Early Voting Starts October 16 in Minnesota
In the first four weeks of voting, local election officials in Minnesota have distributed 519,813 absentee and mail ballots. As of close of business on October 15, a total of 80,870 voters cast their ballots in person, and 121,382 voters returned their ballots by mail – for a total of 202,252 ballots cast during absentee voting so far.
In 2022, 172,520 Minnesotans cast their ballots in-person or by mail during the first four weeks of voting. Local election officials distributed 474,935 absentee and mail ballots in the four weeks of voting during the 2022 General Election.
The Office of the Secretary of State will update absentee voting data each week through the fall.
Early Voting Starts October 16
Early voting, which allows voters to place their ballot directly into a ballot tabulator at their local election office, starts today, October 16. The early voting law took effect in 2026, requiring every county to offer at least one location for early voting. Find an early voting location.
Early voting locations will offer extended voting hours on the following days:
Saturday, October 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Tuesday, October 27 open until 7 p.m.
Saturday, October 31 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sunday, November 1 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Monday, November 2 open until 5 p.m.
Same Day Voter Registration
The deadline to register to vote before the election has now passed. Minnesotans can register to vote when they vote early or on Election Day, with proof of identity and residence.
Voting by Mail
Minnesotans can still request an absentee ballot at mnvotes.gov/absentee. However, absentee ballots received by mail must be returned in-person must be received by local election offices by 5 p.m. on Election Day. Absentee ballots returned by mail and mail ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Voters can track their ballot at mnvotes.gov/trackmyballot.
Voting Information
The Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State offers online interactive tools for voters to check their registration, request an absentee ballot, and track their absentee or mail ballot in 11 languages.
