Voting
Make Your Voice Heard!
This is an important decision for our students, schools and community – make sure to vote on or before Election Day. There are three ways to cast your ballot:
Absentee ballot voting (mail or in person) is available starting Friday, Sept. 18.
Early voting is available at select locations beginning Friday, Oct. 16
Election Day voting takes place on Tuesday, Nov. 3 from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
In Minnesota voters can register at polling places on Election Day or early voting locations before Election Day. You can also register to vote online. If your name or address has changed since the last time you voted, you will need to re-register.
Vote via Absentee Ballot – Starting Friday, Sept. 18
Beginning Friday, Sept. 18, residents in the Fosston Public School District can request an absentee ballot. Completed ballots must be received by Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 5 p.m. to be counted. You can return your completed ballot by mail or drop it off in-person at your county's absentee voting location(s), Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.*
Polk County Absentee Voting Location:
Polk County Government Center
612 N Broadway Ste 207,Crookston MN 56716
Mahnomen County Absentee Voting Location:
Mahnomen County Courthouse
311 N Main St, Mahnomen MN 56557
*Mahnomen County voters can also vote early absentee by dropping off a completed ballot on Saturday, Oct. 17 from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at Naytahwaush Fire Hall (245 County Rd 4, Naytahwaush MN 56566). In-person absentee voting is not available at this location.
-
Apply at least two weeks before an election to allow enough time for your application to be processed, for your ballot to be sent to you, and for you to return your ballot.
Fill out an absentee application and turn it in: The quickest way to apply for an absentee ballot is online. You need an email address and Minnesota ID or social security number (SSN) to complete the online application. Another way to apply is to download one of the absentee ballot applications linked below, then return the completed application to your county election office by email, mail or fax.
Wait for the ballot to be mailed to you
Fill it out and return it to your County Election office (see locations above) by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3. You can either mail it back or physically drop it off.
-
You can vote absentee in person between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at your county’s absentee voting location(s) listed above. This process is nearly identical to getting an absentee ballot mailed to you, except done in person. You will need to know your MN ID number or social security number (SSN) to fill out the application.
Fill out an absentee application, or bring a filled-out version with you, and return to the election official.
You will then receive your ballot and can fill it out while you are there.
After completing the ballot, you will return it to the election official who will put the voted absentee ballot into the absentee envelope.
A ballot board will review the envelope later when counting official votes.
Request an absentee ballot:
Vote Early – Starting Friday, Oct. 16
"Early Voting" is available in at least one location per county for the first time in 2026. This is more similar to voting in a polling place on Election Day than voting via absentee ballot in-person. Early in-person voting starts 18 days before the election (Oct. 16). When you arrive at the early voting location, you will complete a short certificate, receive your ballot and vote it there, then return your completed ballot into the ballot counter – just like Election Day. Early voting locations for our district are based on the county you reside in and are the same locations listed above for absentee voting.
Note: You do NOT need to fill out an absentee ballot to participate in Early Voting.
Voting on Election Day – Tuesday, Nov. 3
To cast your ballot on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, head to your designated polling location between 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. In Minnesota, you can register or update your voter registration at your polling place on Election Day.
Did you know: As long as you’re in line by 8 p.m., you can vote, even if you don’t reach the front of the line until after 8 p.m.