With less than a week to go until Election Day, a record-setting number of Minneapolis voters have made their voices heard by casting their ballots. Minneapolis Elections and Voters Services has accepted 52,661 ballots as of the close of business Wednesday, Oct. 28. The previous record was set in 2018 when 52,313 early/absentee ballots were cast.
For context - at this point during the 2022 Gubernatorial Election, 29,290 ballots had been accepted and 28,896 ballots at the same point in 2018. This year’s numbers represent a 79.8%increase in early vote turnout so far compared to 2022.
“Setting a new early voting record in a non-presidential election year sends a powerful message: every election matters, every voice counts, and our democracy is strongest when we all participate," said Mayor Jacob Frey. "I’m grateful to Director Katie Smith and our election workers for their leadership and hard work in making this possible.”
“We’re excited to once again set a new record and show why we’re one of the votingest cities in the votingest state in the nation,” said Katie Smith, Director of Elections and Voter Services. “But this milestone is about more than voter turnout. It’s about our entire community showing up for elections — from the 2,600 people serving as election judges on Tuesday, Nov. 3, to those working during early voting, giving neighbors rides, or sharing accurate election information. It takes all of us to make elections happen.”
Anyone can track the number of ballots cast in the general election using the City’s 2026 General Election Absentee/Early Voting Dashboard on our website.
Early Voting Continues
There are still several ways for voters to cast their ballots ahead of Election Day. Elections & Voter Services is currently operating three Early Vote Centers. Their locations and hours are:
- Main Early Vote Center: Minneapolis Elections and Voter Services – 980 E. Hennepin Ave.
- North Early Vote Center: Urban League Twin Cities - 2100 Plymouth Ave N
- South Early Vote Center: Bethel Lutheran Church - 4120 17th Ave S
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Day |
Hours |
|
Thursday- Friday, Oct. 28 – Oct. 30 |
8 a.m. - 6 p.m. |
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Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 31 – Nov. 1 |
9 a.m. - 3 p.m. |
|
Monday, Nov. 2 |
7 a.m. - 5 p.m. |
|
Tuesday, Nov. 3 - ELECTION DAY |
CLOSED for voting - vote at your polling place |
Pop-Up Voting
6,646 voters have visited the ten pop-up early voting events held daily since Oct. 19. Two opportunities remain for voters to cast their vote in community.
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Thursday, Oct. 29 |
Sabathani Community Center |
310 E. 38th St. |
11 a.m. – 6 p.m. |
|
Friday, Oct. 30 |
Augsburg University Christensen Center |
720 22nd Ave. S |
10 a.m. - 5 p.m. |
Mail-in Ballots
Ballots returned by mail must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day. We recommend mailing ballots back at least seven days before Election Day to ensure receipt. If voters received a mail ballot but have not yet returned it, they still have options to ensure their vote is counted.
They can drop off their ballot with an election official instead of mailing it back. They can drop off their own ballot and ballots for up to three other voters.
- Before Election Day: Voters can bring ballots to our office at 980 E. Hennepin Ave (Minneapolis Elections) or another early voting location during open hours.
- On Election Day: Voters can bring ballots to our office at 980 E. Hennepin Ave or the Hennepin County Government Center at Skyway Level 300 6th St. S no later than 5 p.m.
Voters can also choose to vote early in-person or vote on Election Day at their polling place.
The Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services Division is responsible for administering elections in the City of Minneapolis. For information about registering and voting in Minneapolis, go to vote.minneapolismn.gov.