Efforts to increase early voting appear to be working. On Sunday, October 11, we spent the day at the MPLSvotes.org booth at Open Streets on Hennepin, handing out flyers and encouraging people to vote. Quite a few people told us they already had. They have plenty of company. On October 16, the Secretary of State reported:
In the first four weeks of voting, local election officials in Minnesota have distributed 519,813 absentee and mail ballots. As of close of business on October 15, a total of 80,870 voters cast their ballots in person, and 121,382 voters returned their ballots by mail – for a total of 202,252 ballots cast during absentee voting so far.
In 2022, 172,520 Minnesotans cast their ballots in-person or by mail during the first four weeks of voting.
That is 29,732 more votes than at this point in 2022, a 17.23% increase. Some people vote early out of habit. Others are concerned about possible federal interference and see early voting as the best way to avoid it. Either way, we encourage it.
The early voting office at 908 Hennepin has extended its hours:
Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
There are also twelve one-day pop-up voting events, and two more early voting centers will open on Tuesday, October 20:
Urban League Twin Cities
2100 Plymouth Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55411
Bethel Lutheran Church
4120 17th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55407
Two Candidates, One Important Office
While we were at the booth, both candidates for Hennepin County Attorney stopped by to say hello, so this seems like a good time to share our interviews with them again. With so much money and attention focused on the races for Governor and U.S. Senate, it is easy to overlook the Hennepin County Attorney race. But it matters. The next county attorney will shape the lives of people who are arrested and will also play a central role as the whole community looks for ways to improve safety in Minneapolis and Hennepin County.
Here is a summary of my interview with Anders Folk from December 2025:
Anders Folk, a lifelong Minnesotan and former federal prosecutor, is running for Hennepin County Attorney with a focus on restoring public safety and rebuilding the office’s reputation. Drawing on his experience in the Marine Corps, at the Department of Justice, and earlier in the Hennepin County Attorney’s juvenile division, Folk argues that the office has suffered from weakened relationships with law enforcement and poor communication with the public. He stresses the importance of professionalism, transparency, and collaboration across the county’s public safety system.
Here is a summary of my interview with Cedrick Frazier from January 2026:
Cedrick Frazier, a state representative and former public defender, describes the personal and political experiences behind his campaign for Hennepin County Attorney. Raised on Chicago’s South Side and shaped by firsthand exposure to violence, poverty, and inequity, Frazier has built a career in public service that spans criminal defense, education law, and six years in the Minnesota Legislature. He frames his candidacy as a response to the current moment, arguing that constitutional rights, due process, and public trust face renewed threats amid federal overreach and high-profile uses of force. (There was a spelling error in the original post, his spells his name Cedrick.)
Share your thoughts on the race and let us know if you’re planning to vote early or have already.
