 Early voting is now underway for the Nov. 4 municipal election. Ballots may be cast early by mail or in person at the Early Vote Center, 980 E. Hennepin Ave.
Early voting began with the City mailing out 12,640 requested mail-in ballots to Minneapolis voters – a record for a municipal election. Another 351 people voted at the Early Vote Center on the first day.
Voters who applied for mail-in ballots should allow up to seven days for their ballot to arrive and plan an equal number of days for returning the completed ballot. All mail ballots need to be received by Election Day, Nov. 4, to count. Important change: Mail ballots that are dropped off in person must be returned to the Elections & Voter Services office, not polling places, by 5 p.m. Nov. 4.
The Early Vote Center is open for early voting in person 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Voters can also cast their ballot by mail or by dropping off a ballot. More locations and hours will open up over the election season.
Find more details about voting on the City website.
 If you’ve never voted before and need to register, now’s the perfect time. If it’s been more than four years since you last voted, or you’ve moved or changed your name since you last registered, you’ll also need to re-register.
Register ahead of time
You can register to vote online. You can use this same registration link to update your current name or address on your registration.
Unsure if you’re registered at your current address? You can use the online lookup tool to check your registration.
Register when you vote
You can also register to vote in person when you vote early or vote on Election Day.
You’ll need to show proof of residence. Certain types of ID can be your proof of residence, but there are other options that don't require an ID. Be sure to read all your options and come prepared.
Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services is responsible for administering elections in the City of Minneapolis.
For information about registering and voting in Minneapolis, visit the City website.
Immigrant and Refugee Affairs new community office hours
The Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) hosts community office hours at the South CareerForce Center on 777 E. Lake Street. You can now stop by on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 2 – 4 p.m.
Check the OIRA events calendar in case of cancelations and holidays.
Get important updates at the Twin Cities immigration forum
The City of Minneapolis Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) in partnership with the City of Saint Paul Immigrant and Refugee Program hosts a biweekly immigration forum to offer immigration-related updates to the community.
The topics covered include:
- Federal immigration news and resources.
- City, community and advocacy organization updates.
- Other topics important to immigrant, refugee and new American communities.
Find dates on the OIRA events calendar.
Get a link to the meeting series by emailing oira@minneapolismn.gov.
Learn more about the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) at minneapolismn.gov/oira.
Find resources and know your immigration rights on the City website.
 Serving on a City board or commission is your chance to directly shape policies that affect daily life, like housing, transit and public safety. Your voice brings fresh perspective and drives transparency in City decisions.
Most boards meet monthly, and it’s a great way to gain valuable skills, build relationships with community leaders, and grow your understanding of local government.
Right now, Minneapolis is accepting applications for several boards. Opportunities include:
- The Minneapolis Commission on Civil Rights works to promote and enforce civil rights across the city.
- The Heritage Preservation Commission safeguards the city’s historic and cultural legacy.
- The Workplace Advisory Committee advises City leaders on employee and workplace issues.
Ready to get involved?
Explore current openings, and apply by Sept. 30.
Watch and share the video
 City staff, neighborhood organizations, City partners and community members are invited to learn strategies for effectively engaging Minneapolis communities through this free learning lab series from Oct. 1 – Nov. 19, 2025.
This is a good opportunity to meet City staff and organizations doing community engagement work and learn more about how the City engages residents.
All learning labs will be in person at the Public Service Building downtown from 12-1:30 p.m.
Registration is required to attend.
View the schedule and register
Topics
The material covered in these learning labs includes historical events and how they impact communities today. Labs also touch on effective, appropriate modes of communication relevant to each community, major gathering places, events and holidays, etc. The learning labs included in this series are:
- Effectively Planning for Community Engagement
- East African Community and Effective Engagement
- American Indian Community and Effective Engagement
- Latino Community and Effective Engagement
- Southeast Asian Community and Effective Engagement
- Advocating with People with Disabilities
- Immigrant and Refugee Issues and Community Considerations
- African American Community and Effective Engagement
The City of Minneapolis Department of Neighborhood and Community Relations (NCR) staff, including community and neighborhood specialists, teach the learning labs.
 The City of Minneapolis shares important news and updates in English, Spanish, Somali, Oromo and Hmong over community radio stations and two television programs.
You can see the upcoming schedule for these shows and find past recordings on the City website.
Take the survey: bicycle friendly community
The City of Minneapolis recently re-applied for Bicycle Friendly Community certification with the League of American Bicyclists. Minneapolis was last awarded a Gold-level certification in 2019, and a lot has changed since then.
