Voter outreach and engagement

These printable materials are for community organizations and individuals doing voter outreach and engagement.

If you have additional questions email us at voteroutreach@hennepin.us.

Media kit

• Elections images (DOCX, 1MB)
• Newsletter toolkit (DOCX, 1MB)
• Social media toolkit (DOCX, 1MB)
• Social media toolkit – translated (DOCX, 1MB) 

General resources

• Know your rights (PDF, 1MB)

Voter guide: language versions

• Hmoob – Kev qhia mus xaiv tsa (PDF, 3MB)
• Oromo – Qajeelfama Filataa (PDF, 3MB)
• Russian – Руководство для избирателей (PDF, 3MB)
• Soomaali – Hagaha Codbixiyaha (PDF, 3MB)
• Spanish – Guía del votante (PDF, 3MB)

2023 elections

• English – 2023 elections (PDF, 3MB)
• Hmoob –  Xaivtsa 2022 (PDF, 3MB)
• Oromo – Filannoowwan 2022 (PDF, 3MB)
• Russian – Выборы 2022 (PDF, 3MB)
• Soomaali – Doorashooyinka 2022 (PDF, 3MB)
• Spanish – Elecciones de 2022 (PDF, 3MB)

Voting checklist

• English – Voting checklist (PDF, 2MB)
• Hmoob – Ntawv teev xaivtsa (PDF, 2MB)
• Oromo – Mirkaneeffata filannoo (PDF, 2MB)
• Russian – Контрольный список для голосования (PDF, 2MB)
• Soomaali – Liiska hubinta cod bixinta (PDF, 2MB)
• Spanish – Lista de control de la votación (PDF, 2MB)

Voting as a college student

• English – Voting as a college student (PDF, 3MB)
• Hmoob – Tub ntxhais kawm kev Povnpav (PDF, 2MB)
• Oromo – Akka barataa kooleejiitti filachuu (PDF, 2MB)
• Russian – Голосование в качестве студента колледжа (PDF, 2MB)
• Soomaali – U codaynta arday jaamacadeed ahaan (PDF, 2MB)
• Spanish – Votar como estudiante universitario (PDF, 2MB)

Vouching

• English – Vouching (PDF, 2MB)
• Hmoob – Lees Paub (PDF, 2MB)
• Oromo – Ragaa namaaf ba’uu (PDF, 2MB)
• Russian – Поручительство (PDF, 2MB)
• Soomaali – Xaqiijin (PDF, 2MB)
• Spanish – Confirmación con testigo (PDF, 2MB)

Voting methods 

Early by mail

• English – Vote early by mail checklist (PDF, 3MB)
• Hmoob – Povnpav ntawm kev xa ntawv (PDF, 3MB)
• Oromo – Dursaatii poostaadhaan filadhaa (PDF, 3MB)
• Russian – Голосуйте досрочно по почте (PDF, 3MB)
• Soomaali – Goor hore ku codee boostada (PDF, 3MB)
• Spanish – Vote anticipadamente por correo (PDF, 3MB)

Voter instructions

• Registered voter instructions (PDF, 1MB)
• Non-registered voter instructions (PDF, 1MB)

Early in person

• English – Vote early in person checklist (PDF, 2MB)
• Hmoob – Povnpav tim ntsej tim muag (PDF, 2MB)
• Oromo – Dursaatii qaamaan filadhaa (PDF, 2MB)
• Russian – Голосуйте досрочно лично (PDF, 2MB)
• Soomaali – Xilli hore ugu codee si qof ahaan ah (PDF, 2MB)
• Spanish – Vote anticipadamente en persona (PDF, 2MB)

On Election Day

• English – Vote on Election Day checklist (PDF, 2MB)
• Hmoob – Povnpav rau Hnub Xaistsa (PDF, 2MB)
• Oromo – Guyyaa Filannootti Filadhaa (PDF, 2MB)
• Russian – Голосуйте в день выборов (PDF, 2MB)
• Soomaali – Codee Maalinta Doorashada (PDF, 2MB)
• Spanish – Vote el día de las elecciones (PDF, 2MB)

Voting while in a residential facility

Staff at a facility can vouch for all eligible residents of that residential facility.

I'm in a residential facility – State of Minnesota.

Voting while homeless

People who have no permanent address can still register and vote.

