Voter Guide
Check out our 2022 Voter Guides — Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Northfield!
Why Vote?
We know that voting has never been accessible to everyone—especially for young people that are a part of historically marginalized communities. We also know that voting is just one of the many change-making tools available to young people. Mutual aid, protests, and important grassroots organizing have contributed tremendously in creating and supporting our communities. Nevertheless, there is real power behind young people turning out to the polls and casting their vote. Not only is it a way to advance important pieces of policy, it also holds incumbents accountable to promises they made in previous cycles. It allows us to keep pushing our values forth and lets us steer decision making in a more representative direction. In November, young people across the state will get the opportunity to make their voices, values, and visions heard through the collective power of our individual votes.
How to Vote
The 2022 Midterm Election is on November 8, 2022. In order to vote you must:
Be a U.S. citizen
Be 18 years old on or before the day of the election
Have been resident of Minnesota for at least 20 days at the time of the election
Have completed all parts of any felony sentence
1) Check your registration status:
Are you registered to vote? Check to see if you’re registered or if your registration is up-to-date with your current address at https://bit.ly/MNYCregstatus.
2) Register to vote:
In Minnesota, you can register to vote by mail or online up to 20 days in advance of the election (That’s October 18). Visit this website to register in advance: https://bit.ly/MNYCvote. Minnesota also has same-day voter registration. You just need to be able to verify who you are and where you live. Usually, people do that with a photo ID with their name and a piece of official mail, like a bill, that was sent to your current address.
3) Vote!
Election Timeline:
September:
23 - Early voting (by mail or in-person)
October:
18 - Last day to register early
November:
8 - Election day!
*For more information on the voting process, head to https://www.mnyouthcollective.org/voter-resources*
For more information on the voting process, visit our Voter Resources page.
What Can Elected Officials Do?
We all know that no one person holds all the power in government—but what power do which people have? Here's a little more information on what kinds of power people at different levels of government have, so you know who you're voting for and who to go to when you want to make a change.
GOVERNOR
The Governor of Minnesota is the head of the executive branch of government in the State of Minnesota, overseeing over 24 State Departments and Agencies, and administering the laws and affairs of the state.
The Governor also informs the State Legislature on the condition of the state, proposes a state budget, approves or vetoes bills passed by the legislature, appoints judges to fill court vacancies, and more.
The Governor is the single elected official with the most power to make change and impact the standards of living of all Minnesotans across our state.
The Governor can utilize the platform of the office to get policy and legislation passed, allocate funding, and sign executive orders. The Governor’s actions can impact the cost of housing, healthcare, education, and so much more.
STATE LEGISLATURE
The role of the State Legislature of Minnesota is to enact and revise laws at the state level, and adopt a state budget.
The Legislature is composed of two chambers: The House of Representatives with 134 Representatives (two from each Senate district), and the Senate, with 67 Senators (one from each Senate district).
In passing laws which govern all Minnesota residents, the State Legislature has a large effect on a wide range of state programs and resources.
How each State Representative or State Senator votes can be decisive and have a lasting impact on not only the lives of their own constituents, but Minnesota residents across the whole state.
SECRETARY OF STATE
The Secretary of State serves as Minnesota’s chief elections administrator. The Secretary of State works to increase civic engagement in our elections, provide the tools and information helpful for small businesses in the state, and more.
The Secretary of State files, certifies, and preserves the enrolled laws of the Legislature, executive orders, and registers a variety of business associations, including corporations, cooperatives, LLCs, trademarks, and more.
Overseeing the statewide voter registration system, the Secretary of State’s office affects Minnesotans living in all 87 counties. The Secretary of State is responsible for ensuring our election system is fair, open, impartial, and secure. The office
The office of the Secretary of State uses resources, information, and technology to make it easier for all eligible Minnesotans to vote in our elections, increasing civic engagement among young people, and providing helpful resources alike.
ATTORNEY GENERAL
The Attorney General serves as the chief legal officer of the State of Minnesota, providing legal representation to 100+ state agencies, boards and commissions, and representing the state in court cases.
As the People’s Lawyer, the Attorney General's job is to protect and assist all Minnesotans to be able to afford to live a safe, dignified life.
The Attorney General’s Office reviews complaints from members of the public on an array of problems in the marketplace and helps identify any potential violations of Minnesota law. These range from antitrust and consumer protection, conflict mediation, fraud and scam protection, and more.
Throughout the eviction moratorium, the Attorney General’s office defended tenants by filing lawsuits to block illegal evictions during the COVID pandemic and sued landlords for unsafe and hazardous living conditions.
The Attorney General has helped stop price gouging by pharmaceutical companies by suing manufacturers of generic drugs for illegal price-fixing.
HENNEPIN COUNTY ATTORNEY
As the top prosecutor in the County, the job of the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office is to serve justice and public safety through ethical prosecution, crime prevention, and client representation.
The Office is separated into Civil and Criminal Divisions, each handling an array of different matters.
The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office has numerous initiatives, including gun violence prevention, domestic violence prevention, supporting victims of violent crime, and protecting the vulnerable from financial and physical abuse.
It is the job of the Hennepin County Attorney to champion public safety - ensuring that all of our communities are safe, and that law enforcement officers are held accountable for any wrongdoing.