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MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Minnesota Accepts 202,252 Ballots as New Early Voting Process Opens Ahead of November 3 Election
SAINT PAUL, MN (October 18, 2026). Minnesota election officials accepted 202,252 absentee and mail ballots during the first four weeks of voting for the November 3 general election, exceeding the comparable four-week total from the previous midterm election.
The Secretary of State’s October 16 report covers activity through the close of business October 15. It includes 80,870 ballots cast in person and 121,382 returned by mail. Election officials had distributed 519,813 absentee and mail ballots.
At the same point in 2022, officials reported 172,520 ballots cast and 474,935 distributed. This year’s accepted-ballot total is 29,732 higher, an increase of approximately 17.2 percent.
Those figures describe participation at a particular stage of voting. They do not establish final turnout or indicate which candidates voters supported.
What Changed on October 16
Minnesotans have been able to vote absentee in person or by mail since September 18. October 16 marked the beginning of a different process that allows voters to insert completed ballots directly into a ballot counter.
Under the state’s early voting process, a voter completes a short certificate, receives and marks a ballot, then places it into the counter. Every county must provide at least one location offering early voting for statewide elections.
That differs from in-person absentee voting, in which the completed ballot goes into an envelope for later review by a ballot board.
The distinction explains why voters may hear that early voting has just begun even though ballots have been available for a month. The state uses “early voting” to identify the newer procedure, while absentee voting begins earlier in the election calendar.
Registration and Local Voting Locations
The advance registration deadline has passed, but eligible residents can still register when voting early or on Election Day. They must provide the required proof of identity and residence.
Voters in Minneapolis, Saint Paul and North Metro communities should check the location available to their address and its operating hours. Some municipal locations serve only residents of that city, and availability differs by location.
The Secretary of State maintains a directory of voting locations before Election Day, including links to local election offices.
The final day to vote early in person is Monday, November 2. The state’s announcement lists additional hours on October 24 and 31 and November 1, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; October 27 until 7 p.m.; and November 2 until 5 p.m.
Returning a Ballot Requires Attention to the Deadline
Voters returning their own absentee ballot in person must do so by 5 p.m. on Election Day. The ballot should go to the office that issued it, rather than an Election Day polling place.
Ballots returned by mail must be received by Election Day. A postmark dated before the election does not make a late-arriving ballot count. The October 16 state announcement specifies an 8 p.m. receipt deadline for mailed returns.
Different rules apply to certain agent-delivery arrangements and jurisdictions that conduct elections by mail. Voters using those options should consult the state’s specific instructions.
Residents can track their ballot through the Secretary of State’s voting resources or contact their local election office with questions.
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