Elections and Voting
Election Notices
2026 State Primary Election and 2026 State General Election mail ballot procedures
To voters of the cities of Clitherall, Dalton, Rothsay, and Urbank, and the townships of Oscar and Western in Otter Tail County, Minnesota:
The following precincts located in Otter Tail County have elected to vote by mail ballot procedures in statewide elections as authorized by Minnesota Statute 204B45:
- City of Clitherall (Started 2026)
- City of Dalton (Started 2024)
- City of Rothsay (Started 2018)
- City of Urbank (Started 2020)
- Oscar Township (Started 2020)
- Western Township (Started 2018)
For 2026 statewide elections, the election dates, and the corresponding dates that ballots will be mailed to all registered voters in mail ballot precincts are:
- Statewide Primary Election: Tuesday, August 11, 2026
- Ballot Mailing Dates: between Friday, June 2, 2026 and Tuesday, July 14, 2026
- Statewide General Election: Tuesday, November 3, 2026
- Ballot Mailing Dates: between Friday, September 18, 2026 and Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Each voter who registers by Tuesday, July 21, 2026 for the Statewide Primary Election, and/or Tuesday, October 13, 2026 for the Statewide General Election will be mailed a ballot automatically.
Eligible voters not pre-registered by the dates noted, or pre-registered voters wishing to receive their ballot at a temporary address may contact the Otter Tail County Election/Voter Registration office using one of the following methods listed under Contact.
All ballots may be returned by mail (a postage prepaid return envelope is included when the ballots are mailed), or may be delivered in person, or delivered by designated agent to:
Election/Voter Registration
Government Services Center
510 Fir Ave W
Fergus Falls, MN 56537
Ballots must be received no later than 8:00 p.m. on Election Day to be counted. Normal business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
In addition to the normal business hours, extended hours for mail ballot voting are:
- Statewide Primary Election: Saturday, August 8, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Monday, August 10, 2026 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Statewide General Election: Saturday, October 24, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.; Tuesday, October 27, 2026 from 8:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m., Saturday, October 31, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.; Sunday, November 1, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.; and Monday, November 2, 2026 from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
The polling place for the State Primary election and the State General Election will be at Otter Tail County Election/Voter Registration office in the Government Services Center located at 510 Fir Ave W. in Fergus Falls, Minnesota.
The polls will be open:
- Statewide Primary Election: Tuesday, August 11, 2026 from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Statewide General Election: Tuesday, November 3, 2026 from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
At least one assistive voting device will be available at the polling place; allowing for people with disabilities to vote privately and independently.
All mail ballots will be counted at the Otter Tail County Election/Voter Registration office in the Government Services Center located at 510 Fir Ave W. in Fergus Falls, Minnesota after 8:00 p.m. on the respective election dates.
Dated this 8th day of June 2024.
By order of Otter Tail County on behalf of Western Township.
Contact
By phone
(218) 998-8040
By email
[email protected] or [email protected]
By mail or in person
Election/Voter Registration
Government Services Center
510 Fir Ave W
Fergus Falls, MN 56537
Offices to be voted for at the state general election
The following is the notice of federal and state offices that will be voted for at the state general election to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The filing period for United States Senator, United States Representative, State Senator, State Representative, Governor and Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, State Auditor, Attorney General, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Judge of the Minnesota Court of Appeals, Judge of the District Court and County Officials begins at 8:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 19, 2026, and ends at 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 2, 2026.
Note: Filing offices will be closed Monday, May 25, 2026, in observance of Memorial Day.
The place of filing for federal offices is the Office of the Secretary of State, Veterans Services Building, 20 West 12ᵗʰ Street, St. Paul, MN 55155. The place of filing for state offices is with the Office of the Secretary of State or with the county auditor of the county in which the candidate resides. Otter Tail County candidates may file at the Government Services Building, Treasurer/Elections office, 510 W Fir Ave, Fergus Falls, MN 56537.
Candidates may file in person or by mail if the filing is received during the filing period. Candidates who will be absent from the state during the filing period and meet the requirements of Minnesota Statutes section 204B.09, subdivision 1a, may arrange to file during the seven days immediately preceding the candidate’s absence from the state.
This notice is provided pursuant to Minnesota Statutes section 204B.33 and is based on current law.
Federal Offices
United States Senator (1)
United States Representative (One office per district) – District 7
State Offices
Legislative Offices
State Senator (One office per district) – District 9
State Representative (One office per district) – District 9A, District 9B
State Executive Offices
Governor and Lieutenant Governor
Secretary of State
State Auditor
Attorney General
Judicial Offices
Candidates for judicial office may file either with the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State or with the County Auditor in the county where the candidate resides. A candidate filing for one of the Minnesota Court of Appeals seats that has been designated for one of the congressional districts must be a resident of that congressional district.
Supreme Court Associate Justice (Three Seats)
| Seat Number | Incumbent |
|---|---|
| 1 | Sarah E. Hennesy |
| 2 | Theodora Gaïtas |
| 4 | Paul C. Thissen |
Court of Appeals (Five Seats)
Appellate offices are elected statewide. Where designated, candidates must reside in the congressional district listed for at least one year.
| Seat Number | Incumbent |
|---|---|
| 1 | Elizabeth G. Bentley |
| 7 (5ᵗʰ Congressional District) | Rachel Bond |
| 13 | Jeanne M. Cochran |
| 15 (3ʳᵈ Congressional District) | Kevin G. Ross |
| 18 | JaPaul Harris |
Seventh Judicial District Courts (15 seats)
| Seat Number | Incumbent |
|---|---|
| 2 | Michael D. Leeser |
| 8 | Matthew E. Engelking |
| 9 | Michelle Winkis Lawson |
| 11 | Andrew Pearson |
| 12 | Kevin M. Miller |
| 13 | Michelle L. Clark |
| 14 | Meriel Lester |
| 15 | Carl Ole Tvedten |
| 21 | Robert J. Raupp |
| 22 | Douglas B. Clark |
| 24 | Karl Schmidt |
| 26 | Mark J. Herzing |
| 27 | Tammy L. Merkins |
| 28 | Antoinette C. Wetzel |
| 30 | Jade M. Rosenfeldt |
County Offices
County Commissioner (One per District) – District 2, District 4
County Sheriff
County Attorney
Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisor West (One per District) – District 1, District 2
Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisor East (One per District) – District 2, District 3