Know Your Minnesota Ballot

Every race, judge and the amendment on your Nov 3, 2026 Minnesota ballot, explained before you vote. Free, open source and non-partisan, built on Govbot.

Minnesota general election: Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Candidate lists as of 2026-10-26. Confirm your own ballot at Minnesota Voter Information Portal.

Key dates

Fri, Sep 18
Absentee voting opens. Vote early in person at your county (or city) election office, or apply for a ballot by mail, from today through Mon, Nov 2.
Tue, Oct 13
Last day to pre-register. Online, by mail or in person. After this you can still register when you vote, early or on Election Day, with proof of where you live.
Tue, Oct 27
Early voting open until 7pm. Election offices stay open late tonight for early voters.
Sat, Oct 31
Weekend early voting. Election offices are open 9am–3pm today and Sun, Nov 1.
Mon, Nov 2
Last day to vote early in person. Until 5pm at your election office. A mail ballot still has to arrive by 8pm tomorrow: drop it off instead of mailing it now.
Tue, Nov 3
Election Day. Polls open 7am–8pm (some small towns open at 10am). Absentee ballots must reach your election office by 8pm.

The statewide races in Minnesota

U.S. Senator

One of Minnesota’s two U.S. senators; only this seat, the one Tina Smith is leaving, is on the ballot this year, so you pick 1. Votes on federal laws, confirms federal judges and cabinet members, and approves treaties. 6-year term.

Governor and Lieutenant Governor

Runs Minnesota’s executive branch: proposes the two-year state budget, signs or vetoes bills, appoints agency heads and fills court vacancies. Governor and lieutenant governor run as one ticket. 4-year term; Tim Walz is not on the ballot.

Secretary of State

Runs Minnesota’s elections and the statewide voter registration system, keeps business filings and the state’s official records. 4-year term.

State Auditor

Watches how counties, cities, school districts and other local governments spend public money, audits their books and reports on them. 4-year term.

Attorney General

Minnesota’s top lawyer. Represents the state in court and enforces consumer-protection, antitrust and civil-rights laws. 4-year term.

Other statewide contests

Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Seat 1

Minnesota’s highest court: the final word on state law. Justices are elected statewide without party labels for 6-year terms; most first reach the court by the governor’s appointment, then stand for election. The sitting justice is marked “incumbent” on the ballot. You pick 1, or leave it blank.

Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Seat 4

Minnesota’s highest court: the final word on state law. Justices are elected statewide without party labels for 6-year terms; most first reach the court by the governor’s appointment, then stand for election. The sitting justice is marked “incumbent” on the ballot. You pick 1, or leave it blank.

Judge of the Court of Appeals, Seat 1

Hears appeals from Minnesota’s district courts; for most cases it is the last stop. Its 19 judges are elected statewide without party labels for 6-year terms, and sitting judges usually run unopposed. You pick 1, or leave it blank.

Judge of the Court of Appeals, Seat 7

Hears appeals from Minnesota’s district courts; for most cases it is the last stop. Its 19 judges are elected statewide without party labels for 6-year terms, and sitting judges usually run unopposed. You pick 1, or leave it blank.

Judge of the Court of Appeals, Seat 13

Hears appeals from Minnesota’s district courts; for most cases it is the last stop. Its 19 judges are elected statewide without party labels for 6-year terms, and sitting judges usually run unopposed. You pick 1, or leave it blank.

Judge of the Court of Appeals, Seat 15

Hears appeals from Minnesota’s district courts; for most cases it is the last stop. Its 19 judges are elected statewide without party labels for 6-year terms, and sitting judges usually run unopposed. You pick 1, or leave it blank.

Judge of the Court of Appeals, Seat 18

Hears appeals from Minnesota’s district courts; for most cases it is the last stop. Its 19 judges are elected statewide without party labels for 6-year terms, and sitting judges usually run unopposed. You pick 1, or leave it blank.

Statewide ballot questions

Constitutional amendment: Increasing funding to school districts

Increasing funding to school districts. Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to increase the funding going to all school districts from the permanent school fund, which is a fund that supports school districts without raising individual income or property taxes, effective July 1, 2027?

The permanent school fund is a trust from state-owned lands and minerals that pays out to every school district. Today the constitution lets it distribute only its interest and dividends and requires the principal to stay “perpetual and inviolate.” A “yes” rewrites those rules so the fund is managed for annual payouts while preserving its purchasing power over time, which supporters expect to raise the payout. A “no” keeps the current investment and payout rules. In Minnesota a blank vote on an amendment counts as a “no”: it passes only with a majority of everyone voting in the election.

How a Minnesota ballot works

Top to bottom. Federal offices first (U.S. Senate, U.S. House), then the state offices, your state senator and representative, county and local offices, school board, the judges, and the constitutional amendment at the end.

No straight-party box. Minnesota has none; every race is marked on its own. Party labels print next to each name in the partisan races (Democratic-Farmer-Labor is Minnesota’s Democratic Party).

Judges. Listed without party; the sitting judge is marked “incumbent”. Most run unopposed, and there’s a write-in line.

The amendment counts blanks as no. It passes only with a majority of everyone voting in the election, so leaving it empty is the same as voting no.

Common questions

When is the Minnesota general election in 2026?

Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Polls open 7am–8pm (some small towns open at 10am). Absentee ballots must reach your election office by 8pm.

