Voting Information
Make a plan to vote on or before
Election Day, November 3, 2026
Early Voting
September 18
In-person & mailed absentee voting begins. Open daily, business hours (8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.)
October 24
Saturday Voting from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
October 31
Saturday Voting from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
November 1
Sunday Voting from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Early Voting In Person, by Absentee Ballot BEGINS SEPTEMBER 18
This is identical to getting an absentee ballot mailed to you, except done in person. You will need to know your MN ID or SSN to fill out the application.
The steps are easy:
You will fill out an absentee application
You will get a ballot and vote there
After completing the ballot, you will return it to the election official
The completed ballot will go into an envelope
A ballot board will review the envelope later
Early Voting by Direct Ballot BEGINS OCTOBER 16
This is more similar to voting in a polling place on Election Day, and starts 18 days before the election. For all statewide elections, every county will have at least one location where early voting is offered.
You will complete a short certificate
You will receive a ballot and vote it there
After completing the ballot, you will insert it in a ballot counter
All residents of Independent School District No. 777 can vote early beginning September 18. There are three locations:
Swift County Courthouse, 304 14th St. North, Benson, MN 56215
Business hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Additional hours:
Saturday, October 24 at 9 am - 3 pm
Saturday, October 31 at 9 am - 3 pm
Sunday, November 1 at 9 am - 3 pm
Monday, November 2 at 8 am - 5 pm
Pope County Courthouse, 130 East Minnesota Ave, Glenwood, MN 56334
Business hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Additional hours
Saturday, October 24 at 9 am - 3 pm
Tuesday, October 27 at 8 am - 7 pm
Saturday, October 31 at 9 am - 3 pm
Sunday, November 1 at 9 am - 3 pm
Chippewa County Courthouse, 629 N. 11th Street, Montevideo, MN 56265
Business hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Additional hours
Saturday, October 24 at 9 am - 3 pm
Tuesday, October 27 at 8 am - 7 pm
Saturday, October 31 at 9 am - 3 pm
Sunday, November 1 at 9 am - 3 pm
Election Day Voting
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
More information:
Also - all links to sos website should open into new page - Same Day Registration needs to be fixed to open in new tab
Who can vote?
To vote, you must be:
A U.S. citizen
At least 18 years old on Election Day (16 & 17 year olds can pre-register)
A resident of Minnesota for 20 days
To vote on the referendum questions, you must be a resident of Benson Public Schools - ISD 777
Not currently incarcerated for a felony conviction
Not under a court order that revokes your right to vote
Are you registered to vote?
Are you already registered to vote? Check the Minnesota Secretary of State website to confirm. If you need to register:
All residents of Independent School District No. 777 can register at the polling place and vote during Early Voting. Same day registration checklist.
Wondering where to vote?
Find your polling place online at the MN Pollfinder.
For More Information:
What’s on the Ballot?
1. Legally, the referendum question is a Special Election because the school board voted to ask voters the question.
2. Serving more than 750 students, K-12, plus early learners and lifelong learners.
3. Please vote on or before Nov. 3. Early voting is NOW OPEN!
4. A second education-related question - the statewide Permanent School Fund amendment - is also on the November 3 ballot. If approved, it increases what every Minnesota school district receives from the existing fund without raising income or property taxes. If approved, Benson Public Schools could receive ~$20,000 per year beginning July 1, 2027 (IMPORTANT NOTE: leaving the question blank counts as a "no" vote).
5. Did You Know Benson Public Schools have not passed a voter approved Levy since 2013? If you look at the graph showing the separation between inflation and actual funding, it shows how the gap in 2013 was about $500 and now it is $1500.
6. The school board voted “unanimously” to ask voters to consider this referendum.
7. Benson Public Schools currently has lower school property taxes than neighboring school districts.
8. This revenue would be available to the school district for the 2027-28 school year.
9. For the median Benson home (valued at $175,000), taxes are estimated to increase $15/month.