Knowledge Base

The first day to vote early in the 2022 general election is Friday, September 23. In Minnesota, you can vote early with an absentee ballot starting 46 days before Election Day. Olmsted County and the City of Rochester are encouraging all eligible residents to participate in the general election by registering to vote, reviewing their sample ballots, and making a plan to vote in-person or absentee.

Register to vote or update your voter registration

• In-person or mail
  • Submit a Voter Registration Application to the Olmsted County Elections Office in-person or by mail.
    
    Olmsted County Elections Office
    2122 Campus Dr. SE, Suite 300
    Rochester, MN 55904
     
• Online
  • Register to vote on the Minnesota Secretary of State website. You will need a Minnesota driver’s license or ID card number or the last four digits of your social security number.
     
• Register at the polls
  • Preregistration closes 20 days before each election. If you haven't preregistered, you can register when you vote, either at your polling place on Election Day or when voting early. You will need to provide acceptable proof of residence as part of this process. More information on what is needed to register at the polls is on the Minnesota Secretary of State website.

Sample ballot and candidate information
Voters can download their sample ballot on the Minnesota Secretary of State website. Candidates and questions appearing on the ballot will be listed.

Vote early

• Absentee by mail
  To request an absentee ballot, please use the online absentee application. The completed absentee application must be returned by mail or in-person to the Olmsted County Elections Office or the Olmsted County Government Center at 151 4th St. SE, Rochester, MN 55904 by 3 p.m. on November 8, 2022. Mailed ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on November 8, 2022.
   
• Absentee voting in-person
  • Olmsted County Elections Office:
    • September 23 – October 31, 2022
      Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
       
• Absentee in-person direct balloting
  • Olmsted County Elections Office and Olmsted County Government Center:
    • November 1 – 4, 2022, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
    • November 5, 2022, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
    • November 7, 2022, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Vote on Election Day

• In-person on November 8, 2022
  You can find your polling location on the Minnesota Secretary of State website. You can also use the Election District Finder tool to determine your election district, who represents you, and candidate information.

Become an election judge!
The City of Rochester is seeking election judges. You can apply online through the City of Rochester website.

More information
For the latest election updates and further details about voting in Olmsted County and the City of Rochester, Minnesota, including links to online tools, visit the following sites:

• Olmsted County: www.olmstedcounty.gov/vote
• City of Rochester: www.rochestermn.gov/vote  
• Minnesota Secretary of State: www.mnvotes.org      

Election videos
Olmsted County has videos available regarding election security and voting absentee. Check them out and learn more about how voting works in our county!