Minnesota 2021 local ballot measures

Minnesota Local Ballot Measures
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Local measures

Ballotpedia covered four local ballot measures in Minnesota for voters in two cities on one election date. Voters approved three local ballot measures and rejected two.

HIGHLIGHTS

Voters in Minneapolis rejected an initiative—Question 2—to remove language from the Minneapolis City Charter on the police department, including minimum police funding requirements, and replace the police department with a Department of Public Safety (DPS) controlled by the city council instead of the mayor.

St. Paul voters approved an initiative to limit rent increases to no more than 3% per year (any 12-month period).

Minneapolis voters approved a charter amendment—Question 3—to allow the city council to enact rent control.

In 2021, Ballotpedia covered local measures that appeared on the ballot for voters within the top 100 largest cities in the U.S. and all state capitals, including those outside of the top 100 largest cities. Ballotpedia covered a selection of notable police-related and election-related measures outside of the top 100 largest cities. Ballotpedia also covered all local measures in California and all statewide ballot measures. Ballotpedia's 2021 local ballot measure coverage includes Minneapolis and St. Paul. Click here to see the scope of Ballotpedia local ballot measure coverage by year.

November 2

Voters in Minneapolis and St. Paul decided four local ballot measures on November 2.

Hennepin County

See also: Hennepin County, Minnesota ballot measures

• Minneapolis, Minnesota, Question 1, Executive Mayor and Legislative Council Amendment (November 2021):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported this charter amendment to adopt an executive mayor and legislative council form of government, eliminate the Executive Commission, and give the mayor authority over city departments, excluding the clerk's and treasurer's offices.

A "no" vote opposed this charter amendment, thus maintaining the Executive Commission, which consisted of the mayor, council president, and three additional council members.

• Minneapolis, Minnesota, Question 2, Replace Police Department with Department of Public Safety Initiative (November 2021):  ✖

A "yes" vote supported this charter amendment to: * replace the Minneapolis Police Department with a Department of Public Safety (DPS); * have the mayor nominate, and the city council approve, a person to serve as DPS commissioner; and * remove language from the Minneapolis City Charter on the police department, including minimum police funding requirements and the mayor's control of the police department.

A "no" vote opposed this charter amendment, thus maintaining the existing structure of the Minneapolis Police Department in the Minneapolis Charter.

• Minneapolis, Minnesota, Question 3, Allow for Rent Control Amendment (November 2021):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported this amendment to allow the city council to enact rent control by ordinance.

A "no" vote opposed this amendment, thus continuing to prohibit the city council from enacting rent control.

Ramsey County

See also: Ramsey County, Minnesota ballot measures

• St. Paul, Minnesota, Question 1, Limits on Rent Increases Initiative (November 2021):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported limiting rent increases to no more than 3% per year (any 12-month period) regardless of whether the tenant changes and directing the city to enact a process for landlords to file for an exception to the limit if necessary for a reasonable return on investment.

A "no" vote opposed this measure limiting rent increases to no more than 3% per year (any 12-month period) regardless of whether the tenant changes and directing the city to enact a process for landlords to file for an exception to the limit.

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Minnesota

Click "Show" to learn more about voter registration, identification requirements, and poll times in Minnesota.

How to cast a vote in Minnesota

Poll times In Minnesota, most polling places are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Central Time. Towns with fewer than 500 residents may open their polls as late as 10 a.m. in state or federal elections. In city, town, and school-only elections, polling places in Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington, and Wright counties may open their polls as late as 10 a.m. All other municipalities may open their polls as late as 5 p.m. Anyone in line when the polls close must be allowed to vote. Registration Check your voter registration status here. Voter pre-registration is available in Minnesota beginning at age 16. An individual must be 18 years old on Election Day to vote. To register to vote in Minnesota, an individual must be a United States citizen who has resided in the state for the 20 days preceding the election. The person cannot be currently incarcerated for a felony conviction or under a court order that revokes their right to vote An individual must register to vote at least 21 days before Election Day or on Election Day at a polling place. An individual may register to vote by completing a registration application and submitting it by mail or in person to a local election official. An individual can also register online. To register at a polling place on Election Day, an individual must present valid identification. Automatic registration See also: Automatic voter registration Minnesota practices automatic voter registration. An individual is automatically registered to vote if they apply for a new or renewed Minnesota driver's license, Medicaid, or benefits or services from a participating state agency. The applicant must include documentation or verification of their U.S. citizenship, or records must reflect that they previously provided proof of citizenship. Automatic voter registration took effect on June 1, 2023, as a result of HF 3, which was signed into law by Governor Tim Walz (D) on May 5, 2023. Online registration See also: Online voter registration Minnesota has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website. Same-day registration See also: Same-day voter registration Minnesota allows for same-day voter registration. Residency requirements To register to vote in Minnesota, you must be a "resident of Minnesota for 20 days," according to the Minnesota Secretary of State's office. Verification of citizenship See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States As of November 2025, Minnesota did not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, "giving false information is a felony punishable by not more than 5 years imprisonment or a fine of not more than $10,000, or both." All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters. Verifying your registration The Minnesota Secretary of State allows residents to check their voter registration status online. Voter ID requirements Minnesota does not generally require registered voters to present identification while voting. If you are registering to vote at the polls or have not voted in at least four years, you will need to bring proof of residency to the polls. Click here to see what qualifies as acceptable proof of residency. The federal Help America Vote Act requires that individuals in all 50 states who register to vote by mail and who have not voted previously in a federal election in their state must provide either their driver's license or a paycheck, bank statement, current utility bill, or government document showing their name and address. Individuals voting by mail must include a copy of one of those documents with their absentee/mail-in ballot. These requirements do not apply if an individual submitted a copy of their identification, their driver's license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number when registering to vote.

Additional elections

See also: Minnesota elections, 2021

November 2, 2021

• City elections in Minneapolis, Minnesota (2021)
• Saint Paul Public Schools, Minnesota, elections (2021)

See also

• Local ballot measure elections in 2021
• Local law enforcement on the ballot
• Local charter amendments on the ballot