Voting Before Election Day

Vote in person at city hall

Voting services at city hall are for St. Louis Park residents only. For the 2026 state general election, you can vote before Election Day at St. Louis Park City Hall.

• Sept. 18 – Nov. 2, 2026, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday

Extended hours for voting before Election Day at city hall are also available on the following days:

• Saturday, Oct. 24, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Tuesday, Oct. 27, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 31, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Sunday, Nov. 1, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Monday, Nov. 2, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Before you can receive a ballot, you will need to complete an absentee ballot application. Applications will be available at city hall; you don't need to complete one prior to coming.

Note: You can place the ballot you are issued on-site into a ballot counter from Oct. 16 to Nov. 2, 2026.

When voting before Election Day at city hall, no one can campaign inside the polling location; this includes wearing material that supports a candidate on the ballot. The polling place is on public property, so no one can campaign anywhere on the property, even beyond 100 feet. However, the prohibition of signs and campaign materials within 100 feet does not apply to adjacent private property. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Vote in person at a temporary voting locations

This service is available to St. Louis Park residents only. Temporary voting locations are one-day voting events held at designated locations throughout St. Louis Park in accordance with Minnesota Statute 203B.081.

Due to staffing capacity, we are only able to offer temporary voting services at the locations listed below. These locations were selected to improve access for residents who may have difficulty traveling to their assigned polling place.

State general election temporary voting locations:

• Sholom Home West, 3620 Phillips Parkway
  • Wednesday, Oct. 7 from 9:30 a.m. – noon
• Parkshore Senior Campus, 3663 Park Center Blvd.
  • Friday, Oct. 9 from 1 – 4 p.m.
• Parkshore Senior Campus, 3633 Park Center Blvd
  • Tuesday, Oct. 13 from 9 – 11 a.m.

Campaigning prohibited

When voting before Election Day, you have the right to vote without anyone trying to influence your vote. State law prohibits campaigning in or near a polling place. This means during the 46-day voting period before each election, no one can campaign inside city hall or anywhere on public property. This also means no campaigning can occur in or near the temporary voting locations on the days voting will occur.

When you vote, you can't display or wear materials related to a candidate or question on the current ballot. The prohibition of signs and campaign materials does not apply to adjacent private property. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Applying for an absentee ballot

There are several ways to get an application:

• Apply online
• Print and mail a paper absentee ballot application to Hennepin County elections.
• Contact the elections office at 952.924.2503 to have an absentee ballot application mailed to you.

Once your completed application is received, an election official will mail your ballot to you during the absentee voting period, which begins 46 days before every election.

To request an application in an alternative format such as Braille, call 1.877.600.8683.

Deadline to apply

You can apply for a ballot any time during the year, except on Election Day. If you plan to vote through the mail, remember to leave time for election officials to mail your ballot, and for you to complete and return it on or before Election Day.

Returning your ballot

Once you receive your ballot, read and follow the instructions carefully. For your ballot to count, remember the following important information:

• If you are not registered to vote at the time you apply for a ballot, you will be sent a voter registration application with your ballot. You will need a witness to sign your white signature envelope and verify which proof of residence you used to register to vote. The witness can be either a U.S. citizen at least 18 years old on Election Day or a notary. Please note that city elections staff can only serve as a witness for ballots that are requested and completed in person at city hall.
• If you are registered to vote at the time you apply for a ballot, you will be sent instructions, a ballot and envelopes to return it. You will need a witness to sign your white signature envelope. The witness can be either a U.S. citizen at least 18 years old on Election Day or a notary.
• Mail the ballot and any required registration forms (if provided) in the envelope that was sent to you. Your ballot will not count if any required information is missing or incomplete.

Deadline to return your ballot

Your ballot must be received by Election Day to be counted. See information below on options for returning your absentee ballot.

Returning your ballot in person (St. Louis Park voters only)

You can return your ballot in person to the city clerk's office located on the 3rd floor of St. Louis Park City Hall during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

The city clerk's office will be open extended hours for voting services on the following dates:

• Oct. 24, 2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Oct. 27, 2026: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• Oct. 31, 2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Nov. 2, 2026: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Nov. 3, 2026: 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.

You can return your own ballot no later than 5 p.m. on Election Day to the designated ballot drop box located outside of the main entrance to St. Louis Park City Hall (5005 Minnetonka Blvd.). This designated drop box is available 24 hours a day during the absentee voting period. The designated drop box is under 24-hour video surveillance.

You may not use the drop box to return ballots for other voters at any time.

You may not drop your ballot off at any polling place on Election Day.

Your absentee ballot will not count if it is received at St. Louis Park City Hall after 5 p.m. on Election Day.

Note: The City of St. Louis Park can't accept or process ballots from voters who do not live in St. Louis Park.

Returning your ballot by mail

You may return your ballot by U.S. mail, expedited mail or a package delivery service (such as FedEx or UPS). If you choose this option, your ballot must be delivered to Hennepin County Elections at the address on your ballot return envelope by 8 p.m. on Election Day in order to be counted.

Note: Your ballot must be received, not post marked, by the deadline in order to be counted. Your absentee ballot will not count if it is received through the mail or delivery service after Election Day.

Returning a ballot for someone else (St. Louis Park voters only)

A person can return a ballot for other voters in person at the city clerk's office located on the third floor of St. Louis Park City Hall by 5 p.m. on Election Day. This person can return ballots for up to three voters and will need to show identification with name and signature when returning a ballot.

You may not use the designated drop box to return a ballot for someone else at any time.

You may not drop ballots off at any polling place on Election Day.

Ballots will not count if they are received at St. Louis Park City Hall after 5 p.m. on Election Day.

