Election Day isn't until Nov. 5, but voting in Minnesota for the 2024 presidential election has already begun.
Why it matters: This results of these elections will determine which party has a majority at the state Capitol, and they could shape who wins the White House and controls Congress.
- Plus: Local measures will influence everything from tax rates to garbage collection.
Driving the news: Minnesota's "no-excuse" absentee voting started Friday, Sept. 20, allowing all eligible residents to cast a ballot before Election Day.
- In the 2020 presidential election, at the height of the pandemic, close to 2 million voters opted to vote early .
Here's everything you need to know about how to register, vote and understand what's on your ballot in the Twin Cities.
Voting in Minnesota
🙋♀️ Who's eligible: U.S. citizens who have lived in Minnesota at least 20 days and will be 18 by Election Day.
- Minnesotans can register online or in-person , including when they arrive to vote. Those who are 16 or 17 can pre-register now, so they are ready to go when they turn 18.
📍 Where to vote: What's on a voter's ballot —and their Election Day polling place — is based on where they live.
🎓 College students can vote at their campus address as long as they consider Minnesota their home, even if they pay out-of-state tuition.
- Those who consider their family's dwelling their home can register and vote by mail there instead.
🗳️ What's new: Under the state's new automatic voting law, Minnesotans who apply for driver's licenses or other state-issued IDs will be automatically enrolled as long as they meet the legal criteria to vote.
- More than 90,000 residents have registered or pre-registered via the system, which gives people a chance to opt out via mail.
✉️ Early voting: All Minnesotans can cast an absentee vote in person or via mail as of Sept. 20, with no "excuse" necessary. Request a mail ballot or find an early-vote location via the secretary of state.
- You don't need a government ID to cast a ballot.
🧐 The fine print: If you turn in your absentee ballot early and change your mind, you have until 18 days before Election Day to ask officials to invalidate it so you can cast a new one.
⏰ The deadline: Mail ballots must arrive by 8pm on Nov. 5 in order to count.
- Track your ballot's status here .
Presidential race in Minnesota
Photo illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios. Photos: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images and Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images
Former President Trump is making another play for the state's 10 electoral votes, though most polls show Vice President Kamala Harris with a small but consistent lead .
State of play: Although polls showed an extremely tight race this summer before President Biden dropped from the race, election forecasters now rate the state "likely Democrat."
Catch up fast: The last time Minnesotans picked a GOP nominee for president was 1972.
- Trump came within 2 percentage points of flipping the state in 2016, but Biden won by about 7 points in 2020.
The intrigue: If Harris and her VP nominee Gov. Tim Walz, win Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan will be elevated to Minnesota governor.
What we're watching: Whether Trump or national GOP groups put significantly more time and resources into the state as Election Day nears.
- That prospect is looking less likely as polls nationwide show a close race in other must-win swing states. But there's still time for the state of play to shift.
Minnesota U.S. Senate race
Photo illustration: Axios Visuals. Photos: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images and Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
Three-term Democratic U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar faces a challenge from Republican nominee Royce White , a former NBA player whose statements and social posts have generated controversy.
State of play: Election forecasters rate the race as safe for Democrats.
Follow the money : Klobuchar, who has won her past statewide races with comfortable margins, had a significant fundraising edge as of the latest campaign finance reports.
What we're watching: The U.S. Senate race can provide so-called coattails for candidates down the ballot.
U.S. House: 2nd Congressional District
Photo illustration: Axios Visuals. Photos: Courtesy of the campaigns.
Although all eight U.S. House seats are on the ballot, the 2nd Congressional District race between DFL U.S. Rep. Angie Craig and Republican Joe Teirab, a former federal prosecutor, is the state's most competitive congressional race.
State of play: Craig won the south metro seat by 5 percentage points in 2022, but just 2 points in 2020 when Trump and President Biden were on the ballot.
The big issues: Teirab is focused on inflation and immigration — issues Republicans see as benefiting them nationwide — while Craig's campaign believes abortion will once again be a decisive factor in the swing district.
- The incumbent congresswoman has also sought to bring attention to her work on public safety and the fentanyl crisis.
