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1. Who is eligible to vote?

You are eligible to vote in Minnesota if you are least 18 years of age or older, a citizen of the United States and a resident of Minnesota for at least 20 days immediately preceding the election day.

2. How do I register to vote?

Complete a Voter Registration Application (PDF). Drop off or send completed application to:

Sibley County Auditor-Treasurer Office
400 Court Avenue
P.O. Box 51
Gaylord, MN 55334

or register online at the Minnesota Secretary of State Office.

3. Why should I pre-register to vote?

Voting will be faster and easier if you are registered to vote when you arrive at the polls on election day. You can register on Election Day; however, you will need to bring proof of residence with you.

4. How do I register on Election Day?

To register on Election Day, you must have proof of residence in your precinct. Only proofs authorized by law will be accepted.

Valid proof of identity includes any of the following:

• MN Driver's License, Learner's Permit, or Identification card showing a current address (or receipt for any of these)
• Valid, previous registration from the same precinct
• Notice of Ineffective or Late Registration" from the County Auditor-Treasurer's office
• A registered voter from your precinct who personally knows you reside in the precinct and will vouch for your identity
• A photo ID and a current utility bill showing your name and address in the precinct

5. What are the options for Absentee Voting?

Absentee ballots are available 46 days before each election. Individuals interested in absentee voting may do so either by mail or in person at the Office of the Sibley County Auditor-Treasurer. Standard office hours are 8 am to 4:30 pm. Monday through Friday. The office is also open for absentee voting the Saturday before an election from 10 am to 3 pm and until 5 pm on the evening before the election. You do not have to be a registered voter to vote by absentee ballot (you will register during the absentee voting process). Beginning 7 days before the election, applicants voting in-person will be able to deposit their ballot directly into the tabulator/ballot box at the Auditor-Treasurer Office.

Applications & Documents

• Regular Absentee Ballot Application (PDF)
• Military/Overseas Absentee Ballot Application (PDF)
• Application to Automatically receive Absentee Ballot Applications (PDF)
• Online Absentee Ballot Request

6. What is the process for Voting by Mail (Mail Balloting)?

The following precincts will vote by mail for all State Primary and General Elections:

• Green Isle City
• Arlington Township
• Bismarck Township
• Cornish Township
• Faxon Township
• Henderson Township
• Kelso Township
• Sibley Township
• Washington Lake Township

If you live in one of Sibley County's mail ballot precincts, your traditional polling place will not be open on Election Day. Instead, if you are a registered voter, you will receive a ballot in the mail approximately one month before Election Day for each election. See options below for returning your ballot, including voting in person:

1. Return your ballot by mail using the prepaid return envelope included with your ballot packet. Please note: the envelope must be received by election day for your vote to count.
   Voters have several options to ensure their vote is counted in the State Elections:
   • Voters can track their ballot on the Minnesota Secretary of State website.
   • Voters can deliver their ballots to the Sibley County Auditor-Treasurer's office by hand (or have someone they trust hand-deliver it for them).
   • Voters can cast their vote in person with an absentee ballot at the Sibley County Auditor-Treasurer's office until 5 pm the day before each election.
   • Voters in a mail ballot precinct (voters who don't have a traditional polling place) can cast their votes on Election Day until 8 pm at the Sibley County Auditor-Treasurer's office.
2. Return your ballot (in the provided envelopes) in the locked drop box outside the west entrance to the Courthouse or inside the Courthouse in the drop box in the lobby of the Auditor-Treasurer's Office. We must receive it by 8 pm on Election Day for your vote to count.
3. Vote in person at the Auditor-Treasurer Department at the Courthouse in Gaylord. In addition to normal business hours of Monday through Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm, we are also open from 10 am to 3 pm the Saturday prior to each election and from 8 am to 5 pm the Monday (day before) each election. *Note - As a registered voter, you will need to provide either the last 4 digits of your Social Security number or your Driver's License number. More information may be required for a new registrant.
4. Return your ballot (in the provided envelopes) in person or by designated agent OR vote in person on Election Day at the Auditor-Treasurer's Department at the Courthouse in Gaylord. We are open from 6 am to 8 pm. Election Day. Note: You cannot place your ballot directly into the ballot box on Election Day.
5. Starting 7 days before each election, you can put your ballot directly into the tabulator/ballot box (you will need to complete an application to do so)

7. How do I file for office?

An individual who desires to become a candidate for an office shall file an affidavit of candidacy at the location as listed:

• Federal File with Secretary of State
• State File with Secretary of State or County Auditor of the County in which candidate resides
• County File with County Auditor-Treasurer
• City File with City Clerk
• Township File with Township Clerk
• School File with School
• Soil and Water File with County Auditor-Treasurer

For more information on Becoming a Candidate, visit the Secretary of State's website.

8. Who May Be An Election Judge?

An election judge must be:

1. Eligible to vote in the State of Minnesota
2. Able to read, write, and speak English
3. Appointed by the appointing authority (county, city, township, or school board)
4. Trained and currently certified as an election judge.

An election judge cannot be:

1. A candidate in that election (i.e. is running for an office on the ballot used in that precinct)
2. The husband, wife, parent, child, brother, or sister of a candidate or another judge in the same precinct
3. A challenger.

9. Who may be an Election Judge Trainee?

High school students 16 and 17 years of age can be trainee election judges. Students who are 18 years of age or older can serve as regular election judges.

To serve as trainee election judges students must be:

1. At least 16 years of age;
2. Serve in the county where they reside;
3. Be in good academic standing;
4. Have completed or are enrolled in a course on government; and
5. Have permission from their school and parents.

Trainee election judges can serve for all elections. They cannot serve past 10 pm and cannot number more than 1/3 of the election judges in any one precinct. Trainee election judges, like other election judges, are not required to serve the entire day. Because trainee judges serve without party affiliation, they cannot perform tasks that must be carried out by two judges of different political parties, such as curbside voting. However, trainee election judges can perform any other election judge tasks and should be assigned those duties just as other election judges are assigned. Trainees do not count toward the minimum number of election judges required to serve.

Clerks & Election Judges Training Schedules

Before serving in an election, all election judges and student trainee election judges must complete election judge training and be certified as an election judge. This course is offered by the County Auditor-Treasurer. Every judge who completes training receives an election judge certificate that is valid for two years. To stay current with changing election law and ballot counting technology, election judges will renew their election judge certificate by again completing the training course every two years.

In addition to election judge training and certification, head election judges complete an additional hour of training every two years to be certified as head election judge.

Election judges assisting with Health Care Facility absentee voting complete one hour of training every two years (in addition to election judge training) to be certified as HCF absentee election judges.

If you are interested in serving as an election judge in Sibley County, contact the Office of the Sibley County Auditor-Treasurer or submit the Sibley County Election Judge Interest Form (PDF) to the Auditor-Treasurer Office.