How to vote early in Minnesota's August primary
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Early voting for Minnesota's August primary election starts Friday, June 26.
Why it matters: The winners of the DFL and GOP contests advance to the November ballot.
- For races expected to be less competitive in the general election, the primary effectively determines who will fill the seat next year.
The big picture: This year's primaries will test the power of the DFL and GOP endorsements, as several statewide candidates who won their party's backing this spring are facing well-funded challenges for the nomination.
State of play: A rare open race for one of Minnesota's two U.S. Senate seats has sparked competitive contests for both Democrats and Republicans.
- Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, who won the DFL endorsement, and U.S. Rep. Angie Craig are locked in a high-stakes (and high-spending) battle for the party's nomination.
- Former sports broadcaster Michele Tafoya, endorsed candidate Adam Schwarze and 2024 candidate Royce White are vying to be the GOP nominee.
Plus: A heated GOP gubernatorial primary between endorsed candidate Kendall Qualls, House Speaker Lisa Demuth and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell.
- There are also a smattering of competitive legislative and congressional primaries in districts across the state.
By the numbers: Over 150,000 Minnesotans voted early in the August primary for the 2022 midterms — about 20% of the total turnout for that election.
How it works: Under Minnesota law, eligible voters can cast a ballot in person or by mail starting 46 days before the primary, no "excuse" necessary.
- Voters can request a mail ballot or find an early-vote location via the secretary of state.
What's new: If you want to put your absentee ballot through the tabulator machine yourself, you can do so yourself starting Friday, July 24, under a new state law.
What to expect: If you signed up for Minnesota's permanent absentee voter list, you can expect your ballot to show up shortly. Most localities mail them the day early voting begins, a SOS spokesperson tells Axios.
- Sample ballots can help you research candidates and issues.
Worth noting: If you request a mail-in ballot, then decide you want to vote in person instead, local election officials can invalidate the one sent by mail and let you cast a new one IRL.
📬 Unlike some other states, Minnesota requires that mail-in ballots arrive by the election.
- Voters who can't get their envelope to the post office in time can drop it off in person via the local election office that sent it.
📍 Tracking is available on the Secretary of State's website.
The bottom line: Minnesotans have until Aug. 11 — primary day — to vote.