According to the secretary of state’s office, close to 1 million Minnesotans submitted mail or absentee ballots before Election Day, setting an all-time high for a non-presidential year.
As of 7 a.m. Tuesday, local election officials had accepted 983,558 ballots. Of those, 699,815 were cast in person and 283,743 were returned by mail. Absentee ballots arriving Tuesday are expected to push the total past 1 million.
Record Turnout Defies Past Midterm Benchmarks
Compared to prior midterm voting statistics—when 687,062 ballots were handed in during 2022 and 652,053 in 2018—the current count is significantly higher. early voting numbers in previous midterm elections, when 687,062 ballots were returned in 2022 and 652,053 in 2018. The 886,427 ballots also surpass the 689,228 cast early during the 2016 general election.
Voters gained the option to cast ballots early without needing a reason when no-excuse absentee voting was established in Minnesota in 2014. Mail-in voting began Sept. 18, while in-person early voting started Oct. 16. With nearly 4 million registered voters statewide, that means roughly one in four has voted early.
“Early voting in Minnesota is sky-high,” said Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon.
Weather and Operations on Election Day
Despite Tuesday’s rain, voters turned out steadily at Alice Smith Elementary in Hopkins during the midday hours. Secretary of State Steve Simon cast his ballot in Hopkins on Tuesday morning with his family. Simon told WCCO his main goals are high turnout and low drama.
Early voting in Minnesota is sky-high.🗳️ 🇺🇸 After six weeks of absentee voting, 728,961 people have already cast their ballots (483,520 in person and 245,441 by mail). That’s an increase of 61.3% over the vote total (451,992) at the same point during the 2022 mid-term…
“I have every expectation that we’re going to deliver an election that is secure,” Simon said.
In Minneapolis, about a dozen people were in line outside Lake Harriet Methodist Church before polls opened. Expressing that this might be the most crucial election ever held, one voter noted that numerous individuals feel powerless to create change. “But you really can,” the voter said.
Polling places are open until 8 p.m., and anyone in line by then can still vote. Every voter is assigned to a specific polling place, which can be found at mnvotes.gov/pollfinder. Individuals who haven’t registered yet may do so at their designated polling location by presenting proper documentation of their address, such as a utility statement or a driver’s license.
Voters Must Deliver Remaining Absentee Ballots by Tuesday Evening
About 170,000 absentee ballots had not been returned as of Tuesday morning. All ballots must be delivered Tuesday to be counted. Voters who still have an absentee ballot should not mail it. Absentee voters can drop theirs off at their local election office until 5 p.m. Voters in mail ballot precincts, or who use agent delivery, can deliver ballots until 8 p.m. Ballots delivered by the U.S. Postal Service before 8 p.m. will also be counted. Voters can also vote in person at their polling place, which overrides the absentee ballot.
Voters are also deciding the balance of power in the Minnesota Legislature. WCCO’s live desk is tracking those results on CBS News Minnesota.
Reach out to the secretary of state’s office via text at 651-217-3862 or by calling 1-877-600-VOTE (8683) prior to 8 p.m. if you have questions.
