Early voting (by mail or in-person) has begun.

This primary determines nominees for the November 3, 2026 general election for various federal and state partisan offices (e.g., U.S. Senate, U.S. House, Governor/Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, State Auditor, state legislative seats) and some nonpartisan local offices.

Voter Registration

• Online or by mail: Deadline July 21, 2026 (to avoid Election Day processing).
• In-person: Up to and including Election Day at your polling place, early voting site, or county election office.
• Check or register: mnvotes.gov/register or mnvotes.gov.

Find what's on your ballot: Visit the Minnesota Voter Information Portal for your sample ballot, polling place, and more.

Voting Options

Minnesota offers three main ways to vote in the primary. It is an open primary state: You can choose any one party's ballot for partisan races (your choice is private and does not register you with the party). You cannot mix candidates from different parties on partisan races, or those votes won't count. Nonpartisan races (e.g., many local offices) appear separately.

1. Vote by Mail / Absentee

• Request a ballot starting June 26 at mnvotes.gov/absentee (online, mail, or in-person).
• Some areas automatically mail ballots to registered voters (mail ballot precincts).
• Return by mail (must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day) or in-person at your local election office (by 5 p.m. or 8 p.m. depending on method).
• Track your ballot: mnvotes.gov/trackmyballot.
• Available at your local county election office or designated sites from June 26 through August 10 (business hours; check locally for exact times, e.g., some extend on weekends or final days).
• Starting around July 24 in many places, you can use ballot tabulators.
• No excuse needed.
• August 11th - Polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. (stay in line by 8 p.m. to vote).
• Find your polling place: mnvotes.gov/pollfinder or the Voter Portal.
• Same-day registration available.

Key Links and Resources

• Main Voting Site: mnvotes.gov — register, request ballots, find polling places, track ballots, sample ballots.
• Secretary of State Elections Page: sos.mn.gov/elections-voting
• Primary Info: sos.mn.gov/elections-voting/how-elections-work/primary-election
• Candidate Filings: Search at candidates.sos.mn.gov
• County Election Offices: Find yours via mnvotes.gov or your county website (hours vary).
• Multilingual Support: Information available in multiple languages on mnvotes.gov.

Tips: Verify your registration and polling place in advance. Bring ID if registering same-day or if challenged (proof of residence may be needed). For assistance, contact your county election office or the Secretary of State's elections line: Metro (651) 215-1440; Greater MN 1-877-600-VOTE.

Information is current as of late June 2026; always confirm details on official sites closer to voting as local procedures can vary slightly.

Tim Wilkin, President
Capitol Strategies, Inc.