The next step in the application process rests with you. The league has opened a survey (about 10 minutes to complete) for all Minneapolis bicyclists. Your anonymous response will be factored into the City’s eventual certification and eventually shared with the City as feedback. Simply by responding you can help demonstrate the strength, knowledge and dedication of the Minneapolis bicycling community.
Fill out the survey and share with your fellow bicyclists.
Read more about Bicycle Friendly Community certification.
 Our second annual Latino Business Week is Oct. 5-11. It takes place during National Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15-Oct. 15. Latino Business Week celebrates and supports our Minneapolis Latino business community with workshops for today’s business owners, resource information, and showcases for artists and performing arts professionals.
When we support Latino-owned businesses, we help build stronger communities and a more equitable future for all.
Find and share the Latino Business Week events on the City website.
Help spread the word
You can download and share the flyers in English and Spanish.
Lowry-Penn development open house Oct. 9
The City of Minneapolis and Hennepin County are considering five proposals for new buildings on the northeast and northwest corners of the Lowry and Penn intersection, and we want to know what you think.
Join us at an open house Oct. 9 to see the proposed concepts for these vacant City- and County-owned lots in the Cleveland and Folwell neighborhoods. Proposals include mixed-use commercial/residential projects, affordable townhomes for sale, affordable commercial space for emerging small businesses, and community-focused housing and services.
Learn about the proposals and talk with the development teams about their ideas. Attendees can complete a survey about what types of uses should be considered for this area.
Lowry-Penn Development open house
6:15-8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 9
Lucy Craft Laney Elementary School cafeteria, 3333 Penn Ave. N.
Save Oct. 22 for a free seniors fair. The fair is tailored for our senior community members and caregivers. The day will feature workshops, an elected officials panel, a resource fair, and a free breakfast and lunch. The workshops will cover yoga and meditation, City services, public safety and connecting with community.
Seniors fair
9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 22
Diamond Lake Lutheran Church, 5760 Portland Ave. S.
Schedule
Raffle with prizes to be announced.
- 9 a.m. - Welcome and breakfast
- 10 a.m. - Morning workshops
- Community Safety: When to Call 311 vs 911
- Building Community through Art: Legos activity
- 11 a.m. - Resource fair and lunch
- Noon - Panel discussion with local elected officials including City Council Members Andrea Jenkins, Emily Koski and Aurin Chowdhury. More to be announced.
- 1 p.m. - Afternoon workshops:
- Election Services and Ranked Choice Voting
- Technology and Fraud
The seniors fair is sponsored by Wards 8, 11 and 12.
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 The City of Minneapolis has partnered with LSE Architects to transform the former 3rd Police Precinct site into the new Minneapolis Democracy Center that will house the City’s election services. You can now see a video and the presentation document on the proposed design.
Schematic designs feature a 19,000-square-foot addition, a highly visible early vote center, and interior renovations, including a large ground-floor space within the existing building to be leased to a community partner.
Currently, the City’s election and voter services are spread across three locations. By consolidating them into a single, central facility with access to public transit, bike routes and pedestrian paths, the project aims to make it easier to vote.
LSE Architects will now refine the design, including selecting exterior colors and materials, and prepare construction documents. Work is expected to begin in early 2026 and finish in early 2027.
At a recent open house, two applicants for tenants to lease the community space — Change Inc. and Mama Sheila’s House of Soul — presented proposals. Feedback from the open house will be shared with the City Council later this year to help guide the selection of the tenant.
Watch a video and read the presentation document on the City website.
Minneapolis response to homelessness
Homelessness is a symptom of many challenges in our society. The City works on multiple levels to prevent homelessness and address challenges that lead to homelessness including:
- Confronting the fentanyl epidemic
- Increasing affordable housing access
- Addressing mental health challenges
- Providing inclusive economic opportunities
- Combating human trafficking
While one person experiencing homelessness is one too many, the rate of unsheltered homelessness in Hennepin County in 2024 was already less than half the national average.
This year, the population of unsheltered people has decreased by 14% (a reduction of 33.5% from the peak in 2020). While we’re making progress, there is still much more work to be done. Our partnerships with the county and service providers are having a significant impact in helping unsheltered people.
Read more on the City website.
City closes encampment, shares resource lists
The City of Minneapolis has closed an encampment on private property at 28th Avenue South and East Lake Street because of urgent safety and health concerns including a shooting that injured seven people Monday. City leaders held a news conference to discuss resources for unhoused people, as well as the public health and safety concerns caused by encampments.
