Primary Election: August 14, 2012



Check if you are already registered
     Complete the information at http://mnvotes.sos.state.mn.us/VoterStatus.aspx.



You are eligible to vote in Minnesota if you are:
At least 18 years or older

• A citizen of the United States
• A resident of Minnesota for 20 days immediately preceding the Election Day
• Not under court-ordered guardianship in which the court order revokes the person's right to vote
• Have his/her felony sentence expired (been completed) or been discharged from his/her sentence

You are NOT eligible to vote in Minnesota if you are:

• A convicted felon whose civil rights have not been restored
• Under the guardianship of another person
• Found by a court of law to be legally incompetent

Registration Requirements

• Complete a Voter Registration Application

               English or
               Spanish

• Name or address changes require re-registration
• For Election Day Registration and a list of additional requirements, visit Minnesota Secretary of State
• Mail completed Voter Registration Application to Dakota County – Hastings

Registering to Vote
To register to vote, you must fill out a voter registration application. When filling out the card, you must sign and date the oath printed at the bottom. By signing the application, you are swearing that you are eligible to register to vote. The application can be submitted at any time except during the 20 days immediately preceding any election.

• 7/24/2012 - Last day to pre-register before the 2012 Primary Election
• 8/14/2012 - Registration opens on Election Day

If you are not able to register prior to the July 24th cutoff dates, you can register on election day at your polling place. Any voter who sends in a voter registration card which is received after the above pre-registration cutoff dates will be sent a "Notice of Ineffective/Late Registration" letter. The "Notice of Ineffective/Late Registration" letter can be used as proof of residency when registering to vote on Election Day at the polling location.

Availability of Voter Registration Applications
Voter registration applications are available at the Burnsville City Hall and the Dakota County offices in Hastings or Apple Valley or online. You may mail or deliver your application to Dakota County – Hastings. Applications are also available at your local post office, school district office and libraries.

To register to vote 20 days prior to an election, you can:

• Complete a Voter Registration Application, available at most government offices, libraries, or online at the Secretary of State's website.
•  Register in person at Burnsville City Hall or mail the application to Dakota County Administration Center, 1590 Highway 55, Hastings MN 55033-2343. Phone - 651-438-4313
• Visit the Secretary of State's website or Dakota County's website for more information about voter registration, including links to Voter Registration Applications in several languages.

You can also register to vote when applying for or renewing your driver’s license. The information will be forwarded to Dakota County for processing. Beginning in 2008, the U.S.P.S. will be automatically updating voter registration when eligible voters permanently change their address.

Re-registering to Vote if You Have Changed Your Name or Address
Any previously registered voter who changes his or her name or any part of their address (i.e., unit, apartment, etc.) must re-register to vote. A change of name or address requires a new registration and a new signature from the applicant. If you have moved since last registering to vote, it is important to update your voter registration information so that you can vote for the candidates who will represent you. Remember: If you move, you must vote in your new precinct. Do not return to your old precinct to vote.

Cancelled Registrations
A voter registration is canceled for the following reasons:

• The voter has been convicted of a felony without having his or her civil rights restored
• The voter is under guardianship of another person
• The voter has been found by a court to be legally incompetent to vote
• The voter is not a citizen of the United States
• The voter has not voted for more than four years

Postal Verification Card
Upon receiving a voter registration application properly completed and submitted, the County Treasurer-Auditor will enter the information into the statewide voter registration system. A postal verification card will be mailed to you verifying your name, residential address, precinct, polling location and voting districts.

Election Day Registration Information
In Minnesota you may register to vote on Election Day. You will need to bring one of the following proofs of residence to register at the polling place:

• A Minnesota driver's license, learner's permit, or Minnesota identification card with your current address.
• A previous registration in the same precinct under a different address or a different name.
•  A "Notice of Ineffective/Late Registration" -- If you have attempted to register in advance but for some reason your registration was rejected, you receive this official notice from the County Treasurer-Auditor.
•  Someone who is registered in your same precinct and who knows you reside in the precinct, may accompany you to the polls and vouch for you.
• A combination of a picture ID and a current utility bill (gas, electric, cable TV, water, solid waste, sewer, internet provider services or rent statement with itemized utilities) can be used. The utility bill must show the voter's name and current address in the precinct and must not be over 30 days old. Telephone, television or internet services bill acceptable regardless of how they are delivered (i.e. cell, VOIP, cable, satellite, etc.) The photo ID establishes the voter's identity.
• Tribal ID's issued by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of Interior. If ID contains voter's name, current address, signature and picture, it can be used alone. If ID contains the name, signature and picture, then it can be used along with a current utility bill.

College Students
The above proofs of residency also apply for college students as well as:

• A current valid student identification card from a post-secondary educational institution in Minnesota, if a list of students from that institution has been prepared and certified to the County Treasurer-Auditor in the manner provided in rules of the Secretary of State.
• A current student fee statement that contains the student's valid address in the precinct together with a picture identification card.

Polling Place Finder

Precinct Map

Polling Locations:

Precinct 1 - Sioux Trail Elementary School, 2802 River Hills Dr. [map]

Precinct 2 - St. James Lutheran Church, 3650 Williams Dr. [map]

Precinct 3 - Vista View Elementary School, 13109 County Rd. 5 [map]

Precinct 4 - Sky Oaks Elementary School, 100 E. 134th St. [map]

*Precinct 5 - Eden Baptist Church, 1313 Highway 13 [map]

Precinct 6 - William Byrne Elementary School, 11608 River Hills Dr. [map]

Precinct 7 - Neill Elementary, 13409 Upton Ave. S. [map]

Precinct 8 - Burnsville City Hall, 100 Civic Center Parkway [map]

*Precinct 9 - Gideon Pond Elementary School, 613 E. 130th St. [map]

Precinct 10 - Mary, Mother of the Church, 3333 E. Cliff Rd. [map]

Precinct 11 - Crossroads Church, 14300 Burnsville Pkwy. [map]

Precinct 12 - Grace United Methodist Church, 15309 Maple Island Rd. [map]

Precinct 13 - Berean Baptist Church, 309 E. County Rd 42 [map]

Precinct 14 - Echo Park Elementary, 14100 County Rd. 11 [map]

Precinct 15 - Episcopal Church of the Nativity, 15601 Maple Island Rd. [map]

Precinct 16 - Buck Hill Ski Resort, 15400 Buck Hill Rd. [map]

*Precinct 17 - Dakota County Library, 1101 W. County Rd 42 [map]

* New polling locations for 2012