Minneapolis voters do not have to wait for August to weigh in on the 2026 state primary. Early voting opened Friday, June 26, and the city's Early Vote Center is already taking in-person ballots for anyone eager to lock in their choices ahead of the Aug. 11 primary.
The Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services office at 980 E. Hennepin Ave. is serving as the Early Vote Center. In-person absentee ballots are being accepted during regular weekday hours, and Minnesotans have several weeks to use that option before Election Day. For the first time this year, the state is also offering an early voting setup that operates more like Election Day, with voters feeding their ballots directly into tabulators at designated sites.
Where to vote in Minneapolis
The city announced the start of early voting on its official page, City of Minneapolis. The Early Vote Center at 980 E. Hennepin Ave. is open today until 4:30 p.m., with regular weekday hours listed as 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., according to Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services. Voters can also double-check the address and hours for the Early Vote Center on the city's voting website.
How early voting works this year
Minnesota law gives voters a long runway before primary day. Residents can request a mail ballot and cast in-person absentee ballots starting 46 days before the primary. That window opened Friday, June 26, according to Minnesota Secretary of State.
The newer early-voting period that looks and feels more like Election Day begins Friday, July 24 and runs through Monday, Aug. 10. During that stretch, voters at designated early-vote sites can feed their ballots directly into tabulators ahead of the Aug. 11 primary, the Minnesota Secretary of State notes. The Secretary of State also provides online sample ballots and ballot-tracking tools so voters can preview their choices and monitor returned ballots.
If you already asked for a mail ballot but later decide you would rather vote in person, local election officials can cancel your mailed ballot and let you cast a new one on site, according to Axios Twin Cities.
What to bring and where to get help
Voters who still need to register can take care of that during early voting, but you will need proof of residence. Acceptable documents include a current driver's license, U.S. passport, tribal ID, or a recent bill with your name and address. A registered voter from your precinct can also vouch for you, according to FOX 9.
Hennepin County's elections page lists additional early-vote locations across the county and provides a contact number for voter assistance. Minneapolis residents can also drop off completed mail ballots at the Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services office. Anyone with questions about where or when to vote can call Hennepin County Elections at 612-348-3000 during business hours.
Mail ballots must arrive by Election Day in order to be counted, so voters who cut it close may want to consider dropping ballots off in person or closely tracking their status online. For sample ballots, ballot drop box locations, and the full list of early-vote sites across Minnesota, check the Minnesota Secretary of State and the City of Minneapolis for details.
