Make a Plan to Vote on November 3

The general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The Jackson County BPOU is sharing voting information so residents can review their ballot and choose the voting option that works for them. Whether you vote before Election Day, return a ballot by mail, or vote in person on November 3, make a plan now.

The image above is the Jackson County Republican Party's candidate guide, not an official sample ballot. Your actual ballot depends on where you live and may include additional offices and candidates. Look up your official sample ballot and polling place using your home address.

Past results show how close an election can be. In Minnesota's 2022 attorney general election, Keith Ellison received 50.37% of the statewide vote and Jim Schultz received 49.53%, a difference of just 0.84 percentage points. In the 2022 state auditor election, Julie Blaha received 47.47% and Ryan Wilson received 47.13%, a difference of only 0.34 percentage points. These figures come from the Minnesota Secretary of State's official attorney general results and official state auditor results.

Both statewide races were decided by less than one percentage point. Close results are a reminder that participation matters: the outcome is determined by the ballots voters actually cast. Every eligible voter has an opportunity to help shape that outcome.

Minnesota offers these voting options:

• Vote before Election Day in person. In-person absentee voting began September 18 and continues through Monday, November 2. The state lists Jackson County's voting location at 405 Fourth Street, Building #3, Jackson, with regular hours Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Extended hours are available before the election. Minnesota's direct early-voting process begins October 16.
• Vote by mail. Request an absentee ballot, follow the instructions included with it, and return it promptly in the provided postage-paid envelope. Election officials must receive your mailed ballot by Election Day; a postmark alone is not enough.
• Vote on Election Day. Use the state's address lookup to confirm your assigned polling place before heading out on Tuesday, November 3. Some Jackson County precincts vote by mail, so check the instructions for your address rather than assuming you have a neighborhood polling place.

Check the state's current in-person voting locations and extended hours before your visit. For local questions, contact Jackson County Elections at 507-847-2763. The county's Public Services office lists the same Building #3 address.

If you choose to vote by mail, request an absentee ballot and allow time for delivery in both directions. You can also track your ballot. If you return a regular absentee ballot yourself, the Election Day drop-off deadline is 5 p.m. at the office that sent it; do not bring it to an Election Day polling place. Ballots automatically sent by a mail-ballot precinct have different return rules. Read the official ballot-return instructions for your situation.

Voting is an opportunity for every eligible resident to take part in decisions affecting our communities. Share these official resources with a neighbor, friend, or family member who has questions about voting, and help them find the information they need to make their own plan.