2026 Minnesota Primary Election Day FAQ
What are primary elections for?
A primary election is the mechanism a state uses to let voters pick each party's nominee for the general ballot. Before primaries became standard, party leaders chose candidates in closed conventions. Minnesota's primary puts that choice in the hands of voters.
Why does it matter if I vote in the primary?
The outcome of a primary election signals to party leadership which direction voters want the party to take.
Say three candidates are running for the same seat in a DFL primary: one campaigning as a centrist, one as a progressive, one as a democratic socialist. All three are legitimately part of the DFL's coalition (the party holds a wide range of views on how to get things done for working people). Whoever wins that primary tells party leaders: this is the version of the party that voters in this district actually want on the ballot.
Low primary turnout means that a small slice of the electorate wields outsized power. Showing up to vote in a primary election means your preference actually counts toward shaping what the party looks like going forward.
How do I register to vote?
While advance registration for this primary closed on July 21, Minnesota offers same-day voter registration! This Election Day Registration fact sheet from the Minnesota Secretary of State outlines all the options available for proving your eligibility to vote so you can register in-person on election day.
How do I check if I'm already registered?
Go to mnvotes.org and use the registration lookup. It takes your name, birthdate, and address, and tells you immediately whether you're registered and where. If you've moved or changed your name since you last voted, check this before Election Day — you may just need to update your registration rather than register fresh.
Where do I vote?
Your polling place is tied to your home address, not your county in general. The same mnvotes.org lookup that checks your registration will show your specific polling location and hours.
When are the polls open for the 2026 primary election in Minnesota?
Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on August 11, 2026.
Which candidates have DFL endorsement?
SD14 DFL's endorsed candidates for this cycle are listed on our candidate page, with links to each campaign for more on their platforms. Endorsement means a candidate went through the convention process and won support from local DFL delegates. This is a handy resource to bring with you to the polls on election day! First time voting? Learn more about what you can (and cannot!) do at the polling place.
