YWCA Minneapolis Racial Justice and Public Policy Department is dedicated to providing information to educate all members of our community on the importance of voting, early learning, youth development and racial equity.
Many people protested and advocated to get the right to vote, and some even lost their lives. To this day, there are still communities that can't vote. If you are a U.S. citizen, are at least 18 years old by Election Day, have been a Minnesota resident for 20 days, and have finished with all parts of any felony sentence, you can vote on Election day.
Every vote matters, and voting helps provide just representation of the people. And remember, elections don’t just happen every four years when we elect a President. Local elections are held every year, and these elections have major impacts on our day-to-day lives, from the quality of our roads and transit systems to the schools our children attend.
Do you want something to change, stay the same, increase or decrease? Whatever it is, share it! You have a story that is powerful and worthy of being heard. No one can speak your experience better than you, and your vote reflects that.
Before casting your vote, here’s a voter engagement checklist to help you prepare.
These questions are important to ask so you feel confident in the vote you cast! Set aside 5-10 minutes each day to dig into the candidates and issues on your ballot. Take it a step further: attend an open house or candidate panel to hear directly from candidates about the issues facing your community.
Email us to keep posted on opportunities to volunteer with YWCA Minneapolis Voter Engagement events.