy Navigators: Wintana Melekin, founder and executive director of the Groundwork Institute, laid out the importance of community members actively participating in the democratic process of elections in a capacity that fits with their skills. As part of the Groundwork Institute’s Democracy Navigators program, volunteers can participate in three levels of training: 1) talking to neighbors, 2) physically being at a polling site on election day, 3) working within a primary election center. Request a training

Make a plan to vote: Minnesota has three options for voting — absentee ballots, in-person early voting, and in-person election day voting. Go to mnvotes.gov to choose which voting option works best for you, register, and view sample ballots. The website also lists what documentation can be used to register.

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Part 2: Why and How We Vote Overview

As part of a democracy series, the League of Women Voters of Minneapolis has produced detailed information about voting rights and history in Minnesota. This is adapted from one of their articles; although it is written for Minneapolis voters, many details are useful for statewide voters.

Over the past winter, during the upheaval of Operation Metro Surge, Minneapolis residents saw how quickly attacks on the civil rights of our neighbors and community members can affect everyday life. Federal immigration raids, reports of families separated unexpectedly, and the visible presence of heavily armed agents across the metro created fear and instability for many residents and neighborhoods. Community members checked in on neighbors, shared information and looked for ways to stay connected and protect one another when it mattered most.

Those everyday actions reflect a broader kind of participation: the ways residents show up for their communities in moments that matter. Voting is one of the most direct ways we take part in that shared responsibility. It is how we express our values, choose local leadership, and help shape decisions that affect our neighborhoods, schools, parks and public services. It is also a way to speak for those who cannot vote, including young people and newer residents still working toward citizenship.

In moments when communities are navigating uncertainty or change, participation in federal and local elections becomes especially important. Elections are one of the clearest ways residents help shape what happens next in their neighborhoods.

One of the most effective ways to show up for each other is to vote — and to support the systems that make voting possible. And that starts with a plan.

1) Make a Plan to Vote

Planning ahead makes voting easier and more likely to happen. This checklist that was designed for Hennepin County residents can help you develop your voting plan.

• Start by confirming your voter registration at mnvotes.gov. If your address has changed or you are not yet registered, Minnesota makes it easy to update your information or register — even on Election Day at your polling place.
• Take time to review your sample ballot and learn about the candidates and issues that will appear on it. Preparing ahead of time can make voting feel less overwhelming and help you make informed decisions. Sample ballots, candidate information, polling locations and key election deadlines can be found through the Minnesota Secretary of State, Minneapolis Elections and Voter Services, the League of Women Voters Minneapolis or through nonpartisan resources such as Vote411.org. Candidate forums and official election websites can also help voters compare candidates and learn more about local issues.

Next, decide when you will vote. The primaries take place on August 11. The general statewide and federal elections happen on November 3.

Early voting and absentee voting begin 46 days prior to election day, giving residents several weeks to cast their ballots before November 3. Many residents choose to vote early or by absentee ballot because it offers flexibility around work, caregiving, and family schedules, while helping avoid last-minute complications on Election Day.

• Early voting locations for Minneapolis residents are listed on the City of Minneapolis Elections and Voter Services website, and vote by mail/absentee ballots can be requested through the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website.
• If you vote by mail, be sure to return your ballot early, either through the mail or by placing it in a designated drop box. In Minnesota, vote by mail/absentee ballots must be received by Election Day in order to be counted.

The next step is to think about how you’ll get there.

• Many residents walk, bike, or take transit, and some arrange rides with family members, friends, or neighbors. Planning transportation ahead of time can make the process smoother and remove last-minute barriers.
• Some people also choose to vote with someone they know. Going together can make the experience easier to coordinate and helps turn voting into a regular shared activity. Many people appreciate the experience of arriving at their polling place on Election Day and standing in line alongside neighbors — a simple but meaningful reminder that voting is an individual act with collective impact. Choosing a time in advance makes it more likely that voting will fit into your day.

2) Help Someone Else Make a Plan to Vote

Making your own plan to vote can also be an opportunity to support someone else.

If you are already planning when and how you will vote, consider whether someone else — particularly a new voter — could benefit from joining you to vote or learning details from you.

A quick conversation with a neighbor, friend, or family member can help turn intention into action. Sometimes participation depends on something simple: a reminder about registration, help to locate a polling place, understanding the early-voting option, handing in an absentee ballot, arranging transportation or accompanying them to the polls, especially if they are a new voter.

3) Voting Assistance and Accessibility

Voting should be accessible to every eligible voter. Residents with questions about accessibility, absentee voting, or voter assistance options can find information through the Minnesota Secretary of State, Hennepin County and Minneapolis Elections and Voter Services websites.

• Voters may request assistance from a person of their choice, use accessible voting equipment at polling places, or receive help from election judges.
• Polling locations are equipped with ballot-marking devices designed to support voters with visual, physical or other accessibility needs.
• Voters who are unable to enter a polling place for whatever reason can request curbside voting, allowing election judges to bring voting materials outside to them.
• Language assistance is also available for voters who feel more comfortable receiving help in a language other than English.
• Voters may bring someone they trust to assist them with the voting process, provided that person is not their employer or union representative.

4) Support Elections in Your Community

Strong elections depend not only on voters, but also on volunteers.

Each year, thousands of Minnesotans serve as trained election judges. These are the community members you meet at your polling place who help you check in, register if needed, and help you cast your ballot. Minnesota relies on roughly 30,000 election judges statewide to support polling places on Election Day. Serving as an election judge is one of the most direct ways residents can help ensure voting remains accessible and well organized for everyone.

• For more information on serving as an election judge: visit this website page of the Minnesota Secretary of State.
• Students ages 16 and 17 can even serve as election judge trainees, helping to welcome voters and assist with the voting process, while learning firsthand how elections work.

Another way to support elections is by helping to register voters.

• The nonpartisan League of Women Voters provides volunteer training opportunities for residents interested in helping others register to vote at community events, high schools, colleges, and universities. Find a local chapter here.

Volunteers can assist with candidate forums.

• Forums give residents an opportunity to hear directly from people running for office, ask questions, and learn more about local issues.
• Attending candidate forums, inviting candidates to speak in community spaces, and encouraging neighbors or friends to attend are  meaningful ways to help expand access to reliable, unbiased election information, and civic participation.

Volunteers may also contribute communications, website, or social media support that helps make accurate election information easier for residents to find and share. Even something as simple as following and reposting League voting reminders on social media can help more people stay informed about important election dates and voting resources.

 

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