Row the Vote” (RTV) is an initiative led the Undergraduate Student Government aimed at increasing voter participation among students. It focuses on educating students about the importance of voting and providing resources to assist students with registering to vote as well as voting early, by-mail, or on election day. 

Row the Vote aims to register 3,000+ students and pledge 7,000+ students to vote. Additionally, the campaign seeks to make voting as accessible as possible for all members of our campus community. This includes promoting early voting, helping students make a plan to vote, sharing election information online. 

Row the Vote is looking for volunteers for our Class Blitz (Sept 30-Oct 15)! During this time, Row the Vote volunteers will be speaking in hundreds of classrooms to get students registered and ready to vote. Volunteers will undergo a Class Blitz crash course & training session so that they are equipped with necessary information!

Each Class Blitz shift is 2 hours and volunteers will be compensated $30. No prior voter outreach experience is required! The Row the Vote team will provide class lists, resources, and all necessary information. 

If you are interested in volunteering, please sign up here: z.umn.edu/RTVClassBlitz

You can register online, by mail, or in-person (either on election day on November 5th or whenever you go to vote early!)

To register online: Go to www.sos.state.mn.us. Registering online only takes a few minutes and is completely safe and secure. To register online, you do not need an Minnesota ID; you can also use the last four digits of your social security number.

To register on paper: paper registration forms can be found in the Undergraduate Student government Office in Coffman Memorial Union, room 202. You can also choose to print the forms online or pick them up at your local county elections office. 

Registration temporarily closes on October 15. If you want to register to vote and it’s past October 15, you can register on election day or at your local elections office. 

To register in person, you will need to bring a form of identification. This includes: 

• Your driver’s license, 

• A photo ID AND a document showing your address (such as a utility bill, lease, etc)

• A tribal ID,

• Another registered voter in Minnesota who can confirm your address,

• A current college student ID,

• Somebody who lives in your dorm or apartment that can vouch for your residency. 

You can see more options for forms of identification by visiting this link.

In Minnesota, you can register to vote anytime before you vote, including on Election Day. All you need on Election Day is a valid form of ID and a proof of residency. Learn more about registering to vote on Election Day here: mnvotes.gov/register.

However, voter registration temporarily closes between October 15 and election day. So if you want to vote early, be sure to register before October 15. The sooner the better! 

You can check your registration status online: mnvotes.sos.state.mn.us/VoterStatus.

Ultimately, the choice is up to you. The most important thing to know is this: You should register to vote wherever it will be easiest for you to cast a ballot. That’s why it’s so important to pledge to vote and have a plan for how you will vote on or by November 5th.

If you are registered in Minnesota, you can request a mail ballot and vote from wherever you are already registered, or you can register to vote from your campus address. 

You can always request a mail ballot and later decide to vote in-person on Election Day.

If you moved to Minnesota from another state and currently consider Minnesota your home, you can still vote here. You can vote in Minnesota as a college student even if you are paying out-of-state tuition or have a driver’s license from another state.

If you do not consider your school address to be your home, you can apply to vote by mail. If you are voting in Minnesota, you can apply online to receive your ballot by clicking here.

Still unsure whether to vote from your home or campus address? Consider all the other elections happening! Do you want a vote in state or local elections? If yes, that might help you decide where you want to vote from. Just remember, you can only vote in elections within any single district. 

If you’re registered to vote in Minneapolis, then you have multiple options for in-person early voting that are secure, accessible, and within a 10 minute drive from campus. Learn more about in-person early voting: vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/vote-early-in-person/.

Minneapolis Early Vote Sites include: 

Main EVC: Elections & Voter Services, 980 E Hennepin Ave (closest to campus!)

North EVC: Urban League 2100 Plymouth Ave N

South EVC: Bethel Church 4120 17th Ave S

(for any voter registered in Minneapolis) 

For more options, visit: vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/vote-early-in-person/

There is also an in-person on-campus early voting site at Weisman Art Museum on October 22!

Early voting opens 9/20. Here’s a basic outline of how to vote by mail in Minnesota:

1. Apply for an absentee ballot online (z.umn.edu/RTVmail). This is probably the easiest and fastest way to get started if you plan to vote by mail in Minnesota.

   1. Alternatively, download an absentee ballot application online by clicking below: (z.umn.edu/absenteeapplication). Return your completed absentee application to your county election office by mail, fax or email.

2. After submitting your absentee ballot application, you will receive your absentee ballot in the mail. Read the instructions that come with your ballot carefully.

3. Fill out your ballot as you would normally, voting for the candidates you prefer.

4. Because of recent changes to election law in Minnesota, you will need a witness when you vote by mail and complete your ballot. The witness can be either a registered Minnesota voter or a notary. This can be a roommate, classmate, friend, etc.

5. Return the ballot and forms right away after you finish. REMEMBER: your ballot will not count if it is received after Election Day.

   1. Tip: The Post Office on the Ground level of the Coffman Memorial Union (near the Starbucks and bookstore) is an easy place to drop off your ballot!

To find your voting location, visit http://mnvotes.gov/pollfinder. 

Contact Joslyn Blass, Executive Director of Government and Legislative Affairs, at blass012@umn.edu