Information about Minnesota's voting process in American Sign Language (ASL). Original content is provided by the Minnesota Secretary of State Office. These videos were produced by the Commission of Deaf, DeafBlind & Hard of Hearing Minnesotans (MNCDHH).
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Transcript below:
[Opening with the State of Minnesota seal in the background. ASL narrator Sarah Houge appears, with the following words visible on the screen, “Paper Voter Registration. Produced by the Commission of Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing Minnesotans. Sarah begins to sign, the CC begins and the voiceover begins.]
[Background: Graphic with the words, “I pledge to vote. Polls are open 7AM – 8PM]
It’s wonderful that you’ve decided that you want to vote. In this video you’ll learn how to take the first step -- how to register to vote using a paper form.
[The following words briefly appear onscreen: Watch the video “Find Out if You Can Vote.”]
If you are not sure if you are legally allowed to vote, watch the video called “Find out if You can Vote.”
[Background: The Minnesota Vote website]
If you think you are already registered to vote, you can check to be sure by using the tool to “Check My Registration” on the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website.
[The following words briefly appear onscreen: Watch the video “Check Your Registration.”]
There’s also a video you can watch about how to use this tool called “Check Your Registration.”
[The following words briefly appear onscreen: Update Your Registration with any name or address changes.]
State law requires that you update your voter registration if you change your name as well as every time you move, even if it’s just from one apartment to another in the same building.
[The following words briefly appear onscreen: Register 3 weeks before the election or register when you vote.]
If you are not yet registered to vote or need to update your registration, the deadline is 3 weeks before the election. If you miss the deadline, you can register to vote when you go to vote.
[Visual of election judges assisting voters.]
Registering to vote before Election Day has many advantages, including saving you time on Election Day.
[Background: Minnesota Votes website.]
There are several ways to get a Voter Registration Application.
You can go online and download and print a copy from the Minnesota Votes website.
[Background of City of Saint Paul City Hall and Courthouse]
Or you can pick up an application at your county courthouse or city offices.
[Background of the Office of the Secretary of State Seal]
You also can contact the Office of the Secretary of State and ask to have an application sent to you.
[Background: Minnesota Voter Registration Application form]
[The list of languages appear as words scrolling upwards onscreen.]
The application is available in 11 languages:
• English
• Amharic
• Chinese
• Hmong
• Khmer
• Lao
• Oromo
• Russian
• Somali
• Spanish
• Vietnamese
There’s also a large print version.
The Minnesota Voter Registration Application is just one page.
It has three parts.
The first two questions on the application address your eligibility to vote – whether you are a U.S. citizen and 18 years or older. If you answer “no” to either question, you aren’t eligible to vote in Minnesota and you don’t need to complete or return the form.
For the next questions, you will enter:
• Your full name
• Your address where you live (not a PO Box)
• Your mailing address, if you can’t get mail delivered to your home
• Date of birth
• The shaded fields are required; the white fields are optional. It also asks for, but you are not required to provide your school district, if you know it, the county where you live, your phone number, and your email address.
Next, enter the number of your Minnesota driver’s license or Minnesota identification card if you have one and check the first box.
If you don’t have a Minnesota driver’s license or state identification, enter the last four digits of your social security number. DO NOT enter your entire social security number. Then check the second box.
If you don’t have any of these numbers, check the third box.
If you’re registering to vote for the first time, you can skip the Registration Updates section.
However, if you have been registered to vote and are updating your information because you’ve changed your name or moved since the last time you voted, you should complete this part.
The third and final part certifies that you meet all of the state’s voting eligibility criteria. It says
[The below certify text is briefly shown onscreen, rolling upwards.]
I certify that I:
• will be at least 18 years old on Election Day;
• am a citizen of the United States;
• will have resided in Minnesota for 20 days immediately preceding Election Day;
• maintain residence at the address given on the registration form;
• am not under court-ordered guardianship in which the court order revokes my right to vote;
• have not been found by a court to be legally incompetent to vote;
• have the right to vote because, if I have been convicted of a felony, my felony sentence has expired (been completed) or I have been discharged from my sentence; and
• have read and understand this statement, that giving false information is a felony punishable by not more than 5 years imprisonment or a fine of not more than $10,000, or both.
If every statement applies to you, sign your name next to the X and enter the date that you completed the form.
[Text briefly appears onscreen with the following words: Return your form within 10 days of signing it.]
You must return your form within 10 days of when you signed it.
[The following words briefly appear onscreen: Mail it, drop it off at Secretary of State’s Office or your county elections office.]
You can either mail it or drop it off at the Secretary of State’s office or your county elections office. You cannot submit a completed registration form electronically.
[Background: Polling place notification postcard.]
Once you’re registered, you will receive a postcard telling you where you go to vote.
Your name will appear on the list of registered voters at your polling place.
[Visual of election judges helping a voter.]
[The following words briefly appear onscreen: Need assistance? Go to MN Votes website, Secretary of State’s Office or your county elections office.]
That’s it! Now, it’s up to you. If you have any questions or need assistance registering to vote you can go to the Minnesota Votes website, or contact the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office or your county elections office.
For more information, go to the Minnesota Votes website.
[MNCDHH logo is shown. Video ends.]