Minnesota’s new Early Voting process starts Friday, Oct. 16, ahead of the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. Starting Friday, voters at early voting sites in Stearns County, including the Stearns County Service Center in Waite Park and St. Cloud City Hall, will put their ballots directly into a ballot counter instead of sealing them in an envelope.
What changes Friday
Early Voting is new statewide in 2026, according to the Minnesota Secretary of State. It works much like voting at a polling place on Election Day:
- You fill out a short certificate.
- You receive a ballot and vote it there.
- You insert the finished ballot into a ballot counter.
Until now, people voting in person before Election Day filled out an absentee application, and their ballots went into envelopes for a ballot board to review later. Stearns County election officials told WJON that early ballots already cast in envelopes can now also be run through the machines, and that no early-voting results are tabulated until 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Where to vote early in Stearns County
- Stearns County Service Center, 3301 County Road 138, Waite Park — weekdays 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m., for all Stearns County voters.
- St. Cloud City Hall, 1201 Seventh St. S., St. Cloud — weekdays 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m., for all Stearns County voters.
- Extended hours at both sites: 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.; and Monday, Nov. 2, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Local sites open Oct. 27–Nov. 2: Melrose and Paynesville serve all Stearns County voters. Sites in Cold Spring (ROCORI District Educational Facility), Sartell, Sauk Centre, St. Augusta and St. Joseph serve their own city’s voters. Hours vary by site, so check the Secretary of State’s list before you go.
Benton and Sherburne County voters
- Benton County (including Sauk Rapids, Foley and Rice): Benton County Government Center (Auditor-Treasurer’s office), 531 Dewey St., Foley, weekdays 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
- Sherburne County: Sherburne County Government Center, 13880 Business Center Drive NW, Elk River, weekdays 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
St. Cloud voters live in three counties, so your early voting site depends on which county your home is in. The same extended hours listed above (Oct. 24, Oct. 27, Oct. 31, Nov. 1 and Nov. 2) are required by state law and apply to these county sites too. The Secretary of State notes a few locations around Minnesota still use envelopes, so check your site before you go.
Need to register?
You can register when you vote if you show proof of residence. A Minnesota driver’s license or ID with your current address works. If your address doesn’t match, Stearns County officials say a document like a bank statement, utility bill or lease can prove where you live. On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, Stearns County officials say polling places are open 7 a.m.–8 p.m. Find your polling place and sample ballot at mnvotes.gov.
Sources: Minnesota Secretary of State: Vote early in person; Secretary of State: Voting locations before Election Day; Stearns County Board elections update (Sept. 29, 2026); City of St. Cloud 2026 Voter Information; WJON; KNSI. Checked Oct. 15, 2026.
We do our best to keep these details accurate, but voting hours and locations can change. Please confirm with your county election office or at mnvotes.gov before you go.
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