Following a primary election that drew notable participation, a broader group of Minnesota residents will be able to cast their votes in the general election starting Friday. Voters across Minnesota will decide races for every legislative seat as well as several statewide positions, among them governor, attorney general, secretary of state, and auditor. All U.S. House seats and one Senate seat are also on the ballot.

Mail-in ballots will be available for casting starting Friday. Mail-in ballots will be dispatched to eligible voters upon request, while designated locations will open for in-person absentee voting. Voters can find comprehensive election information through the Minnesota secretary of state's official website. Through the portal, eligible individuals can apply for absentee ballots, monitor their delivery status, complete voter registration, locate their assigned polling place, and access additional resources.

All qualified voters will cast ballots in the statewide contests. Voters in Minnesota will choose between Republican Lisa Demuth and Democrat Amy Klobuchar in a gubernatorial race that would place a woman in the state's top executive office for the first time. Demuth holds the position of state House speaker, whereas Klobuchar serves as a United States senator.

Peggy Flanagan, the Democratic candidate, and Republican Michele Tafoya are competing to fill the Senate seat being vacated by Tina Smith. Flanagan holds the position of lieutenant governor, while Tafoya has a background as a sports broadcaster and works as a conservative commentator. Democratic-Farmer-Labor Attorney General Keith Ellison and Secretary of State Steve Simon are defending their offices against Republican challengers Ron Schutz and Tad Jude, respectively. A trio of contenders — two representing the dominant parties and one affiliated with Forward Independence — are vying for the vacant state auditor seat.

All Minnesota U.S. House seats are on the ballot this cycle, though the majority of those holding office have opted to seek another term. With Rep. Angie Craig having chosen to pursue a Senate campaign rather than seek another term in the 2nd District, the House race now features DFLer Matt Little facing off against Republican Eric Pratt. Little previously served in the state senate, whereas Pratt currently holds a seat in that chamber.

In Minnesota, mail-in ballots become available to voters 46 days prior to election day. Under absentee voting rules, a witness is required to be present to view the unmarked ballot before the voter completes it, then sign the designated envelope once the ballot has been filled in. Each completed ballot is placed inside a designated envelope, which a ballot board then reviews for verification. Voting tallies are compiled by electoral authorities only after polling stations have closed on Election Day. Ballots may be cast either by post or at a polling location in person.

Minneapolis elections director Katie Smith noted that her office was actively preparing to welcome voters on Friday, adding that pre-registered voters are not required to bring any documentation, while those registering on the day are required to present proof of residency. Smith also noted that the terms absentee voting and early voting are frequently used interchangeably, given that the majority of voters cast their ballots before Election Day.

An official early voting window also exists, opening 18 days ahead of any given election — October 16 for the 2026 general — allowing voters to feed their completed ballots directly into a tabulation machine. The in-person voting procedure used before Election Day follows the same steps as casting a ballot on the day itself, requiring neither an absentee application nor a return envelope. Early voters who have a change of heart regarding their chosen candidates may reach out to their county election office no later than end of business on Oct. 15 — the 19th day preceding this year's election — to reclaim their submitted ballot.

Poll workers are among the most pressing staffing shortages reported by voting offices throughout the state. Specific responsibilities on voting day are reserved exclusively for election judges representing both major parties. The Minnesota Supreme Court has ruled that local governments are obligated to appoint election judges to staff early voting sites throughout the 18-day period preceding an election.

The city of Minneapolis had not followed this practice and has long faced challenges recruiting enough Republican poll workers in an area where Democratic affiliation predominates. Smith noted that Minneapolis would follow the order, adding that Republican judges from other jurisdictions could be sourced if needed, as the city routinely draws on outside appointments. Smith also noted that election judges in Minnesota are not necessarily required to serve in their own jurisdiction.

Smith noted that certain voters have expressed unease about federal involvement in Minnesota's electoral process and have inquired about ways to participate, while also discouraging uncoordinated attendance. Smith noted that numerous regulations outline precise eligibility requirements governing who may be present at a polling location or within a 100-foot boundary of it. Smith noted that her office had compiled a list of voter assistance opportunities, such as offering transportation to polling locations and language interpretation services, describing these as ways for the community to participate in supporting the electoral process during the current year.