Fwd: TIME TO VOTE: The MN primary is coming 9/9!

Hello fellow NFBPA members, Potential Members and Friends,

The State of Minnesota's primary election day (September 9) is just around the corner. Please be informed of your rights at the polls to ensure that your vote counts. This information is provided by the office of the Minnesota Secretary of State.

• You can register to vote on the same day as the election. Before you can vote, you must register. In Minnesota, you may register before Election Day or on Election Day at your polling place. Your registration remains current until you move, change your name, or do not vote for four consecutive years. NOTE: you are required to provide proof of residence when registering on Election Day. To find out what you need to provide when registering on Election Day, please visit the Minnesota Secretary of State's Site: http://www.sos.state.mn.us/home/index.asp?page=204
• If you have a question, ask an election judge. The job of an election judge (also known as a poll worker) is to help with the voting process. If you have a question about your ballot or the machine where you submit your ballot, ask an election judge for assistance. If you are in the wrong voting precinct, an election judge should help you locate the right one.
• Call the experts for assistance. There are voting hotlines to assist those who feel their rights are being violated or need help with the voting process. The Election Assistance Commission (1-866-747-1471) has staff and volunteers answering questions about where your polling place is and other Election Day questions. The U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Voting Section (1-800-253-3931) has a hotline for inquiries concerning the Help America Vote Act and protecting your right to vote.
  
• Assistance for persons with disabilities. All polling places in Minnesota are equipped with voting systems that allow people with disabilities to vote privately and independently. Polling places are fully accessible with clearly marked parking spaces, doors and routes to the area of the building used for voting. You may choose to bring someone with you to assist with reading and/or marking your ballot. Also, as part of their duties on Election Day, election judges are available at the polling place for assistance if needed. If you are unable to leave your car to enter the polling place, election judges will bring a ballot and any registration materials to you in the vehicle if asked. This voting process is called "curbside voting."
• Find out more by visiting the Minnesota Secretary of State�s Website. The Secretary of State offers more detail about documents needed for registration, polling locations, absentee voting, protecting voter integrity and more: http://www.sos.state.mn.us/home/index.asp?page=134.

And if you have time you should print out the voter guide provided by the Secretary of State, which contains all the information needed to vote in Minnesota: http://www.sos.state.mn.us/docs/votersguide.pdf.

Happy voting and pass this information on to others!