New accessible voting technology

Hennepin County polling places will feature new assistive voting technology this year. The OmniBallot Tablet is a ballot marking device for voters with disabilities, allowing voters to mark their ballots independently and privately without using a pen.

Accessible

• Provides ballot magnification or high-contrast background for voters with visual impairment
• Offers audio reading of the ballot through headphones
• Allows voters three options to mark choices:
  • Touchscreen
  • Braille keypad
  • 3-button device

Easy to use

• Uses the same ballot as everyone else
• A printer fills the ovals on the ballot
• Ballot goes in the same tabulator to be counted as all other ballots
• An election judge will be available at polling places to answer questions

Learn more

To schedule an organization or group demonstration email voteroutreach@hennepin.us.

Watch or listen to a video about How to use the OmniBallot Tablet (YouTube)

Download a printable overview

• English – new accessible voting technology (PDF)
• Español (Spanish) – La nueva tecnología de votación accesible (PDF)
• Hmoob (Hmong) – Txuj ci pov npav tshiab yooj yim (PDF)
• Oromo – Teekinolojii sagalee kennuu haaraa argamu (PDF)
• Russian – Новая доступная технология голосования (PDF)
• Soomaali (Somali) –Tiknoolajiyadda codbixinta cusub ee la heli karo (PDF)

Your city is hiring election judges! Learn about all about elections while helping your community.

Find out more about being an election judge.

Interested in learning how candidates get on the ballot, how ballots are counted or who administers elections in Minnesota?

Learn more about how elections work in Minnesota

Videos: How absentee ballots are counted

• English – How absentee ballots are counted (YouTube) (2021)
• Hmoob – Txheej txheem kev lis dej num txog kev suav xam cov ntawv xaiv nom uas tus neeg ntawd tsis muaj peev xwm mus pov npav tau (YouTube) (2020)
• Soomaali – Habraaca sida loo tirinayo codadka horumariska ah (YouTube) (2020)
• Español – Proceso de conteo de boletas de voto en ausencia (YouTube) (2020)

New voters must meet eligibility requirements to register and vote. Voters can register online, by submitting a paper voter registration application or by registering on Election Day.

• Hennepin County 2021 voter guide (PDF)
• Register to vote online
• Register to vote on election day
• Who is eligible to vote?

Find out more information about political offices and who represents you.

• Contact your representatives
• Learn more about offices on the 2020 ballot (PDF)
• Researching candidates (PDF)
• Who represents me?

Interested in providing voter outreach or education in your community?

Federal voting assistance program

Outreach materials

Hennepin County outreach materials

• Register to vote (PDF).

Voting while in jail

• English – Voting while in jail (PDF)
• Hmoob – Kev Pov Npav Thaum tseem nyob hauv Tsev Loj Cuj (PDF)
• Oromo – Mana Sirreessaa Utujiranii Sagalee Kennuu (PDF)
• Russian – Голосование для заключённых (PDF)
• Soomaali – Codeynta Adigoo Xabsi ku Jira (PDF)
• Español – Votar mientras esta encarcelado (PDF)

Voting with a criminal record

• English – Voting with a criminal record (PDF)
• Hmoob – Kev Pov Npav uas muaj Cov Ntaub Ntawv Teev Txog Kev Ua Txhaum Cai (PDF)
• Oromo – Galmee Yakkaa Utiiqabanii Sagalee Kennuu (PDF)
• Russian – Голосование людей с судимостью (PDF)
• Soomaali – Codeynta Adigoo ah Danbiile (PDF)
• Español – Votar con un registro criminal (PDF)

Voting with no permanent address

• English – Voting with no permanent address (PDF)
• Hmoob – Kev Pov Npav yam tsis muaj Chaw Nyob Ruaj Khov (PDF)
• Oromo – Teessoo Dhaabbataa Utuu Hinqabaatin Sagalee Kennuu (PDF)
• Russian – Голосование людей без постоянного места жительства (PDF)
• Soomaali – Codeynta Adigoon Haysan Cinwaan Joogto ah (PDF)
• Español – Votar sin tener una dirección permanente (PDF)

Interested in conducting a voter registration drive?

Individuals or organizations conducting voter registration drives may print the voter registration applications or receive up to 100 paper application at a time from Hennepin County Elections. Contact hc.vote@hennepin.us or 612-348-5151 to schedule a time to pick up the applications.

Review the Hennepin County voter registration drive instructions (PDF). Voter registration applications must be returned to our office no later than 10 days after they are completed by the voter.

Resources

• Hennepin County voter registration application (PDF)
• Hennepin County voter registration drive instructions (PDF)
• Minnesota Secretary of State voter registration drive guide
• Voter registration applications in multiple languages

English

English: Welcome to Hennepin County Elections (YouTube)

Non-English versions

• Hmong: Hennepin County Kev xaiv tsa zoo siab txais tos nej sawv daws (YouTube)
• Somali: Ku soo Dhawow Doorashooyinka Degmada Hennepin (YouTube)
• Espanol: Bienvenidos a las elecciones del condado del Hennepin (YouTube)