Election & Voter Information

Who is Eligible to vote?

You are eligible to vote in Minnesota if you are:

  • At least 18 years or older

  • A citizen of the United States

  • A resident of Minnesota for 20 days immediately preceding the Election Day

You are not eligible to vote in Minnesota if you are:

  • A convicted felon whose felony sentence has not expired (been completed) or have not been discharged from their sentence

  • Under court ordered guardianship in which the court order revokes your right to vote

  • Found by a court of law to be legally incompetent

Am I currently registered to vote?

How will I know where to vote?

Upon receiving a complete Voter Registration Application the County Auditor/Treasurer Department enters the data into the Statewide Voter Registration System. A Postal Verification Card mailed to you verifies your name, residential address, precinct, polling location and voting districts.

You may also check out your polling place directly from the Secretary of State's Polling Place Finder at:  http://pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us

Can I register at the polls?

In Minnesota you may register to vote on Election Day. You will need to bring one of the following proofs of residence to register at the polling place:

  • A Minnesota driver's license, learner's permit, or Minnesota identification card, Tribal ID with your current address, picture, and signature (for Tribal ID, the tribe must be recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, United States Department of the Interior).

  • A previous registration in the same precinct at another address or previous name.

  • A "Notice of Ineffective/Late Registration" -- If you have attempted to register in advance but for some reason your registration was rejected, you receive this official notice from our office.

  • Someone who is registered in your same precinct and who knows you reside in the precinct may accompany you to the polls and vouch for you.

  • A combination of a picture ID and a current utility bill (gas, electric, cable TV, water, solid waste, sewer services or cell phones) can be used. The utility bill must show the voter's name and current address in the precinct and must not be over 30 days old. The photo ID establishes the voter's identity.

  • A current valid student identification card from a post-secondary educational institution in Minnesota.

  • A current student fee statement that contains the student's valid address in the precinct together with picture identification.

  • For those who live in a residential facility (including nursing homes, battered women's shelters, homeless shelters and other licensed facilities), an employee of the facility may vouch that you live there, if the facility provided the county with a certified list of employees 20 days before the election.

 

Where can I obtain a Voter Registration Application?

Beltrami County Auditor/Treasurer
County Administration Building
701 Minnesota Ave NW Ste 220
Bemidji, MN 56601-3178

  • Voter Registration and Absentee Applications are available at the County Administration Building or on the Applications and Forms page of this website.

  • Applications are also available at your local city hall, post office, school district office and libraries.

  • You can also register to vote when applying for or renewing your driver's license.

For assistance regarding questions on voter registration, absentee voting, or  polling place location, please call 218-333-8448.

What if I need to vote Absentee?

You may vote absentee only if one of these reasons exist:

  •  Absence from the precinct in election day

  • Illness or disability keeps you from the polls

  • You are serving as an election judge in a different precinct

  • Religious discipline or observance of a religious holiday

If you know that you will not be able to vote at your polling site, an Absentee Ballot Application must be completed and submitted to the Auditor’s Office.  If you would like to cast your absentee ballot in person, you may come into the office during normal hours, 8:00 to 4:30 on business days, Saturday August 7 from 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M., and the office will remain open on Monday, August 9 until 5:00 P.M. for absentee voting.  If you need to receive a ballot by mail, the application can be found on the bottom of the Applications and Forms Page.  All sections of the application must be completed, including the signature near the bottom.  The completed application can be mailed to our office at Beltrami County Auditor, 701 Minnesota Ave NW Ste 220, Bemidji, MN  56601.  It can also be sent via fax to 218-333-4246 or it may be scanned and e-mailed to lisa.carlson@co.beltrami.mn.us 

What if I change my name or address?

Any registered voter who has a name or address change may use a Voter Registration Application to update their voting record. 

Do I get time off from work to vote?

Every employee who is eligible to vote in an election has the right to be absent from work for the purpose of voting during the morning of the day of that election, without penalty or deduction from salary or wages because of the absence.

Is there assistance to persons with disabilities at the polls?

All polling places are required to be accessible to persons with disabilities and election judges are available for assistance. Polling places and the Auditor/Treasurer's Office have the new AutoMark voting equipment that will assist persons with disabilities in marking their ballots in privacy (Videos). Absentee balloting is also available prior to Election Day.

Minnesota Votes provides detailed information on Minnesota legislation, your legislator's voting records, bills and citizen comments.

How do I vote if I am out of the country or an active duty military member?

Federal Voting Assistance Program

Vote in Honor of a Veteran

Check out the Step-by-step "How to Vote" Videos
Featuring the AutoMARK Voting System (located at all poll sites) and the
M100 Precinct Counter (located at select poll sites)

Who are my Representatives?

State & Federal Representatives

Beltrami County

Other Local Government