Minnesota has three kinds of local races in 2027. The first is the town election on Tuesday, March 9, 2027, in towns (often called townships) that hold their election in March, which is the default under state law. Town candidates file an affidavit of candidacy from Tuesday, December 29, 2026 to Tuesday, January 12, 2027. The other two are cities that chose odd-year elections and school districts that hold their elections in odd years. They vote on Tuesday, November 2, 2027, and their candidates file either from Tuesday, May 18 to Tuesday, June 1, 2027 (where there is an August 10 primary) or from Tuesday, July 13 to Tuesday, July 27, 2027 (where there is not).
Before you plan around any of these dates, check whether your city or school district votes in 2027 at all. State law makes the even-numbered year the default for city elections, and a city votes in an odd year only if its council adopted an ordinance to do so. School boards choose odd or even years by resolution. If your city or school district votes in even years, its next regular election is Tuesday, November 7, 2028, not 2027.
Every 2027 date on this page comes from the Minnesota Statutes, and each date we calculated from a formula in the statutes is marked "based on state law." No date here was copied from an official 2027 calendar, so confirm each one with your town clerk, city clerk or school district clerk before you rely on it. For the full process of getting on the ballot, start with our guide to running for local office in Minnesota.
First, find out which calendar applies to you
Towns. A town's general election is held on the second Tuesday in March, together with the annual town meeting, unless the town moved its election to November by a resolution or ordinance approved by its voters (Minn. Stat. 205.075 and 365.51). Ask your town clerk which date your town uses.
Cities. A city's general election is in November of the even-numbered year unless the council passed an ordinance choosing the odd-numbered year (Minn. Stat. 205.07). A city holds a primary only if its council adopted one by April 15 of the election year, and the choice stays in place until it is revoked (Minn. Stat. 205.065).
School districts. A school district's general election is in November "of either the odd-numbered or the even-numbered year," as the school board decides (Minn. Stat. 205A.04). A district holds a primary only if the board adopted a resolution for one by April 15 (Minn. Stat. 205A.03).
How to check yours. At least two weeks before filing opens, the clerk must publish a notice of the first and last days to file and the closing time on the last day, and post a similar notice at least ten days before (Minn. Stat. 205.13 and 205A.06). If you have not seen a notice, ask your city clerk, school district office or county auditor whether your office is on the 2027 ballot, whether there is a primary and where to file.
If you plan to text: Sunday, November 15, 2026
Campaign Verify, the check campaigns need before texting voters from a registered number, runs on two-year cycles. A request made before Sunday, November 15, 2026 expires on Sunday, January 31, 2027, which is before the March 9 town election. A request made on or after November 15, 2026 lasts until Wednesday, January 31, 2029, which covers every 2027 date on this page. The texting section near the end explains the steps.
The March 9, 2027 town election
Tuesday, December 15, 2026 (based on state law). Last day for the town clerk to publish the notice of filing dates. The clerk must also post the notice by Saturday, December 19, 2026.
Tuesday, December 29, 2026 (based on state law). Filing opens. Candidates file an affidavit of candidacy with the town clerk and pay the $2 filing fee, or present a petition in place of the fee. Subject to the county auditor's approval, the town clerk may let candidates file with the county auditor instead, so ask where to go.
Tuesday, January 12, 2027 (based on state law). Filing closes. The clerk's office must be open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on this last day. Filing earlier leaves time to fix a problem with your identification or address.
Thursday, January 14, 2027, 5 p.m. (based on state law). Last day to withdraw, by filing an affidavit of withdrawal with the clerk. After this, no candidate may withdraw.
Early February 2027. For a March town election, voters may vote absentee in person during the 30 days before the election (Minn. Stat. 203B.081). Ask your town clerk or county auditor for the first day, the place and the hours.
Tuesday, February 16, 2027 (based on state law). Last day to register or update a registration before election day: by 5 p.m. in person or by mail, or by 11:59 p.m. online. After this, eligible voters can still register at the polling place on election day with proof of residence.
Tuesday, March 9, 2027 (based on state law). Town election and annual town meeting. Polling hours vary by town, so ask your town clerk.
Tuesday, March 16, 2027 (based on state law). If storm warnings or travel advisories make travel hazardous, the clerk may postpone the election and meeting to the third Tuesday in March. The decision must be made at least three hours before the polls open.
