Minneapolis residents: Make sure you’re registered to vote for 2013 city elections

If you’ve voted in recent years and you haven’t moved or changed your name since the November 2012 elections, no problem, you are registered to vote for the November 5, 2013 city elections.

But if you haven’t voted in some time, or if you’ve moved recently, or if you changed your name, or if you’ve had your civil rights restored, you need to take time now to register to vote.

Taking care of your voter registration early will save possible headache later, said Bob Filipek, Minneapolis, an AFSCME Local 3937 retiree who now works seasonally for the Minneapolis elections department.

Filipek is one of several retirees active with the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation to increase voter turnout this fall by retired union members.

He met with the Labor Review recently to get the word out to retirees and others about the importance of registering to vote now so you won’t have to wait in an extra line on election day.

You can register to vote up to 21 days before the election, Filipek noted. Then registration closes until election day.

State law provides that you can register to vote on election day, if you provide appropriate identification with your address or if another registered voter in your precinct can vouch for you.

Proof of address can include a Minnesota driver’s license or state ID or a utility bill with your name and address.

If you live in Minneapolis, the city elections department will send registered voters a white postcard this fall indicating your ward and precinct and the location of your polling place.

If you recently registered and receive a blue postcard instead, your registration was not completely verified, Filipek said, but you can bring the blue postcard with you to the polls on election day to verify your address.

Filipek also encouraged seniors and others to consider voting by a mailed-in absentee ballot. Absentee ballots will be available in September.

Minneapolis voters may call Minneapolis 311 weekdays 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. for voting information.

To learn more about the MRLF’s labor retiree voter outreach program, contact Graeme Allen at 612-321-5672.