Minnesota voters head to polls for primary election

Minnesota voters head to the polls Tuesday for the state’s primary election, selecting which candidates will move on to the Nov. 3 general election.

Several closely watched races are on the ballot, including primaries for U.S. Senate and governor, as well as a competitive congressional race.

Cook County voters in District 1 will decide a local race for Cook County Commissioner. Three candidates filed for the District 1 county commissioner seat, prompting a primary.

The three candidates who filed in District 1 are Deb White (incumbent), Matt Kelm, and Christine Childs. Voters will narrow the field to two candidates who will advance to the November general election.

Minnesota’s primary election process differs from the November general election. Voters do not need to be affiliated with a political party, but they must choose one party’s ballot when voting in partisan races. In nonpartisan races, the candidates who receive the most votes advance to the general election.

For voters casting ballots in person, Grand Marais East voters will use a new polling location this year at Grand Marais City Hall. Grand Marais West voters will continue voting at the Cook County Community Center.

Polls remain open today until 8 p.m. If you’re in line by 8 p.m., you have the right to vote.

Outside the city, most voters automatically receive mail ballots. Mail ballots can be returned until 8 p.m. on Aug. 11. Voters delivering an absentee ballot in person must do so by 3 p.m. today.

Completed ballots may be returned using the secure ballot drop box outside the Cook County Courthouse.

As of Monday morning, 206,196 Minnesotans have cast votes in the primary election, said Secretary of State Steve Simon. State election officials say the turnout marks a record number of early votes cast ahead of Tuesday’s primary.

“That is the highest number of early votes for a primary election in a non-presidential election year in Minnesota,” said Simon.

After the polls close at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, election results will be reported on mnvotes.gov.

Minnesota State Elections Director Paul Linnell said in a Monday briefing that counties will work hard to post the unofficial results as quickly as possible Tuesday evening. “But the priority is always accuracy over speed,” Linnell said.

Kalli Hawkins August 11, 2026