Pre-registration deadline for voting nearing

Published 10:57 am Friday, October 5, 2012

Minnesota’s unregistered voters may want to mark their calendars.

The deadline to pre-register to vote in the upcoming general election is Tuesday, Oct. 16. Mower County Auditor Doug Groh said residents’ best access to an application is here. Once printed and filled out, applications may be faxed to Groh at 507-434-2646, scanned then emailed to dougg@co.mower.mn.us or mailed through the postal service.

Groh invites Mower property owners to include their applications in the same envelope as their property taxes, which are due a day earlier, on Oct. 15.

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Voters who miss the deadline can still vote, but Secretary of State Mark Ritchie recommends pre-registration as a way to streamline their experience on Election Day.

“Minnesota voters can register at their polling place on Election Day, but pre-registering will save you time when you go vote on Nov. 6,” Ritchie said in a news release.

Those who pre-register will appear in the roster at their polling place and will not have to provide additional documentation on Election Day. Minnesota allows eligible voters to register on Election Day as long as they provide proper proof of residence.

Registrations remain current until voters move or change their names. Voters must re-register if they have not voted in the last four years.

The county site includes a tool to tell voters whether they are registered at their current address and whether their polling place has changed due to redistricting. It also lists how to register, the dates of the next election and a list of candidates.

Those unable to access the Internet can go to the Mower County Auditor’s office, 201 First St. NE in Austin, to fill out a form.

For more information about voting eligibility requirements, visit www.mnvotes.org.