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Absentee voting begins June 26 for the statewide primary election on Aug. 11.

Voters may request an absentee ballot, complete it according to the enclosed instructions and return it in the envelopes provided. You may return your own ballot no later than 5 p.m. Aug. 11.

Early voting for the primary election begins July 24. Voters can sign in, receive a ballot and place their completed ballot in a tabulator, just like they would on election day.

Early voting will be available at the Dakota County Administration Center in Hastings, the Northern Service Center in West St. Paul and the Western Service Center in Apple Valley. It is also available at most city halls during regular business hours.

An early voting schedule is available on the Absentee Ballot and Early Voting webpage.

The deadline to pre-register for the primary election is July 21. Voters can still register to vote at their polling place on the day of the primary.

Primary election day voting will take place from 7 a.m.–8 p.m. Find your polling place at pollfinder.sos.mn.gov. Check your registration status online at MNvotes.gov or call 651-438-4305.

The general election is Nov. 3.

For more election information, visit MNvotes.gov.

​

Article Date: 6/25/2026

Site Title: County News

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Contact

Voting & Elections
651-438-4305
elections@co.dakota.mn.us

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Dakota County will use a new voting system for residents in all precincts and voting locations in 2026, including in-person voting, absentee voting and mail ballot locations.

The new equipment will be used beginning for the Aug. 11 primary election, as well as Election Day, Nov. 3. The equipment is from Election Systems and Software of Omaha, Nebraska.

All precincts in Dakota County will use:

• DS300 automatic optical scan ballot tabulators to count votes cast by voters on paper ballots.
• The ExpressVote universal voting system for an electronic ballot display and the ability to read and mark on universal ballot stock. It is designed for an independent voting experience for any voter.
• DS950 automatic optical scan ballot tabulators to count votes cast by voters on paper ballots. This will be used for absentee and mail ballot voting at the Dakota County Elections office.

Dakota County election judges will continue using the Poll Pad electronic roster to check in and verify the eligibility of voters and to register new voters.

Dakota County's electronic voting system:

• Relies on human-readable and auditable paper ballot records completed by the voter.
• Has been approved and certified for use in Minnesota by the Secretary of State.
• Is certified at the federal and state level and will be tested before each election.

The public can inspect the new equipment at the Administration Center in Hastings and request instruction on its use. For more information, contact Dakota County Elections at 651-438-4305 or elections@co.da​kota.mn.us.

Article Date: 6/22/2026

Site Title: County News

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Voting & Elections
651-438-4305
elections@co.dakota.mn.us

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On July 4, 2026, America will celebrate its semiquincentennial. This historic date marks the 250^th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. A special Minnesota 250 event will take place July 3–5 at the Huntington Bank Rotunda in the Mall of America. The event is hosted by the Dakota County Historical Society and partners from around Minnesota.

The Mall of America is located at 60 E. Broadway in Bloomington. All events associated with the America 250 celebration will be free of charge to attendees. The event will be open during the Mall of America's operating hours

• Friday, July 3, 10 a.m.–9 p.m.
• Saturday, July 4, 10 a.m.–7 p.m.
• Sunday, July 5, 11 a.m.–7 p.m.

Partners on this event include the state and various chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Minnesota Sons of the American Revolution, Minnesota Children of the American Revolution, the 1854 Treaty Authority, the Minnesota Genealogical Society, and other historical organizations and volunteers.

The exhibits will open on Friday, July 3 and be available throughout the entirety of the event. Exhibits include: 

• “The People of Minnesota," which is produced by the Dakota County Historical Society and explores the people that have made Minnesota home for the past 250 years
• “Sovereign Nations: Discovering the Treaty Story of Minnesota's Indigenous Peoples" by the 1854 Treaty Authority
• “The American Revolution Experience" by the American Battlefield Trust and the Daughters of the American Revolution
  

Special events during the weekend include a Minnesota America 250 recognition on Saturday, July 4, at 11 a.m. Lindsey Brown, KSTP news anchor, will act as emcee and feature elected officials and historians sharing the significance of this event. On Saturday, July 5 at noon and 2 p.m. there will be a fashion show with the theme “Fashion Rewind" that will explore fashion from Minnesota's past.​

Article Date: 6/22/2026

Site Title: County News

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Contact

Dakota County Historical Society
651-552-7548
dakotahistory@co.dakota.mn.us

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Residents can go online to learn about PFAS found in groundwater that was sampled across Dakota County.

The county has published a dashboard with data collected from 2018–2025. The county samples public environmental wells and private drinking wells with owner permission.

View the PFAS dashboard.​

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) were widely used for decades for their ability to resist water and grease. They are known as “forever chemicals" because they do not break down in the environment. Some PFAS stay in the human body for many years and build up, which may lead to health problems.

Sampling found PFAS in all 27 environmental wells and in 94 of 114 private drinking wells tested. Eighteen types of PFAS were detected, some at levels above state and federal drinking water guidelines. The dashboard map shows the locations and results for each well sampled.

Sampling to learn where PFAS are helps identify potential sources of contamination. The county has shared the PFAS data with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and Minnesota Department of Health. Additional sampling data will be added to the dashboard as it becomes available.

More resources

• Learn more about PFAS sources and contamination at Minnesota Polution Control Agency website​. 
  
• For details about health impacts of PFAS exposure, go to the Minnesota Department of Health website.​
  
• If you have questions about your private well, contact Dakota County Environmental Resources by email at environ@co.dakota.mn.us or call 952-891-7000.
  

Article Date: 6/18/2026

Site Title: County News

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Environmental Resources
952-891-7000
environ@co.dakota.mn.us