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

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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) i

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 i

• 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 i

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 i

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 i

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)

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