• English – Voting with no permanent address (PDF, 1MB)
• Hmoob – Kev Pov Npav yam tsis muaj Chaw Nyob Ruaj Khov (PDF, 1MB)
• Oromo – Teessoo Dhaabbataa Utuu Hinqabaatin Sagalee Kennuu (PDF, 1MB)
• Russian – Голосование людей без постоянного места жительства (PDF, 1MB)
• Soomaali – Codeynta Adigoon Haysan Cinwaan Joogto ah (PDF, 1MB)
• Español – Votar sin tener una dirección permanente (PDF, 1MB)

Voting while in jail

• English – Voting while in jail (PDF, 1MB)
• Hmoob – Kev Pov Npav Thaum tseem nyob hauv Tsev Loj Cuj (PDF, 1MB)
• Oromo – Mana Sirreessaa Utujiranii Sagalee Kennuu (PDF, 1MB)
• Russian – Голосование для заключённых (PDF, 1MB)
• Soomaali – Codeynta Adigoo Xabsi ku Jira (PDF, 1MB)
• Español – Votar mientras esta encarcelado (PDF, 1MB)

Voting with a criminal record

• English – Voting with a criminal record (PDF, 1MB)
• Hmoob – Kev Pov Npav uas muaj Cov Ntaub Ntawv Teev Txog Kev Ua Txhaum Cai (PDF, 1MB)
• Oromo – Galmee Yakkaa Utiiqabanii Sagalee Kennuu (PDF, 1MB)
• Russian – Голосование людей с судимостью (PDF, 1MB)
• Soomaali – Codeynta Adigoo ah Danbiile (PDF, 1MB)
• Español – Votar con un registro criminal (PDF, 1MB)

Check out these resources about elections and how you can be engaged.

How elections work

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
• Minnesota elections: accessible, secure accurate (Vimeo) 

Be an informed voter

Learn who represents you, how to connect with them, and techniques for researching candidate.

• Who represents me?
• Contact your representatives
• Researching candidates (PDF, 1MB)

Videos

Welcome to Hennepin County Elections

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

How absentee ballots are counted

• English: How absentee ballots are counted (YouTube)
• 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)
• Soomaali: Habraaca sida loo tirinayo codadka horumariska ah (YouTube)
• Español: Proceso de conteo de boletas de voto en ausencia (YouTube)

As of June 1, 2023 you can vote even if you are on parole or probation. Your right to vote has been restored. Felony status doesn't affect your right to vote as long as you are not serving your sentence in a correctional facility. If you have a felony conviction, you can vote while on work release, home monitoring or probation/parole.

If you arrive to vote in-person you are not considered 'incarcerated' for voting purposes.

Voting rights restored factsheet

• English - Voting rights restored (PDF, 1MB)
• Hmong
• Oromo
• Russian
• Somali
• Spanish

You can vote if you

• Are charged with or convicted of a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor
• Are in jail awaiting trial or sentencing
• Are in jail while on felony probation/parole, but not in jail for a felony sentence
• Have been charged with a felony, but have not been convicted
• Have been given a stay of adjudication
• Are on parole or probation for a conviction in another state
• Finished your felony sentence in another state
• Are currently on work release, home monitoring, probation, or parole for a felony offense
• Are on parole or probation for a federal felony conviction

You cannot vote if you

• Are serving a felony sentence in jail, the workhouse, or the Adult Correctional Facility
• Are currently serving a felony sentence in state or federal prison

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 applications 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, 1MB). 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, 1MB)
• Minnesota Secretary of State voter registration drive guide
• Voter registration and absentee applications in multiple languages

2020/2022 General elections voter turnout data

• Voter turnout data exploration map

Community feedback 

• 2022 Post-election survey (PDF, 1MB) 
• 2019 Community assessment report (PDF, 1MB)

New accessible voting technology

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. This assistive voting technology is available in all Hennepin County polling places.

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, 1MB)
• Español (Spanish) – La nueva tecnología de votación accesible (PDF, 1MB)
• Hmoob (Hmong) – Txuj ci pov npav tshiab yooj yim (PDF, 1MB)
• Oromo – Teekinolojii sagalee kennuu haaraa argamu (PDF, 1MB)
• Russian – Новая доступная технология голосования (PDF, 1MB)
• Soomaali (Somali) – Tiknoolajiyadda codbixinta cusub ee la heli karo (PDF, 1MB)

Your city and school district will be hiring election judges to help people vote at the polling place. Learn all about elections while helping your community.

Who can apply?

Eligible voters who can read, write, and speak English, especially if you are multilingual. High school students ages 16 and older can become student election judges.

How much does it pay?

Pay varies depending on the city and school district.

What is the time commitment?

One evening of paid training and one shift on election day.

How do I sign up?

Use the form linked below to share your information with your local election official. That official may contact you to complete an election judge application, to schedule training, and to assign you to a polling place on election day.

Apply to be an election judge.