Headed To The Polls For Minnesota's Primary? Expect Changes

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Tuesday is Minnesota's statewide primary. Many local races will also be featured on ballots across the state. Like almost everything else, the coronavirus pandemic has changed the way voting will look.

Election officials have made alterations to the layout of polling locations to avoid the spread of COVID-19.

Many polling places have moved

To make in-person voting safer, 50 of 125 polling places in Minneapolis have moved for the 2020 primary and general elections. Polling locations in other cities across the state may have moved as well.

Find your polling place here.

Masks are required inside polling places

Under Gov. Tim Walz's statewide mask order, everyone inside a polling place is required to wear face coverings. Any voter who refuses to wear a mask or vote outside will be allowed to vote, but expect the incident to be documented and reported to appropriate authorities.

Additional safety measures

Hand sanitizer – A sanitizing station will be at the entrance and exit. Voters will be asked to apply it before entering and exiting. Anyone refusing to apply the hand sanitizer for any reason will still be allowed to vote, according to a news release from the city of Minneapolis.

Social distancing – People inside polling places will be asked to keep at least 6 feet from others, and areas may be marked to indicate that 6-foot distance. Voting booths and check-in tables will be spaced at least 6 feet apart.

Sanitized pens – Voters may get sanitized pens when they enter their polling places and return those pens when leaving. Returned pens are then sanitized before being made available to other arriving voters. Voters can also choose to bring their own pens, but should avoid using markers, gel pens and others that could bleed through paper.

Curbside voting – Voters who can’t easily leave their vehicles or need to avoid contact with others as a health precaution can ask to have their ballots brought out to their vehicles.

“I voted” stickers – Pre-cut ‘I voted’ stickers will be available on tables instead of being handed to voters to avoid person-to-person contact.

More COVID-19 polling place safety procedures are available on the Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services website.