What if I need assistance casting a ballot?

If you need help voting, you have lots of options! 

Time off to Vote

In a state or federal election, every employee has the right to be excused from work to vote on Election Day without penalty or loss of salary or wages as per Minnesota Statute 204C.04.

Bringing Someone with You

You are welcome to bring a relative, friend or neighbor with you to help you as long as that person is not your employer or your union representative. The person you bring with you can help you in all parts of the voting process, including in the voting booth; however, helpers can only physically mark ballots for up to three voters in an election. In addition, they are not allowed to make choices for you, share how you vote with others or try to influence you to vote a certain way. If you have someone help you mark your ballot, you are welcome to show your ballot privately to an election judge to check that it is correctly marked.

Voting Machines for People Who Want Assistance

All Absentee/Early Voting Centers and the polls on Election Day are equipped with ballot marking devices that can mark a ballot for you. It gives you privacy if you cannot or choose not to vote using a pen. These ballot marking devices can help you:

  • View the ballot on a screen that can enlarge the font or display the ballot with a high-contrast background
  • Listen to an audio version of the ballot through headphones
  • Fill out your ballot using a Braille keypad, a touch screen, a keypad or a personal sip and puff port. After you make your choices, the device prints your completed ballot so you can place it on the ballot counter. Note: this device marks but does not count ballots.

Help from Election Judges

You may also ask election judges for assistance. Election officials are happy to work together to assist with:

  • Using a Ballot Marking Device to read, mark, and print your ballot
  • Using a Signature Guide to help you sign your name
  • Using a magnifying device or chair to use in the voting booth
  • Voting at the curb in your vehicle
  • Reading or marking a ballot

Voting From Your Car

If you cannot easily leave your vehicle to enter a polling place, you can ask to have a ballot brought out to you. This is known as "Curbside Voting." Simply ask the election judge stationed near the poll entry for assistance. 

Voting When You Fear For Your Safety

Please visit Safe At Home: An Address Confidentiality website well in advance of the election if you are in a situation where you wish to vote but fear for your safety if your address were to be disclosed in voter records.

Voting When You Need Translation Services or Large Print

You may bring someone with you to the polls to translate. Ballot marking devices assist with large print marking.

Show All Answers

1. Where do I vote on Election Day?
2. How do I vote if I can't make it on Election Day?
3. What if I feel sick on Election Day?
4. What offices and candidates are on my ballot?
5. It's Election Day and I've had an emergency. How do I vote?
6. May I pick up a ballot for my spouse/child/neighbor?
7. Am I registered to vote?
8. How do I know my absentee ballot will be counted?
9. What if I need assistance casting a ballot?
10. Where do I find election results?
11. Where can I learn more about my unique circumstance?
12. Where can I find voting resources?