Early voting for August 2026 primary election begins Friday

Absentee in-person early voting for the August 11, 2026 primary election begins Friday, July 24, 2026. Early voting allows voters to insert their ballots directly into a tabulator at the early voting location.  

Olmsted County early voting locations, dates, and hours   

There are several other ways to vote absentee for the August 11 primary election: 

Absentee by Mail 
To vote absentee by mail, you will need a witness. A witness may be: 

• A U.S. citizen who is at least 18 years old. 

• A notary public. 

• A person authorized to administer oaths. 

When completing your absentee ballot application, you will also have the option to apply to become a Permanent Absentee Voter, which allows you to automatically receive an absentee ballot for future elections.  

Completed ballots may be returned by mail or delivered in person to the Olmsted County Elections Office at 2122 Campus Dr. SE, Suite 300 in Rochester. Ballots must be received by 5 p.m. if returned in person or by 8 p.m. if returned by mail on Election Day to be counted. 

Absentee in person  
You can also submit your absentee ballot in person at the Olmsted County Elections Office, open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Additionally, the office will be open on Saturday, August 8, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Watch: How early voting works in Olmsted County 

Voters are encouraged to watch a short informational video to learn about their options for voting before Election Day in Olmsted County. The video explains how early voting works, how to vote absentee by mail, important election deadlines, and where to find the latest information before casting a ballot. 

Questions?  
For more information and frequently asked questions about voting, please visit the Olmsted County website and the City of Rochester’s website.  

Additional details are available on the Secretary of State’s website.