Midterm season is in full swing in Minnesota, as you know if you’ve been in the state long enough to catch the onslaught of political ads. Coming off the primary elections on Aug. 11, there won’t be much of a respite before folks focus on the Nov. 3 general election.
But maybe you didn’t vote in the primaries. Maybe you’ve never voted in Minnesota … or anywhere. That’s not a problem, just follow our guidelines so you know what to expect before voting in Minnesota, whether voting early or on Election Day, in person or through the mail.
The midterm elections are called such because they take place halfway through a presidential administration and are often seen as a report card of sorts for whatever administration is in power at the time.
In this year’s midterms, Minnesotans will select a US Senator, all eight reps in the US House, a new governor (current Gov. Tim Walz is not running for reelection), an attorney general, and all seats in both chambers of the state Legislature.
Here are some important but easy-to-learn tips you need to know before voting in this year’s general election.
How and when to register to vote in Minnesota
You can’t vote if you’re not registered, so be sure to check on your registration status while there’s still time to act on it.
If you’ve lived in Minnesota for at least 20 days and meet all the federal requirements (US resident, 18 or older, not incarcerated for a felony, not under court order that revokes your right to vote), you can register to vote here.
You can register online with just your Minnesota ID or Social Security number and an email address. You can also use a paper form that you send in or drop off at your local elections office, or simply register when you show up to vote in person (but who really wants to add steps to that process?).
There’s also a chance you don’t have to worry about registering, as all eligible adults are automatically registered when they get a state-issued ID in Minnesota. But don’t just take our word for it; check your registration status in seconds here to be sure.
Note that if you’ve registered in the past but have moved or changed your name since then, you will need to re-register before the election.
Participate in early or in-person absentee voting
A new option this year for Minnesotans, early voting allows voters to beat the lines and vote ahead of time at a polling place, much like they would on Election Day.
Every county will have at least one location where early voting is offered beginning on Friday, Oct. 16 and ending Monday, Nov. 2. Just show up and follow the poll workers’ directions to cast your vote.
Beginning well before early voting, in-person absentee voting allows voters to fill out an absentee ballot at a specified location and return it to an election official, who will place it in an envelope for later review by a ballot board. This differs from early voting in that you do not enter your ballot directly into a counter.
In-person absentee voting begins on Friday, Sept. 18, but be aware that not all locations keep the same hours and some “pop-up” locations are only open for a single day. Find in-person absentee voting locations in your county here.
Voting by mail
If you’re interested in absentee voting while actually absent, the best way to request a ballot is online. The absentee application is available now, and it’s recommended that you apply at least two weeks before an election (Oct. 20) to allow enough time for your application to be processed, your ballot to be sent to you, and for you to return your ballot.
You do not need to be registered yet to apply, but you will need an email address and a Minnesota ID or SSN to complete an online application.
The secretary of state’s website has applications in various languages that you can fill out by hand and send to your local election office.
Ballots will be mailed beginning Sept. 18.
Once you have received a ballot and filled it out, you can use the postage-paid envelope that came with your ballot, though overseas voters will likely need to pay postage. Be sure to mail your ballot as soon as possible to leave time for postal processing, and if you find yourself within a week of Election Day without having sent it, consider dropping off the ballot instead.
You may drop off your ballot at the office that sent it (check postage-paid envelope for address) up until 5 p.m. on Election Day, or use one of the ballot drop boxes made available in many jurisdictions. Those are able to be used 24 hours a day.
Do NOT bring your absentee ballot to a polling place on Election Day.
If you do plan to vote in person at a polling place on Election Day, check out this helpful Minnesota Voting Information Portal to confirm where you need to do so, along with a bunch of other info.
Important dates to know when voting in Minnesota
Sept. 18, 2026: Mail-in ballots sent out
Sept. 18, 2026: In-person absentee voting begins
Oct. 16, 2026: Early voting begins
Oct. 20: 2026: Suggested deadline to apply for absentee ballot
Nov. 2, 2026: Early voting ends
Nov. 3, 2026: Election Day
Related: The key Minnesota races to watch in the midterm elections
