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Minnesota sees promising early voting turnout as election officials grapple with new challenges
Preliminary absentee totals have already topped the last two primaries as competitive races and expanded voting options lift turnout, officials said.
- Absentee voting for Minnesota's Aug. 11 primary is drawing record participation, with roughly 300,262 ballots cast as of July 9, surpassing the 2024 primary's 286,263 total absentees.
- Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon attributed the surge to highly competitive races, noting the ballot features 'spirited primary contests in both political parties' across federal Senate, gubernatorial, and state House and Senate seats.
- At Hennepin County Government Center in downtown Minneapolis, about 270 people voted early in person as of July 15, averaging roughly 20 voters daily since opening; roughly 150,000 Minnesotans live in mail-only precincts with voting available the full 46 days.
- Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon acknowledged voter concerns about federal immigration enforcement at polls, citing the Twin Cities ICE surge from last winter as reason for anxiety, while assuring voters that state law prohibits law enforcement at polling places unless election judges summon them.
- Federal partners have halted election support services including cybersecurity testing and intelligence briefings this year, though Minnesota has backfilled most services; the state also faces a federal lawsuit over voter rolls currently under judicial review.
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Leaning Left0Leaning Right6Center6Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Center, 50% Right
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources are Center, 50% of the sources lean Right
50% Right
C 50%
R 50%
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