Freeborn County mail ballots: Aug. 11 Primary timeline and July 14 mailing cutoff

If you live in Carlston Township or in one of these Freeborn County cities—Conger, Hollandale, Manchester, Myrtle, or Twin Lakes—your 2026 Minnesota State Primary is handled as a mail-ballot election. The county’s notice says local polling places in those areas will not be open on Election Day.

Freeborn County mail-ballot window (the “do this now” date)

For the 2026 State Primary, Freeborn County says the Primary ballot mailing window for mail-ballot precincts runs June 26–July 14, 2026.

The county also says that voters registered by 5:00 p.m. on July 21, 2026 will be mailed a ballot automatically.

Watch for these mail-ballot details

• Non-forwardable mail: Ballots are sent by non-forwardable mail. If you’ll be absent from your permanent address during the mailing period, the notice instructs you to contact the Auditor-Treasurer’s Office to request the appropriate ballot application option.
• Witness requirement: Instructions for marking and returning the ballot will require you to have a witness for voter certification while completing your ballot.

Return deadline and when ballots are counted

To be counted, mail ballots must be returned prior to 8:00 p.m. on Election Day—by postage-paid return mail, in person, or via a designated agent (as listed on the county notice).

The notice says all mail ballots will be counted after 8:00 p.m. on Election Day at the Freeborn County Government Center, 411 Broadway Ave. S., Albert Lea.

That same notice lists the Election Day polling place as the Freeborn County Government Center, open 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

If you don’t get your ballot

If you don’t receive your ballot within 14 days of the mailing date listed in the notice, Freeborn County instructs voters to contact the Auditor-Treasurer’s Office.

Statewide Primary date to bookmark

Minnesota’s Secretary of State confirms the Primary Election Day is Tuesday, Aug. 11. The state also says vote-by-mail or in-person voting runs June 26 through Aug. 10, and you can register in advance by July 21 to save time on Election Day.

Bottom line for Freeborn’s mail-ballot precinct residents: focus on the county’s mailing-window end date (July 14) and make sure your ballot is returned so it arrives back by 8:00 p.m. Aug. 11.

Sources

• Freeborn County Auditor-Treasurer — Mail Ballot (notice for mail-ballot precincts, including 2026 Primary timeline)
• Minnesota Secretary of State — Primary election (2026 Primary dates)