# Minnesota voter turnout trends

> Developing situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/minnesota-voter-turnout-trends
> Updated: 2026-11-05T23:10:33.000Z. Sources: 14. Developments: 2.

Minnesota recorded high levels of early voting during the election cycle. The Secretary of State’s Office reported that 886,527 absentee and mail ballots were accepted, which marked the highest number for a non-presidential election year.

In the U.S. Senate race, candidates Peggy Flanagan and Michelle Tafoya focused on platforms regarding healthcare, social programs, and energy strategy. Following the early voting period, preliminary unofficial figures indicated that approximately 2.87 million ballots were cast in total. This resulted in a new record for midterm voter turnout in the state, with the University of Florida’s Election Lab noting it as the second-highest participation rate in the country.

## Timeline

### 2026-11-05: Minnesota sets midterm voter turnout record

Minnesota set a midterm record with approximately 2.87 million ballots cast, achieving the second-highest voter turnout rate in the U.S., behind only Maine.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/minnesota-sets-midterm-voter-turnout-record

### 2026-11-02: Minnesota records high early voter turnout ahead of Senate race

Minnesota has seen record-breaking early voter turnout, with nearly 887,000 ballots cast ahead of a competitive U.S. Senate race between Democrat Peggy Flanagan and Republican Michelle Tafoya.

11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/minnesota-candidates-launch-final-campaign-pushes-before-election-day

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Cite as: Minnesota voter turnout trends. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/minnesota-voter-turnout-trends