On August 7, Minnesota had already seen nearly 395,000 absentee applications and roughly 174,000 accepted ballots in the primary. That volume is running ahead of the full totals from the 2024 and 2022 state primaries. Competitive races are clearly drawing people in. That is good news — if we finish the job.
Why Tracking This Data Matters
Public, time-stamped records create a clear baseline. When we document applications, accepted ballots, and county-level patterns before Election Day, we establish a reference point that can be compared against final results.
If numbers later shift in ways that do not match historical patterns, population, or daily trends, the discrepancy becomes visible. High participation itself is the strongest protection: the more ballots cast by real Minnesotans, the harder it becomes for any irregularity — intentional or accidental — to hide or distort the outcome.
This is not about assuming wrongdoing. It is about basic accountability. Transparent data, updated regularly and examined in public, is how citizens keep the process honest.
The Window Is Almost Closed
• In-person early voting ends Monday, August 10.
• Mail ballots must be received by Election Day.
• Tuesday, August 11 is Primary Election Day. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
You do not need an excuse. You do not need to declare a party to receive a ballot. You simply choose one party’s ballot and vote.
What You Can Do
1. If you have not voted yet, vote early today or Monday, or show up on Tuesday.
2. Check your registration and ballot status at mnvotes.gov or call 1-877-600-VOTE.
3. Bring someone with you. Talk to family, neighbors, coworkers, and people at church. Most eligible voters still have not cast a ballot.
4. Watch the final numbers. Compare them to the August 7 baseline and to prior primaries. Ask questions when something does not add up.
Primaries decide who appears on the November ballot for governor, lieutenant governor, U.S. Senate, and other statewide offices. Low turnout leaves the decision to a smaller, more organized group. High turnout makes the result reflect the broader will of the people who live here.
The early numbers show Minnesotans are paying attention. Now make the final stretch too large, too visible, and too broadly shared for anyone to ignore or manipulate.
Vote on August 11.
Bring someone with you.
Make this primary too big to rig.
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Data reference: Minnesota Secretary of State Absentee Data as of August 7, 2026, compared with historical primary totals. Continued monitoring of final results and rejection rates remains essential.