The short version.
The Minnesota voter registration file is a public record you request from the state elections office. You pay a fee, sign a use affidavit, and get the list of registered voters for your district — names, addresses, and registration details. Then you hand it to Motion51 and we load it, geocode it, and cut your turf.
Minnesota's list is cheap and fast -- $46 for the whole state, $30 for any smaller area, delivered by email download link usually within a few days -- but you must be a registered Minnesota voter to buy it.
Where to request it.
- Office
- Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State — Elections Division (Statewide Voter Registration System)
- Contact
- (651) 215-1440 | elections.dept@state.mn.us | Office of the Secretary of State, Voter Registration Lists, First National Bank Building, 332 Minnesota Street, Suite N201, Saint Paul, MN 55101 | Secretary of State: Steve Simon
What it costs.
$46.00 flat for statewide list. $30.00 flat for any sub-state geography (county, city, town, precinct, congressional district, state senate district, state house district, judicial district, county commissioner district). Same fee covers either the voter file alone or the voter file PLUS vote-history file. Payment by check made out to 'MN Secretary of State.'
How to request it, step by step.
- Download the Registered Voter List Request Form from the Secretary of State.
- Choose statewide ($46) or a sub-state area -- county, city, precinct, or district ($30).
- Sign the affidavit that you're a registered MN voter and will use the data only for elections, political activities, or law enforcement, and attach a photo ID.
- Mail or drop it off with a check, money order, or exact cash (no credit cards).
- The Secretary of State emails a download link, usually within 5 business days.
How long it takes.
5 business days statutory maximum after SoS receives a complete request + payment. Often delivered in 2-3 business days. Email delivery with download link to the requester's email.
Use restrictions — read before you order.
Minn. Stat. § 201.091, subd. 4-5: (1) Requester must be a registered MN voter, (2) must present ID, (3) must sign written statement that data will not be used for any purpose unrelated to elections, political activities, or law enforcement, (4) misuse is a gross misdemeanor under § 201.091, subd. 9. No internet-republication ban explicit in statute, but the use-restriction effectively forbids public posting since that has no election/political/law-enforcement purpose.
Costs, forms, and rules change between cycles. Always confirm the current details on the official Minnesota page linked above before you send payment. This page is a plain-language summary, not legal advice.
Minnesota voter file FAQ.
How much does the Minnesota voter file cost?
$46 for the statewide list, or $30 for any sub-state geography (county, city, town, precinct, or legislative/judicial district). The same fee covers the voter file with or without vote history. Payment is by check, money order, or exact cash -- no credit cards.
Can I use it for my campaign?
Yes, but with conditions: you must be a registered Minnesota voter, present photo ID, and sign a statement that the data will be used only for elections, political activities, or law enforcement (Minn. Stat. 201.091). Misuse is a gross misdemeanor.
How long does it take?
The Secretary of State processes within 5 business days of a complete request and payment -- often 2-3 -- and delivers by emailed download link.
Do I have to load it myself?
No -- send us the downloaded file and Motion51 loads it, geocodes it, and cuts your turf.
Once you have the file, Motion51 takes it from there.
Getting the file is the errand. The campaign is what happens next: loading tens of thousands of addresses, putting them on a map, cutting them into walkable turf, and tracking every door. That's what Motion51 does.
Send us the file the state gives you and we load it in, geocode the addresses, and set up your district so volunteers can start knocking. The app works offline for the stretches where cell coverage drops, and every door is logged with a timestamp. If you're weighing a race in Minnesota, our For Candidates page walks through the next steps.