Election Information

What ward am I in?

Click to go to the Secretary of State website or here is the City's ward map. (Zoom in for detail)

Where do I vote?

The polling place for all City voters has been changed to the Ralph Engelstad Arena- 525 Brooks Ave. N. -  Ward Locations within the building.

When are the elections?

Voters may cast their ballots in a primary as well as a general election. In a primary, Minnesota voters narrow the field of candidates by choosing the candidates that will appear on the ballot in the general election. In the general election, voters elect candidates to office.

State law allows you the right to take time off work without a reduction in pay to vote during the morning of a state primary and a state general election.

Am I eligible to vote? 

You may register and vote if you meet all of the following requirements:

• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Must be at least 18-years-old on Election Day
• Must have resided in Minnesota for 20 days immediately preceding Election Day
• Must have completed any felony conviction or had it discharged
• Must not be under court-ordered guardianship where a court has revoked your voting rights
• Must not have been found legally incompetent by a court

How do I register to vote?

Registration is the first step in the voting process. You must either complete a Voter Registration Application at least 21 days before Election Day or register on Election Day. Your registration remains current until you move, change your name, or do not vote for four consecutive years. You may update your registration information by completing another Voter Registration Application.

When registering, you are required to provide your residential address, which determines where you vote. Students must decide whether their residence is their address at school or a parent’s address. Students cannot register to vote at both addresses.

Where do I get a voter registration application?

• Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State and its website.
• Pennington County Auditor’s Office
• Public Library
• Locations where you apply, renew or change your Minnesota Driver’s License or ID card
• Registrar’s office or student association at colleges, universities, or post-secondary schools
• Government Pages within most phone books
• State Income Tax booklets (even-numbered years)

Voter Registration Applications are available in other languages and large format upon request through the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State.

How do I register to vote on election day?

If you are not registered to vote or need to update your registration information, you may do so at your polling location on Election Day. In this case, you will be required to provide proof of residence.

To successfully complete Election Day Registration:

You must have one of the following:

• A valid Minnesota Driver’s License, a learner’s permit, a Minnesota ID card, or a receipt for any of these having a current name and address in the precinct
• A student identification card including your photo, if your college has provided a student housing list to election officials
• A tribal ID card that contains your name, picture, signature and current address in the precinct
• A valid registration in the same precinct under a different name or address
• A notice of late registration that was sent to you by your county auditor
• A voter registered in the same precinct as you who can confirm your address with a signed oath
• An authorized employee of a residential facility where you reside who can confirm your address with a signed oath (the residential facility must provide a list of employees to election officials)

Alternatively, if the voter ID does not have a current address, the voter must show one photo ID and one document. The ID must contain the voter's name and photo and can be expired. The document must have the voter's current name and address in the precinct and can be shown electronically or on paper.

Approved Photo IDs:

• Driver’s License or Learner's Permit issued by any state
• ID Card issued by any state
• United States Passport
• United States Military ID
• Minnesota University or Technical College ID
• Tribal ID Card with name, signature and photo of the voter

Approved Documents, due or dated within 30 days of the election:

• Gas Bill                                              
• Electric Bill
• Telephone Bill (landline, VOIP)             
• Cell Phone Bill
• TV Bill (cable, satellite)                        
• Solid Waste Bill
• Water Bill                                           
• Sewer Services Bill
• Internet Services Bill                          
• Student Fee Statement
• Rent Statement w/ Itemized Utilities
• Residential lease or rental agreement (valid through election day)
• Mortgage Payment

How do I mark my ballot?

Every Minnesota voter uses a paper ballot. However, there are three options for marking your ballot:

1. Use a pen

2. Use the AutoMARK ballot marking device

The AutoMARK ballot-marking device allows voters with disabilities to vote independently and privately by providing various accessibility options for marking their ballot. It is equipped with a screen that can enlarge text or provide a high contrast display of the ballot for voters to listen privately to an audio version of the ballot, and has an additional connection for other accessibility devices.

Voters using the AutoMARK select their candidates by touching the screen, using a keypad, or using an external accessibility device. The AutoMARK reads the voter’s choices and completes the ovals on the ballot for the selections made. The voter can then deposit the marked paper ballot into the ballot box.

3. Have another person assist you

If you need assistance due to an inability to read English or to mark a ballot, you may obtain the aid of two election judges. Alternatively, you may have an individual of your choice assist you, with the exception of your employer, an officer or agent of your union, or a candidate for election.

What assistance is available to me on election day?

Polling places are fully accessible with clearly marked parking spaces, doors and routes to the voting area.

If you are unable to leave your car to enter the polling place, election judges will bring a ballot and any registration materials to you in the vehicle if asked. This voting process is called “curbside voting.”

What is absentee voting?

You may find you are unable to get to your polling place on Election Day but still want to vote in the election. You may cast an absentee ballot ahead of time either in-person or through the mail.

Absentee Voting In-Person

Where to go:
Pennington County Courthouse
Auditor/Treasurer's Office
101 Main Avenue North
Thief River Falls, MN  56701                       

When to go:
During the 45 days before the election

Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 4:30 pm

Saturday before Election Day from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Monday before Election Day until 5:00 p.m.

Absentee Voting By Mail

To complete an absentee ballot by mail:

1. Obtain an absentee ballot application. 

Applications are available for downloading and printing from the Secretary of State’s website.

If you are serving in the military or outside the U.S., visit the Secretary of State’s website to complete your absentee ballot request. 

Another option is to contact the Pennington County Auditor/Treasurer’s Office to obtain an Absentee Ballot Application at (218) 683-7000.

2. Complete and return the application as soon as possible. You may submit your Absentee Ballot Application by fax, mail, or a scanned image attached to an email.

3. Once the election official has received your completed application, an absentee ballot will be mailed to you as soon as ballots are available.

4. Compete and return the absentee ballot materials. The absentee ballot must reach the Pennington County Auditor/Treasurer’s Office by Election Day.

Absentee Voting Using a Designated Agent

During the seven days preceding an election through 2:00 p.m. on Election Day, you may designate an agent to deliver a ballot to you if you are a patient of a health care facility, are disabled, have incapacitating health issues, are a participant in certain residential programs, or are a resident of a shelter for battered women or an assisted living facility. You must have a pre-existing relationship with the person you designate as an agent.

For more information about voting absentee in person, by mail or by using a designated agent, contact the Pennington County Auditor/Treasurer’s Office at 683-7000.