2026 Elections

State Primary Election--Tuesday, August 11, 2026

General Election--Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Notice is hereby given that a Municipal Primary Election will be held in the City of Sauk Rapids, Benton County, on Tuesday, August 11, 2026 for the purpose of electing candidates for the offices listed below. The filing period for these offices begins at 8:00 AM on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 until 5:00 PM on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. Filing Packets will be available at City Hall beginning May 19th. Click here to learn more about filing for City Offices.

CITY OFFICES FOR 2026:

Two (2) City Council Seats – Elected at Large – Four (4) Year Terms

Please Note: Pursuant to Minnesota Statute§204B.09, subd.3, any candidate wishing to have their write-in votes individually recorded must file a written request with the City Clerk of the City of Sauk Rapids no later than the seventh day before any municipal election.

Where to Vote

* Please Note: Voters are only allowed to vote at their designated polling place, which is determined based on the address where the voter resides. The City of Sauk Rapids has five polling place locations. Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Click here to find your specific precinct and precinct number. To view tips for avoiding delays on election day, click Here.

Voter Eligibility

To vote you must be:

A U.S. citizen
At least 18 years old on Election Day
A resident of Minnesota for 20 days
Not currently incarcerated for a felony conviction
Not under a court order that revokes your right to vote

Register to Vote

To check on your registration status, click here.

For information on how to register to vote online, or on paper, or in person, click here. To pre-register for an upcoming election, click here.The last day to pre-register for the General Election is DATE TO BE DETERMINED.If you fail to register during the pre-registration dates, you can register at your polling place on Election Day. Click here to learn what documentation is required for Election Day registration.

2026 Absentee (Early) Voting

DATES TO BE DETERMINED: Period of time for absentee voting for General Election
- Apply to receive an absentee ballot for the General Election:
- Absentee ballots will be available by mail or in person during the following time period-TO BE DETERMINED

Phone Number for Benton County Auditor-Treasurer's Office:(320)968-5006

Interested in Becoming an Election Judge?

Election judges are temporary, paid employees of local election officials trained to handle all aspects of voting at the polling place. Serving as an election judge is a chance to learn about elections and is a great service to the community. Contact Dana Furman, City Clerk, at (320) 258-5303 or dfurman@ci.sauk-rapids.mn.us to learn more. Election Judges are paid $16.50 per hour for all hours worked on Election Day or for any required trainings. Head Judges will receive $16.50 per hour with an additional $75 per Election Day.

Election Judge Requirements

You must be eligible to vote in Minnesota and able to read, write and speak English. Students 16 and 17 years-old can be election judge trainees.

There are restrictions on having relatives serve together as election judges. A relative is defined as a spouse, parent, stepparent, child, stepchild, sibling, or stepsibling.

Relatives cannot serve together in the same precinct at the same time. In addition, relatives of a candidate, and anyone who temporarily or permanently lives in the same house as a candidate, cannot serve in the precinct where the candidate is on the ballot.

Candidates cannot serve in a precinct where they are on the ballot.

Election Judge Overview of Responsibilities

Opening and closing polls
Registering voters
Distribution and collection of ballots
Operation of voting equipment
Record and certify the voting totals

Please Note: No experience is necessary. All training will be provided.Your employer is required to give you time off from work to be an election judge without a reduction in pay. Click here to find out more about your right to time off from work to serve as an election judge.