Minnesota’s new in-person early voting system will open on Friday, 16 October, allowing voters to place completed ballots directly into a counting machine rather than returning them in envelopes.
The change is intended to make early voting operate more like voting on Election Day. The state’s secretary of state, Steve Simon, outlined the arrangements ahead of the 2026 midterm elections and answered questions about concerns over the possible presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents near polling places.
How early voting will work in Minnesota
Voters using an early voting centre will complete their ballot before feeding it into a tabulator on site. The process is separate from traditional absentee voting, in which ballots are returned in envelopes and reviewed by election officials before being counted.
Early voting will be available until Monday, 2 November, the day before Election Day. The general election will take place on Tuesday, 3 November.
Each Minnesota county must provide at least one early voting location. In many areas, voters will use a county government centre or courthouse, while larger counties such as Hennepin and Ramsey have additional sites in places including city halls, churches and universities.
Locations and opening times vary, and some sites are limited to residents of the relevant city or township. Voters are advised to check the Minnesota Secretary of State’s official location list before travelling.
Several centres will offer extended hours, including 9am to 3pm on Saturday, 24 October; opening until 7pm on Tuesday, 27 October; and 9am to 3pm on Saturday, 31 October and Sunday, 1 November. Centres will remain open until 5pm on Monday, 2 November.
Absentee voting remains available
Minnesotans can still request an absentee ballot by mail or vote absentee in person. Ballots became available on 18 September, and voters do not need to provide a reason for choosing the absentee option.
State officials recommend applying for an absentee ballot by Tuesday, 20 October, roughly two weeks before Election Day. Unlike direct early voting, absentee ballots must be returned in envelopes for processing by election officials.
Voters who missed the 13 October pre-registration deadline can still register at their polling place on Election Day, although registering in advance is intended to reduce delays.
The Secretary of State’s office has also stressed that early voting is not available at every location listed for absentee voting. Some sites offer only the envelope method, meaning voters should confirm that their chosen centre provides direct ballot tabulation.
The 2026 Minnesota ballot includes contests for governor and lieutenant governor, the US Senate, attorney general and secretary of state, as well as congressional, state and local offices.
