Direct balloting for August 9 special election and primary election begins August 2

  • News
  • Aug 2, 2022
Your Vote - Olmsted County-Rochester

The absentee direct balloting period for the August 9, 2022 special election and primary election begins August 2, 2022, and will continue through August 8, 2022, the last day of early absentee voting. Direct balloting allows in-person voters to insert their ballots directly into a ballot tabulator at the absentee voting location. Voters also have the option to place their absentee ballot into an envelope to be processed and tabulated later during the direct balloting period.

Vote in person direct balloting
Absentee in person direct balloting takes place August 2 through August 8, 2022, at the Government Center at 151 4th Street SE, Rochester, MN, and at the Olmsted County Elections Office at 2122 Campus Dr. SE, Suite 300, Rochester, MN.

  • August 2 through August 5
    • 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • August 6
    • 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • August 8
    • 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Register to vote on Election Day
The 21-day period to register online or by mail for the August 9 primary election and special election has passed. If you are not registered to vote, you can register when you vote absentee in person or at your designated polling location on Election Day. You can also register Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Olmsted County Elections Office, or Saturday, August 6, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Olmsted County Elections Office or Government Center. Information on what you need to bring can be found on the Minnesota Secretary of State website. Voters must be at least 18 years old on Election Day.

What’s on my ballot?
In addition to state and federal races (including the special election for Minnesota’s Congressional District 1 seat), several local races will be on your August 9 ballot.

Olmsted County (Primary election)

  • Board of Commissioners, District 4
  • Board of Commissioners, District 5

Information on everyone who filed for Olmsted County Commissioner District seats, Sheriff, County Attorney, and Soil and Water Supervisor is on the Minnesota Secretary of State website.

City of Rochester (Primary election)

  • City Council, Ward 1
  • City Council, Ward 3
  • Mayor
  • School Board, Position 2
  • School Board, Position 5
  • School Board, Position 6

Information on everyone who filed for Mayor, City Council, and School Board is on the City of Rochester website.

U.S. Representative District 1 (Special election and primary election)
The August 9 special election ballot will include candidates competing to fill Minnesota’s Congressional District 1 seat, which was left vacant following the death of Representative Jim Hagedorn. The winner will serve the remaining five months of Hagedorn’s second term. A primary election will also be on the August 9 ballot with Congressional District 1 candidates vying for a spot in the November 8 general election. The winner of the general election will begin a new term as Minnesota’s Congressional District 1 representative in 2023.

Information on everyone who filed for U.S. Representative District 1 is on the Minnesota Secretary of State website.

General election – Vote by mail absentee
To request an absentee ballot for the November 8 general election, please use the online absentee application. The completed absentee application must be returned by mail or in person to the Olmsted County Elections Office at 2122 Campus Dr. SE, Suite 300, Rochester, MN 55904, or the Olmsted County Government Center at 151 4th St. SE, Rochester, MN 55904. 

General election – Register to vote
You can register to vote online or download an application.

  • Online registration deadline: 21 days before Election Day
  • Register by mail deadline: Must be received 21 days before Election Day
  • In person registration deadline: Available up to and including on Election Day

Find your Election Day polling location
If you are registered to vote, a postcard with your polling location information will be sent to your registered address via the U.S. Postal Service. You do not need to bring this postcard to your polling location on Election Day. If you have not received your postcard, or you are not registered to vote, you can find your polling location on the Minnesota Secretary of State's website. You can also use the Election District Finder tool to determine your election district, who represents you, and candidate information.

More information
For the latest election updates and further details about voting in Olmsted County and the City of Rochester, Minnesota, including links to online tools, visit the following sites:

Election videos
Olmsted County has videos available regarding election security and voting absentee. Check them out and learn more about how voting works in our county!