2026 Voting Guides

Minnesota voting guide

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Here’s what you need to vote in Minnesota.

Check Your Registration

Even if you voted last time, check that you’re still registered. Check your registration

  • Register online, by mail or in person by Tues., Oct. 13.
  • Register at the polls or early voting by Tues., Nov. 3.

Missed it? You can register and vote at your polling place on Election Day. Bring proof of where you live.

Key Dates

  • Last day to pre-register (online by 11:59 p.m.; paper by 5 p.m.)
  • 'Early Voting' into a ballot counter begins
  • Recommended last day to apply for a mail ballot
  • Last day to vote early in person
  • Election Day (7 a.m.–8 p.m.); same-day registration at the polls; mail ballots must be received (5 p.m. for hand delivery)

Make a Voting Plan

Choose to vote early in person, by mail or on Election Day.

  • Vote early in person from Fri., Sept. 18 to Mon., Nov. 2.
  • Vote by mail. Any voter can vote by mail.
    Request a ballot by Tues., Oct. 20. Request a mail ballot
    Return it by Tues., Nov. 3.
    Problem with your ballot? If your ballot was turned down, call your county election office right away. You may still vote in person. Track your ballot
  • Vote on Election Day, Tues., Nov. 3, 7 a.m.–8 p.m. Find your polling place. Check the official ID rules so you bring the right ID.
  • Have a past conviction?
    • You can't vote while you are in prison or jail for a felony.
    • You can vote on probation or parole. Register again after you get out, even on Election Day.

What’s on Your Ballot

These are the biggest races in Minnesota this year. Please note, we do not endorse any candidates.

Governor

  • Lisa Demuth Republican · Campaign site
  • Speaker of the Minnesota House since 2025; former school board member.
  • Amy Klobuchar Democratic-Farmer-Labor · Campaign site
  • U.S. senator since 2007; former Hennepin County attorney.

Stance on key issues

Policing, prisons & public safety

Lisa Demuth Republican

Supports a 'three strikes' law for violent crime, tougher penalties for assaulting police or fleeing them, mandatory minimums for repeat gun offenders, and a public database of sentencing reductions. Source

Amy Klobuchar Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Supports tougher criminal penalties and longer time limits for prosecuting fraud against state programs; would waive application fees to recruit police officers. Source

Immigration

Lisa Demuth Republican

No public position found.

Amy Klobuchar Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Says she will keep pushing for federal immigration reform that gives farmers and employers 'a stable, legal workforce.' Source

Abortion & health care

Lisa Demuth Republican

Opposes abortion and supported 'fetal heartbeat' legislation in the Minnesota House. Source

Amy Klobuchar Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Says she will protect the reproductive rights written into state law by the PRO Act; would lower MNsure premiums, give small businesses a tax credit for worker health coverage, and support rural hospitals hit by federal Medicaid cuts. Source

Economy, taxes & cost of living

Lisa Demuth Republican

Would cut income taxes in the two lowest brackets, end the state tax on Social Security benefits, stop automatic gas tax increases, and create an inspector general to fight fraud. Source

Amy Klobuchar Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Says her top goals are lowering costs for housing, child care, health care and utilities, and rooting out fraud in state programs. Source

Workers & wages

Lisa Demuth Republican

No public position found.

Amy Klobuchar Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Would add 10,000 apprenticeship and training spots, working with businesses and unions, and create a fund for debt-free training in the trades and health care. Source

Housing

Lisa Demuth Republican

Proposes $150 million in property tax cuts and property tax rebates from future state surpluses. Source

Amy Klobuchar Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Wants to build at least 100,000 homes, make the State Housing Tax Credit permanent, speed up housing permits, and create a statewide rental assistance network. Source

Schools

Lisa Demuth Republican

Would opt into the federal scholarship tax credit for school choice; supports 'Science of Reading' instruction and school resource officers for every school. Source

Amy Klobuchar Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Supports evidence-based reading and math teaching, tutoring, a ban on cellphones in K-12 classrooms, and continued strong school funding. Source

Climate & environmental justice

Lisa Demuth Republican

Would repeal Minnesota's ban on new nuclear power plants and change state energy mandates she says raise utility bills. Source

Amy Klobuchar Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Would extend the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment and help communities prepare for floods, storms and fires. Source

U.S. Senate

  • Peggy Flanagan Democratic-Farmer-Labor · Campaign site
  • Lieutenant governor of Minnesota since 2019; former Minneapolis school board member.
  • Michele Tafoya Republican · Campaign site
  • Former sports journalist and NBC Sunday Night Football sideline reporter.

