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Minnesota Opens Absentee Voting and Adds In-Person Early Voting Ahead of August Primary

Officials say the new schedule gives voters more in-person options before the Aug. 11 primary to simplify voting at a time of many contested races.

The Elections and Voter Services building is shown in Minneapolis. (KSTP/file)

Overview

  • Absentee voting — by mail or in person at absentee locations — becomes available beginning Friday, June 26, giving voters a head start before the Aug. 11 primary.
  • A newly created in-person early voting window runs July 24 through Aug. 10 and lets voters cast a ballot at a polling place and feed it directly into a tabulator.
  • The primary remains scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 11, and Minnesota’s open primary rules mean voters do not register by party but must choose candidates from a single party on partisan portions of the ballot.
  • High-profile, open-seat contests are driving interest: both parties have crowded governor primaries and the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Sen. Tina Smith has large Republican and DFL fields with several familiar names.
  • Voters should consult the Minnesota Secretary of State for official ballot lists, polling and absentee locations, and deadlines so local election offices can manage heavier traffic and reduce confusion.