More than 3.6 million Minnesotans are registered to vote this fall. But if you're worried that something will get you turned away at the polls, officials say bringing a personal bill might save the day.
Minnesotans can check their voter registration online to avoid any potential setbacks before voting early in-person, or on Election Day.
But Olmsted County Elections Manager Luke Turner said, if you recently moved and your ID hasn't been updated with the new address, you'll likely have to update your registration on the spot.
Part of that process includes providing a current billing statement with your new address on it.
"That could be phone, solid waste, sewer, electric, gas or water, banking or credit, rent or mortgage," said Turner.
Start-of-service documents also are welcome — as are current student fee statements for college-age voters. But whatever you provide has to be dated within 30 days of the November 5 election.
Turner said while trying to resolve this issue might seem intimidating, election staffers are trained to make sure solutions come together. He adds that being prepared with documents makes it even easier.
"The risk that a voter will have if they're not prepared is the risk of being turned away," said Turner. "Now, that's not for the full day - the election judges will still allow you to vote — but you do risk the chance of having to go back home and obtain those documents."
And you might not even have to run home for them, because it doesn't just have to be a paper statement in these situations.
If you're able to pull up a document on your smartphone, Turner said those digital versions are accepted, too.
Support for this reporting was provided by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.