Minnesota Records Historic Early Voting Turnout Ahead of Election Day

Minnesota Records Historic Early Voting Turnout Ahead of Election Day

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Minnesota voters set record for early midterm turnout

Minnesotans are turning out to vote in unprecedented numbers ahead of Election Day. According to CBS News, nearly one million residents cast absentee or mail ballots before the polls even opened on Tuesday, marking the highest early voting volume ever recorded in a non-presidential year in the state.

As of 7 a.m. Tuesday, local election officials had accepted 983,558 ballots. The breakdown of those votes shows a significant preference for early in-person participation: 699,815 were cast in person, while 283,743 were returned by mail. With roughly 170,000 absentee ballots still outstanding as of Tuesday morning, officials expect the total number of early votes to surpass the one million mark once all valid submissions are processed.

This surge in participation represents a massive shift in how Minnesotans engage with the democratic process. Data reported by Yahoo shows that with nearly 4 million registered voters statewide, approximately one in four residents has already cast a ballot. This level of engagement far outpaces previous midterm cycles; for comparison, 687,062 ballots were returned in 2022 and 652,053 in 2018.

The mechanics of a high-volume election

The timeline for this record-breaking turnout began in the fall. Mail-in voting opened on September 18, followed by the start of in-person early voting on October 16, according to Yahoo. The ability to vote without a specific excuse—a policy Minnesota first introduced in 2014—has become a cornerstone of the state’s election administration.

Minnesota Records Historic Early Voting Turnout Ahead of Election Day
Photo: yahoo.com

While the volume of ballots is high, Secretary of State Steve Simon is focused on the stability of the system. Simon, who cast his own ballot in Hopkins on Tuesday morning, told WCCO that his primary objectives are ensuring high turnout while maintaining low drama.

“I have every expectation that we’re going to deliver an election that is secure,” Simon said.

The high interest comes at a time of significant political tension. Voters in the North Star State are weighing issues ranging from the high cost of living and immigration policy to concerns regarding widespread fraud. In Minneapolis, voters expressed a sense of urgency, with one individual noting to WCCO that while many feel they cannot make a difference, they believe that they truly can.

Deadlines and delivery requirements for remaining ballots

For the thousands of voters still holding absentee ballots, the window for ensuring their vote counts is closing rapidly. Because all ballots must be delivered by Tuesday to be counted, officials have issued specific instructions to avoid delays caused by the postal service.

  • In-person drop-off: Absentee voters should not use the mail this late. Instead, they can drop ballots off at their local election office until 5 p.m.
  • Agent delivery: Voters in mail ballot precincts or those using agent delivery can deliver ballots until 8 p.m.
  • U.S. Postal Service: Ballots delivered by the USPS before 8 p.m. will also be counted.
  • In-person voting: Voters may choose to vote in person at their assigned polling place, which will override any previously submitted absentee ballot.

Voters can confirm their specific polling location and view sample ballots via the official Minnesota poll finder. Those who are not registered can still sign up at their polling place, provided they present acceptable proof of residence, such as a driver’s license or a utility bill.

As the polls remain open until 8 p.m., the focus shifts to the results of the Minnesota Legislature races, which will determine the balance of power in the state capitol. For real-time updates on the count and the legislative outcomes, residents are monitoring local reporting from WCCO and CBS News Minnesota.

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