Minnesota Bars DOJ Observers From Polling Places During Primary

Minnesota held primary elections on August 11, 2026, featuring high-profile races for governor and U.S. Senate. Secretary of State Steve Simon reported a record turnout for a non-presidential primary year, with 206,196 accepted absentee and mail ballots cast by the morning of the election.

To ensure compliance with federal voting rights laws, the United States Department of Justice deployed approximately 20 monitors to Hennepin and Ramsey counties. However, both counties rejected requests to allow federal observers inside polling places, citing state law. As a result, DOJ monitors were restricted to areas outside a 100-foot boundary of the polls.

In an unusual move, Attorney General Keith Ellison and Secretary of State Steve Simon announced that state officials would observe the federal monitors to ensure they respect state law and to address public anxiety regarding federal activity near polling sites. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty stated her office is prepared to prosecute any intimidation directed at voters or election workers.

On the security front, election security navigator Bill Ekblad confirmed that state officials were prepared for cybersecurity threats. He noted there was no known overlap between recent water-related cyber activity and the state's election systems.