Which offices are on the ballot. By default a town has three supervisors serving staggered three-year terms, and a town that adopted "option A" has five. A town treasurer is elected in odd-numbered years and a clerk in even-numbered years, each for two years, unless the voters made the office appointed or combined the two offices. Ask your town clerk which seats are open in 2027. Our post on how to run for township supervisor in Minnesota covers the office in detail.
Odd-year cities and school districts with an August primary
Thursday, April 15, 2027. Last day for a city council or school board to adopt a primary for the 2027 election.
Tuesday, May 4, 2027 (based on state law). Last day for the clerk to publish the notice of filing dates.
Tuesday, May 18 to Tuesday, June 1, 2027 (based on state law). Filing window: no more than 84 days and no fewer than 70 days before the primary. A city clerk's office must be open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on June 1.
Thursday, June 3, 2027, 5 p.m. (based on state law). Last day to withdraw.
Friday, June 25, 2027 (based on state law). In-person absentee voting for the primary may begin, 46 days before the election.
Tuesday, July 20, 2027 (based on state law). Last day to register before the primary.
Tuesday, August 10, 2027 (based on state law). Primary. An office appears on the primary ballot only when more than twice as many candidates file as there are seats. The top two candidates for each seat, or twice as many candidates as there are seats, advance to November.
Odd-year cities and school districts with no primary
Tuesday, June 29, 2027 (based on state law). Last day for the clerk to publish the notice of filing dates.
Tuesday, July 13 to Tuesday, July 27, 2027 (based on state law). Filing window: no more than 112 days and no fewer than 98 days before the November 2 election. A city clerk's office must be open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on July 27.
Thursday, July 29, 2027, 5 p.m. (based on state law). Last day to withdraw.
The November 2, 2027 election
Friday, September 17, 2027 (based on state law). In-person absentee voting begins, 46 days before the election.
Tuesday, October 12, 2027 (based on state law). Last day to register before election day. Election day registration remains available at the polls.
Tuesday, November 2, 2027 (based on state law). General election for odd-year cities and school districts.
The 2027 dates at a glance
| Date | Track | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Tue, Dec 29, 2026 | Towns | Filing opens |
| Tue, Jan 12, 2027 | Towns | Filing closes (office open 1 to 5 p.m.) |
| Tue, Feb 16, 2027 | Towns | Registration deadline before election day |
| Tue, Mar 9, 2027 | Towns | Town election and annual town meeting |
| Thu, Apr 15, 2027 | Cities, schools | Last day to adopt a primary |
| Tue, May 18 to Tue, Jun 1, 2027 | With a primary | Filing window |
| Tue, Jul 13 to Tue, Jul 27, 2027 | No primary | Filing window |
| Tue, Aug 10, 2027 | With a primary | Primary |
| Tue, Nov 2, 2027 | Cities, schools | General election |
All of these dates are based on state law. Our campaign plan to Minnesota's March 9, 2027 town elections turns the town dates into a week-by-week schedule.
Set up texting before your first deadline
Town candidates have the least time, because the election is eight weeks after filing closes. Set up texting in November or December so your reminders are ready.
- Form your committee, then check that its filing is online. Campaign Verify costs $95 per two-year cycle. It needs a 527 committee (527 is the federal tax status of a political committee), an EIN (the committee's federal tax ID number) and a filing with an election authority that is published online. Candidates with no committee are not eligible. Ask your filing officer or county auditor whether your committee's filing can be viewed online, and if it cannot, contact Campaign Verify Support before you request. Campaign Verify decides eligibility.
- Open your CampaignCNX+ account. CampaignCNX+ files your registration with the carriers (the mobile phone companies), either as 10DLC (the registration for texting from a standard local-style number) or as toll-free. For a toll-free number, the carrier review usually takes about three business days. You buy the $95 Campaign Verify token from Campaign Verify, and CampaignCNX+ files it with your registration. 100 free SMS included. Your number is $5 a month.
- Schedule your reminders. For a town race, write short texts for the registration deadline (February 16) and election day (March 9). Send them only to supporters who agreed in writing to receive your texts, and end each person's first message with "Reply STOP to opt out." Texts send only between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. in the recipient's time zone.
For texting rules across the region, see our page on campaign texting in the Midwest.
Mark the dates now
Town filing opens on Tuesday, December 29, 2026, and the window is only two weeks long. Confirm your track with your clerk, put your filing window and the election on your calendar, and have your texting registered before January. Start a CampaignCNX+ trial once your committee filing is in place.