Follow the money: Craig has a fundraising lead, according to the most recent federal campaign finance filings, and has been spending more on TV ads so far.
Here are the other Minnesota congressional district races to watch:
1st Congressional District: The race in this former swing district — once held by Walz — pits GOP Rep. Brad Finstad against Democrat Rachel Bohman.
- Finstad won the GOP-trending Southern Minnesota seat by 11.5 percentage points in 2022.
3rd Congressional District: State Sen. Kelly Morrison (DFL-Deephaven) and Republican Tad Jude, a judge and former state legislator, are going head-to-head for the west metro seat held by outgoing Democratic U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips .
- Phillips announced his retirement during his presidential run.
- In 2018 he flipped the district from GOP control for the first time in decades, then went on to win the increasingly blue part of the metro by wide margins in 2020 and 2022.
8th Congressional District: Voters in this Northern Minnesota district will see a rematch between Republican U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber and former DFL state Rep. Jen Schultz.
- Although the seat includes the DFL stronghold of Duluth, much of the surrounding area has trended for the GOP in recent elections. Stauber won by 14 points in 2022.
Control of the Minnesota Legislature
Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
All 134 seats in the state House are up for grabs, but just a dozen or so will determine which party emerges from the election with political control at the state Capitol.
Why it matters: The Legislature passes policy that directly affects everything from school funding and public safety reforms to the taxes Minnesotans pay.
The big picture: Republicans need a net gain of four seats to win back the majority and end the DFL's full control of state government.
- Those stakes are expected to attract significant spending from state and national groups on both sides.
What we're hearing: Democrats are arguing on the trail that the trifecta has delivered for Minnesota, enabling them to pass laws on everything from abortion rights to paid family leave.
- Republicans counter that Democrats spent too much taxpayer money and failed to do enough to lower taxes with a record surplus. They are banking on voters wanting a check on Democrats' power.
Zoom in: Many of the swing districts that will decide the outcome are in the Twin Cities metro .
- Those include races in the Chanhassen/Chaska area, Anoka/Coon Rapids and along the border in the east metro.
Plus: A special election for a west metro state Senate seat also puts Democrats' one-vote majority in that chamber in play.
- The race pits former DFL state Sen. Ann Johnson Stewart against Republican Kathleen Fowke.
- The rivals are vying for a seat that opened up when Morrison decided to resign to focus on her run for Congress .
What we're watching: Many political observers believe a closer race on the presidential level — think a margin of 4 percentage points or less — would help Republicans flip the Legislature.
- But an election that sees high enthusiasm and turnout for Democrats will make the task harder — and could even result in the House DFL making small gains.
Constitutional amendment, local tax hikes, other issues
Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
Constitutional Amendment 1: Voters statewide will decide whether to continue sending a portion of Minnesota Lottery proceeds to the state's Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund.
Why it matters: Boosters say the funding stream has generated $1 billion for conservation, research, wildlife habitat work and clean water projects.
Catch up fast : Voters previously approved the set-up in 1990 and 1998. This renewal measure would extend it through 2050.
The fine print: Constitutional amendments need more than 50% support to pass.
- The results are calculated based on the total number of ballots cast, not those voting on the question, meaning those who leave it blank effectively count as a no.
More local races and ballot questions in Minnesota:
👩🍼 St. Paul voters will decide whether to increase property taxes to pay for child care and whether to switch citywide elections to presidential years.
☑️ Minneapolis will fill four of nine school board seats. A number of metro cities, including Apple Valley, Arden Hills, Wayzata and West Saint Paul, also have local offices like council seats up for grabs.
🗑️ Anoka voters will encounter a ballot question on trash collection, while Bloomington will decide whether to repeal ranked-choice voting for local elections.
- Brooklyn Center, Chanhassen, Cottage Grove, Richfield and Stillwater all have proposed sales tax hikes to pay for community centers or other local recreation upgrades.
💰 Dozens of school districts, including Minneapolis, have school funding questions on the ballot.
Go deeper: Want to research the candidates before you head to the polls? Take a look at a sample ballot via the secretary of state .
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