In a move to increase voter accessibility before the upcoming Election Day, Minneapolis Elections and Voter Services has announced expanded early voting options. Starting tomorrow, Minneapolis voters will have additional locations and extended hours to cast their ballots prior to November 5th. These measures ensure that those eager to exercise their democratic right won't have to wait until Election Day or adhere to traditional voting hours.
The main Early Vote Center, located at 980 E Hennepin Avenue, will now be open for longer periods, including weekends. Minneapolis residents can visit the center starting October 21st, with operating hours from 8:00 a.m. until as late as 7:00 p.m. on select days. Moreover, this center will be open until 5:00 p.m. on November 4th, the day before official polls open across the nation. Voters should note that while the Early Vote Center is closed for voting on November 5th, ballot drop-off will remain open until 8:00 p.m. that evening, as per information provided by the City of Minneapolis.
Accompanying the main voting site, two additional early voting locations will be welcoming voters starting October 22nd. These are the Urban League Twin Cities at 2100 Plymouth Ave N, and Bethel Lutheran Church at 4120 17th Ave S. Both locations offer the same hours as the Early Vote Center, aiming to accommodate a larger number of voters from various parts of the city.
In addition to the permanent sites, Minneapolis has embraced pop-up voting events, facilitated by a legislative change in 2023. These events, which appear for just a day, extend the reach of the ballot to cultural and community hubs throughout Minneapolis. Locations like the Weisman Art Museum and the Minneapolis Institute of Art are among the various venues where voters can cast their ballots on specified dates. These pop-ups ensure the same level of security and adhere to the same voting processes as the Early Vote Center, as confirmed in the city's announcement.
For those unable to make it to the early voting centers or pop-up events, there's still the option of voting by mail. Ballots can be requested through the state's voting website, and voters intending to return their mail ballot via the US Postal Service are advised to mail them by October 29th. Alternatively, mail ballots can be dropped off at any of the designated early voting sites during their operation hours, or on the specific days of pop-up voting events. It's critical to remember, on Election Day, mail-in ballots must be received by 8 p.m. at the approved drop-off locations; they cannot be submitted at individual polling places.
