Hennepin County is helping you get prepped for the midterm election

If the historic 34.46% voter turnout for the primary election in Minnesota is a sign of interest in the midterms, Minnesotans are showing they are engaged. “Minnesotans are really active; they want their voices heard,” said Nathan Janicek, with Hennepin County Voter Engagement.

The midterm election carries high stakes with open-seat races for major statewide offices like Governor and U.S. Senate. Control of the State Legislature is on the line, as are shifts in Minnesota's congressional delegation, which could influence the overall balance of power in Washington.

As Minnesotans set their sights on the midterm election on Tuesday, Nov. 3, Janicek said there are many resources to keep the momentum of the primaries going.

Absentee voting begins September 18. Additionally, National Voter Registration Day is Sept. 15.

Hennepin County is hosting its own event to help voters get all their ducks in a row for the midterms. The event at the Hennepin County Government Center on Sept. 15 runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. “We’ll be registering people and making sure everything is updated,” said Janicek. “We can check polling locations, sample ballots, and get you all the information you need to be prepared to vote in November.”

Teens ages 16 to 17 attending Hennepin County’s National Voter Registration Day event can preregister to vote. “It gives them an opportunity to be all set for when they turn 18 to go vote,” Janicek added.

Early voting typically starts 18 days before an election, but Janicek encouraged voters to check their designated voting location for more specifics. The Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office provides essential tools and guidelines online to prep voters. For example, the website allows residents to check or update their voter registration, submit an online request for an absentee ballot, and track the real-time delivery status of a mail-in vote. Voters can also use the polling place finder to identify designated Election Day voting sites and district maps, alongside localized sample ballots that show every candidate, ballot question, and office up for election based on a voter's address.

The midterm election in Minnesota is on Tuesday, Nov. 3, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. To learn more, go to: www.sos.mn.gov/elections-voting/