Minnesotans once again demonstrated the power of civic participation. In the 2026 midterm elections, more than 2.8 million Minnesotans cast ballots, setting a new record for midterm voter participation in our state. That’s approximately 300,000 more voters than in 2022!

Early national projections from the University of Florida’s Election Lab put Minnesota at number one in the nation for voter turnout. Updated estimates have since placed Maine slightly ahead, but Minnesota remains among the very top states nationally. Regardless of the final ranking, one thing is clear: Minnesotans showed up in extraordinary numbers. And that’s something worth celebrating!

At a time when our democracy faces significant challenges, voters across Minnesota made their voices heard. They participated in the democratic process, engaged with their communities, and demonstrated that the health of our democracy depends on all of us.

Thank you, Minnesota!

We also want to recognize the thousands of people who made this election possible: local election officials, election judges, poll workers, volunteers, community organizations, our 36 local leagues and 3,800 members across the state, and everyone who helped their neighbors register, find reliable election information, and get to the polls. More than 30,000 Minnesotans served as election workers during a very difficult time.

Democracy doesn’t happen on its own. It takes people willing to show up, do the work, and ensure that every eligible voter has the opportunity to participate. We are deeply grateful to everyone who played a part.

Looking Ahead: The League’s Moonshot Goal Comes into Focus

The League of Women Voters has an ambitious vision for the future of our democracy: our Moonshot Goal is to eliminate the Electoral College through a constitutional amendment and ensure that every vote for resident counts equally, no matter where a voter lives.

“The League of Women Voters of the United States believes that the direct-popular-vote method for electing the President and Vice President is essential to representative government. The League of Women Voters believes, therefore, that the Electoral College should be abolished.”
Position on Selection of the President, announced by the LWV National Board, January 1970

We recognize that achieving this constitutional change will take time and significant effort. In the meantime, the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact offers an important pathway toward making the national popular vote determine the outcome of presidential elections without immediately eliminating the Electoral College or requiring a constitutional amendment.

Under the compact, participating states agree to award all of their electoral votes to the presidential candidate who wins the national popular vote. The agreement takes effect once participating states represent at least 270 electoral votes—the number needed to win the presidency.

The compact is not the League’s ultimate goal, but it is a meaningful step toward a presidential election system in which every American’s vote carries equal weight. It allows states to make progress now while the broader work of achieving a constitutional amendment continues.

For the League, the destination remains clear: a democracy where every vote counts equally.

Where Are We Now?

In 2023 Minnesota passed the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact into law, joining a growing coalition of states working toward this change.

As of November 2026:

• 19 states and the District of Columbia’s participating jurisdictions have enacted the compact.
• Together, they represent 222 electoral votes.
• Just 48 additional electoral votes are needed to reach the 270-vote threshold.

Minnesota contributes 10 of those 222 electoral votes. That means our state has already taken an important step, and we’re watching with interest as other states consider joining.

Democracy Is a Shared Responsibility

The 2026 midterms remind us that democracy is not something we can take for granted. It is something we build and sustain together, through education, civic engagement, and a commitment to ensuring that every eligible voter has an opportunity to participate.

At the League of Women Voters of Minnesota, our mission is to empower voters and defend democracy. We are proud to stand alongside all Minnesotans who make that work possible.

To every voter who cast a ballot, every election judge who served, every volunteer who helped a neighbor, every local League member who worked to inform and engage voters, and everyone who contributed to making this election happen: Thank you.

You showed up for your communities. You showed up for your neighbors. You showed up for democracy. And we couldn’t be happier!