What are the key dates and deadlines for voting in Minnesota on November 3, 2026?

Fri, Sep 18: Absentee voting opens. Vote early in person at your county (or city) election office, or apply for a ballot by mail, from today through Mon, Nov 2. Tue, Oct 13: Last day to pre-register. Online, by mail or in person. After this you can still register when you vote, early or on Election Day, with proof of where you live. Tue, Oct 27: Early voting open until 7pm. Election offices stay open late tonight for early voters. Sat, Oct 31: Weekend early voting. Election offices are open 9am–3pm today and Sun, Nov 1. Mon, Nov 2: Last day to vote early in person. Until 5pm at your election office. A mail ballot still has to arrive by 8pm tomorrow: drop it off instead of mailing it now. Tue, Nov 3: Election Day. Polls open 7am–8pm (some small towns open at 10am). Absentee ballots must reach your election office by 8pm.

What is on the Minnesota ballot on November 3, 2026?

Every Minnesota voter votes on U.S. Senator, Governor and Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, State Auditor and Attorney General, plus 7 statewide judicial seats. Depending on your address you also vote in your own district's contests (8 U.S. House districts, 67 state Senate districts, 134 state House districts and 10 judicial districts (district court) in the state). There is also 1 statewide ballot question: Constitutional amendment: Increasing funding to school districts.

Who is running for U.S. Senator in Minnesota in 2026?

Peggy Flanagan (Democratic-Farmer-Labor); Michele Tafoya (Republican); Rebecca Whiting (Libertarian); Marisa Simonetti (Unaffiliated). Candidate list as of 2026-10-26. Confirm your own ballot at Minnesota Voter Information Portal.

What does the U.S. Senator do in Minnesota?

One of Minnesota’s two U.S. senators; only this seat, the one Tina Smith is leaving, is on the ballot this year, so you pick 1. Votes on federal laws, confirms federal judges and cabinet members, and approves treaties. 6-year term.

Who is running for Governor and Lieutenant Governor in Minnesota in 2026?

Amy Klobuchar & Ben Schierer (Democratic-Farmer-Labor); Lisa Demuth & Ryan Wilson (Republican); Steven Young & Jane Kirby (Green). Candidate list as of 2026-10-26. Confirm your own ballot at Minnesota Voter Information Portal.

What does the Governor and Lieutenant Governor do in Minnesota?

Runs Minnesota’s executive branch: proposes the two-year state budget, signs or vetoes bills, appoints agency heads and fills court vacancies. Governor and lieutenant governor run as one ticket. 4-year term; Tim Walz is not on the ballot.

Who is running for Secretary of State in Minnesota in 2026?

Steve Simon (Democratic-Farmer-Labor, incumbent); Tad Jude (Republican); Seth Kuhl-Stennes (Green); Chip Tangen (Libertarian). Candidate list as of 2026-10-26. Confirm your own ballot at Minnesota Voter Information Portal.

What does the Secretary of State do in Minnesota?

Runs Minnesota’s elections and the statewide voter registration system, keeps business filings and the state’s official records. 4-year term.

Who is running for State Auditor in Minnesota in 2026?

Zack Filipovich (Democratic-Farmer-Labor); Scott Jensen (Republican); Jay Reeves (Forward Independence). Candidate list as of 2026-10-26. Confirm your own ballot at Minnesota Voter Information Portal.

What does the State Auditor do in Minnesota?

Watches how counties, cities, school districts and other local governments spend public money, audits their books and reports on them. 4-year term.

Who is running for Attorney General in Minnesota in 2026?

Keith Ellison (Democratic-Farmer-Labor, incumbent); Ron Schutz (Republican). Candidate list as of 2026-10-26. Confirm your own ballot at Minnesota Voter Information Portal.

What does the Attorney General do in Minnesota?

Minnesota’s top lawyer. Represents the state in court and enforces consumer-protection, antitrust and civil-rights laws. 4-year term.

How does a Minnesota ballot work?

Top to bottom. Federal offices first (U.S. Senate, U.S. House), then the state offices, your state senator and representative, county and local offices, school board, the judges, and the constitutional amendment at the end. No straight-party box. Minnesota has none; every race is marked on its own. Party labels print next to each name in the partisan races (Democratic-Farmer-Labor is Minnesota’s Democratic Party). Judges. Listed without party; the sitting judge is marked “incumbent”. Most run unopposed, and there’s a write-in line. The amendment counts blanks as no. It passes only with a majority of everyone voting in the election, so leaving it empty is the same as voting no.

How do I find my own ballot and polling place in Minnesota?

Your exact ballot depends on your address. Enter it on this page to see yours, then confirm your registration, polling place and ballot at Minnesota Voter Information Portal (https://mnvotes.sos.mn.gov/).

What is Know Your Ballot?

A free, open-source voter guide for the November 3, 2026 general election in Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Enter an address and see your exact ballot: every race, judge and question, what each job does, who is running and who is funding them. It is built on Govbot, Chi Hack Night’s open civic data.

Is Know Your Ballot nonpartisan, and where do its facts come from?

It is nonpartisan: it never recommends or rates a candidate. Every fact names its source next to it: official candidate lists where the state or county publishes one, FEC and state campaign-finance records for money, and Ballotpedia and Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) for profiles and incumbents. A candidate’s own words are quoted verbatim with their date and a link.

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