Note: The City of St. Louis Park can't accept or process ballots from voters who do not live in St. Louis Park.

Anyone who wants to vote before Election Day is required to fill out an absentee ballot application. The application asks for information similar to what you would provide at your polling place to check in. The application is required by law and helps election officials verify your identity and registration status.

The application requires you to provide:

• Full name (first, middle, last)
• Date of birth
• A Minnesota-issued ID or driver's license number or the last four digits of your Social Security number
• Address where you live
• Signature of an oath that you are eligible to vote in the state of Minnesota

Additional information required for online application only:

• Email address

City staff is unable to issue ballots to anyone other than the voter, unless you meet the requirements for agent delivery. Agent delivery is only available in the seven days before any election.

If you are unable to go to your polling location due to incapacitating health reasons or a disability, you can have an agent pick up and return an absentee ballot for you. Through agent delivery, you can designate someone you have a personal relationship with to get a ballot and bring it to you. An absentee ballot application is still required to be completed by the voter, along with a request for agent delivery.

• Voted ballots must be returned by the designated agent by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

You can also choose to return your ballot by mail; however, election officials must receive your ballot by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Learn more about agent delivery.

Special forms and procedures are available for Minnesotans who are serving in the military or are otherwise overseas. All questions regarding this should be directed to Hennepin County elections. You can contact Hennepin County elections by email at hc.vote@hennepin.us or by phone at 612.348.5151.

City staff can't assist with absentee ballots for military or overseas voters.

Learn more about voting under special circumstances.

Can I vote before Election Day if I'm not a registered voter?

If you are not a registered voter, that's not a problem. When you apply for an absentee ballot, you will be provided with the required voter registration materials. Please be prepared to show the required proof of residence. Learn more about voter registration.

If I vote in person at city hall before Election Day, can I place my ballot directly into a ballot counter?

Yes. Beginning 18 days before Election Day, you can vote in person at city hall and place the ballot issued to you on-site directly into a ballot counter. Your vote is counted immediately, though results are not reported until after the polls close on Election Day.

Visit St. Louis Park City Hall during these early voting hours:

• Oct. 16 – Oct. 30, 2026: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Monday through Friday)
• Oct. 24, 2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Oct. 27, 2026: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• Oct. 31, 2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Nov. 1, 2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Nov. 2, 2026: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Note: Voting services at city hall are for St. Louis Park residents only. 

Where can I return my ballot I received through the mail?

A voter may return their own completed ballot during the absentee/early voting period using one of the options below.

• In person at the city clerk's office located on the third floor of St. Louis Park City Hall during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• The city clerk's office will be open extended hours for voting services as follows:
  • Oct. 24, 2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
  • Oct. 27, 2026: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
  • Oct. 31, 2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
  • Nov. 1, 2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
  • Nov. 2, 2026: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• In person at the designated ballot drop box located outside of the main entrance to St. Louis Park City Hall, 5005 Minnetonka Blvd. The designated ballot drop box is available 24 hours a day during the absentee voting period. The ballot drop box is under 24-hour video surveillance.
• Please note that we can only accept ballots for St. Louis Park voters. Ballots returned for voters from other cities will not be accepted or counted.
• You may not return your voted ballot to any polling place on Election Day.
• Ballots received at city hall after 5 p.m. on Election Day will NOT be counted.

Where can I return a voted ballot for someone else?

A person may return a voted ballot for up to three people in any election, not including their own ballot, during the absentee voting period using one of the options below. Under current state law, an individual returning a ballot for someone else will be required to show ID and complete an agent delivery log.

• In person at the city clerk's office located on the 3rd floor of St. Louis Park City Hall during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

• The city clerk's office will be open extended hours for voting services as follows:
  • Oct. 24, 2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
  • Oct. 27, 2026: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
  • Oct. 31, 2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
  • Nov. 1, 2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
  • Nov. 2, 2026: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

• An individual can drop ballots for others into a blue USPS mailbox at any time. The limit does not apply to this method of ballot return.
• Please note we can only accept ballots for St. Louis Park voters. Ballots returned for voters from other cities will not be accepted or counted.
• If you are returning a ballot for someone else, you may NOT use the designated ballot drop box.
• Ballots received after the deadline on Election Day will NOT be counted.
• You may NOT return a voted ballot to any polling place on Election Day.

How do I know if my absentee ballot has been counted?

You can track the status of your absentee ballot at any point in the process and confirm that it was received and counted at the secretary of state's website for tracking absentee ballots. Please note, in order for the tracker to work you must enter all information exactly the same as what you put on your application for a ballot or it will not work. You can also check the status of your ballot by contacting Hennepin County elections at 612.348.5151.

Status notations:

• Initialized – Your ballot application has been received by election officials and is being processed.
• Sent – Election officials have verified the information on your ballot application and have issued your ballot materials (either in person or through the mail).
• Received – Election officials have received your completed absentee ballot.
• Accepted – Your ballot is counted. Election officials have verified that you have met all requirements under state law to have your ballot counted.
• Rejected – Your ballot has not been counted because required information was either missing or unverifiable on the ballot envelope you returned to elections officials. Election officials will send you a replacement ballot for completion. If this is within five days of Election Day, a replacement ballot will not be sent through the mail. Election officials will attempt to contact you by telephone or email to notify you that your ballot was rejected and provide you with options for casting a replacement ballot.

I already completed and submitted an absentee ballot; can I change my vote?

If the date is more than 18 days before Election Day and you already voted by absentee ballot, either in person at city hall or through the mail, you may request your ballot be destroyed. At that time, you may request a new ballot be issued to you. If the date is 18 days or less before Election Day, and your ballot has been accepted, you may not change your vote.