Stance on key issues

Voting rights & elections

Peggy Flanagan Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Supports the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, overturning Citizens United, and banning corporate money in elections. Source

Michele Tafoya Republican

Supports voter ID, paper ballots, and the SAVE Act. Source

Policing, prisons & public safety

Peggy Flanagan Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Supports funding local police and holding them 'to a high standard'; wants to ban assault weapons, high-capacity magazines and ghost guns. Source

Michele Tafoya Republican

Supports more funding and training for police, keeping their legal protections, tougher penalties, and mandatory minimum sentences for fraud. Source

Immigration

Peggy Flanagan Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Wants to end the current mass deportation policy, protect due process for immigrants, and stop the detention and deportation of lawful residents. Source

Michele Tafoya Republican

Supports deporting immigrants convicted of crimes, including fraud, and local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Source

Abortion & health care

Peggy Flanagan Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Supports Medicare for All, reversing federal Medicaid cuts, and restoring nationwide access to reproductive care, including abortion. Source

Michele Tafoya Republican

Has called herself a 'pro-choice conservative with libertarian leanings' (2015 interview). Source

Economy, taxes & cost of living

Peggy Flanagan Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Supports expanding the Child Tax Credit and closing tax loopholes for corporations and the wealthiest Americans. Source

Michele Tafoya Republican

Opposes any tax increase on the middle class and supports keeping the 2025 federal tax cuts. Source

Workers & wages

Peggy Flanagan Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Supports a $17 federal minimum wage tied to inflation; helped lead Minnesota's paid family and medical leave law. Source

Michele Tafoya Republican

No public position found.

Schools

Peggy Flanagan Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Supports more federal K-12 funding 'without a voucher program' and expanding Head Start. Source

Michele Tafoya Republican

Supports education changes that give parents more say and more school transparency and accountability. Source

Civil rights, DEI & LGBTQ+ rights

Peggy Flanagan Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Supports passing the Equality Act to ban discrimination against LGBTQ2S+ people. Source

Michele Tafoya Republican

Says she will 'keep men out of women's sports and locker rooms.' Source

Climate & environmental justice

Peggy Flanagan Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Supports clean energy like wind and solar and opposes federal rollbacks of clean energy investments. Source

Michele Tafoya Republican

Supports an 'all-of-the-above' approach using all U.S. energy sources to lower utility bills and gas prices. Source

St. Louis County Commission, District 1 (Duluth)

  • Kris Eilers Nonpartisan (DFL-endorsed) · Campaign site
  • Has led the St. Louis River Alliance since 2015.
  • Annie Harala Nonpartisan, incumbent
  • County commissioner and 2025 board chair.

Stance on key issues

Data centers

Kris Eilers Nonpartisan (DFL-endorsed)

Wants a pause on new data centers to protect water and land, and a ban on officials signing secrecy agreements with developers. Source

Annie Harala Nonpartisan, incumbent

Signed a secrecy agreement on Google's Hermantown data center, later apologized and called for more public input. Source

Hermantown City Council (vote for 2)

  • Andy Hjelle Nonpartisan, incumbent
  • Hermantown City Council member.
  • Miranda McKay-Chambers Nonpartisan
  • Medical coordinator at Northland Neurology.
  • Candi Mock Nonpartisan
  • MnDOT engineer and former city secretary in Cook, Minnesota.
  • Emma Richtman Nonpartisan
  • Early childhood and environmental educator.

Stance on key issues

Data centers

Andy Hjelle Nonpartisan, incumbent

Supports the data center for its tax, jobs and school benefits. Source

Miranda McKay-Chambers Nonpartisan

Wants a pause on the data center while more studies are done. Source

Candi Mock Nonpartisan

Wants a pause so rules can catch up with the project. Source

Emma Richtman Nonpartisan

Calls it the wrong project in the wrong place and supports a one-year pause. Source

Ballot measures

  • Amendment 1: Permanent School Fund. A constitutional amendment from the legislature. It would let more money from the Permanent School Fund (which earns money from state school trust lands, including mining and logging) go to all school districts each year, starting July 1, 2027.
    Yes means schools get a bigger yearly payout from the Permanent School Fund, without raising income or property taxes.
    No means no change to how much the fund pays out to schools. A blank vote on this question counts as a NO.

Protect the Vote

  • Apply to be a poll worker and support free and fair elections.
  • Watch the count. Take a training to learn how to observe the polls.
  • If anyone tries to stop you from voting or something at your polling place seems wrong:
    • Call 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)
    • Call 888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682) (Spanish)
    • Call 888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683) (Asian languages)
    • Call 844-YALLA-US (844-925-5287) (Arabic)
    • Call Minnesota Secretary of State: 1-877-600-VOTE (8683)
    • If you’re in line when polls close, stay in line. You can still vote.
    • If your name isn’t on the list, ask for a provisional ballot.
    • Know your rights

Organizations to Support

  • Minnesota Voice. Coalition of 40+ grassroots groups working to increase voter registration and turnout among Black, Native, Latine, Asian and immigrant Minnesotans.
  • COPAL (MN Latino Vote). Latine-led organization working to increase Latine voter participation in Minnesota.
  • ACER (African Career, Education & Resource). Community organization in the northwest Twin Cities suburbs with voter and civic engagement programs for African immigrant communities.

This guide has been created by our community. Want to make changes, edits or any additions? Update this guide >

Anti-Racism Daily will never tell you who to vote for and does not endorse candidates. Information here has been pulled from the internet and may be inaccurate. Please fact-check your sources. If you spot a mistake, please let us know so we can fix it.

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