After the recent violence and closure of the Lake Street encampment, we continue working with partners to take steps to help those in need, including:
- NextStep: Worked with hospitalized victims from both shooting incidents.
- Hennepin County’s Streets to Housing Team: Identified shelters.
- The Minneapolis Homeless Response Team (HRT), Avivo, Metro Transit Homeless Action Team (HAT): Provided services and resources near the encampment.
- City Health Department: Provided services and supported the needs of a nearby school.
- Various service providers: Assessed medical needs.
- Animal Control: Reunited individuals with their lost pets.
Resources
Find flyers in English, Spanish and Somali listing resources on the City website (PDF).
Support and safety following the Annunciation Church tragedy
Minneapolis continues to grieve after the tragic shooting at the Church of the Annunciation on Aug. 27. As a community, we are in mourning together with the Annunciation families, friends, and neighbors whose lives have been forever changed. We hold space for healing and commit to caring for one another during this painful time.
In partnership with neighborhood organizations, state, and county partners, we hosted a Neighborhood Community Support & Resource Center at Lynnhurst Park on Aug. 31-Sept. 2. We are deeply grateful to the more than 300 people who joined us to gather in community and heal together.
Whether impacted directly or indirectly, community members have benefited from resources and recovery services, including mental health services, spiritual care, victim services, applications for financial assistance, therapy animals, and more.
While the center is now closed, this support continues. If you are a community member who needs support, please call 311 or you can find resources on the City’s website.
Acknowledging the broader impact of gun violence
The Annunciation shooting is just the latest example of gun violence in Minneapolis and the devastating impacts it brings for many across our city. Mayor Frey has renewed strong calls for meaningful gun reform. On Sept. 2, marking the first day back to school for many students across the state, Mayor Frey and other Twin Cities mayors joined Moms Demand Action at the Minnesota State Capitol to call for urgent legislative action to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
And – if state lawmakers can’t find agreement on meaningful gun reform, the mayors called for authority to pass their own common-sense reforms — something that isn’t currently possible and would require a change in state law.
These calls to action are part of the City’s legislative agenda, which includes banning the sale of assault weapons, bump stocks, silencers, and extended magazines, along with other measures to reduce gun violence and keep communities safe.
Read more about what the mayor and gun reform allies are calling for on the City’s website.
Resources and support for those impacted
The Minnesota Crime Victims Reimbursement Program provides financial help to victims, witnesses, and their families for losses incurred as a result of this incident. It can cover expenses like medical expenses, dental expenses, counseling expenses, lost wages, mileage to and from appointments, funeral and burial costs, survivor's benefits, home health care, and replacement childcare. Learn more about the reimbursement program from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Justice Programs.
Mental health support
The events of Aug. 27 may be difficult to process for children, parents, caregivers, and all residents. Mental health resources and the Disaster Distress Helpline are available on the City’s website.
Ways to help
Financial donations are the best way for members of the community to support the victims. The Annunciation Hope and Healing Fund is organized by the Catholic Community Foundation. The Minneapolis Foundation is supporting this effort with their text-to-give function.
Providing information
Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to email policetips@minneapolismn.gov or call 612-673-5845. To remain anonymous, contact CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online at Crime Stoppers Minnesota.
Strength and resilience in response
City officials discussed the heroic acts, community response, and the City’s commitment to preparation for mass incidents at a news conference held on Aug. 29. The effective coordination between the City, state, county, and community partners reflects our ongoing commitment to strengthening emergency management and crisis response since 2020. Training, procedures, and communication channels helped ensure the right people and resources were in place when needed. Read more about the City’s response on the website, or watch the news conference.
Standing together
This tragedy deeply affects not only Annunciation parish and school, but the entire city. We encourage anyone who needs help to reach out to 311 for support information. Let’s continue to show up with care and compassion for one another and encourage strength in the face of tragedy.
 The City of Minneapolis is nominating three sites at the heart of Minneapolis’ African American history to the National Register of Historic Places. The sites are:
- The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder building. The oldest Black-owned newspaper in Minnesota is one of the longest continuously operated family-owned Black newspapers in the United States.
- The former home of Harry Davis, Sr. Davis was a beloved community leader, civil rights advocate and the first Black candidate for mayor in Minneapolis.
A spot on the register means the space is recognized for its important history. It can open opportunities for national and state historic preservation grants and tax credits.
Read more on the City website.
Minneapolis African American Historic and Cultural Context Study
These sites are featured in the Minneapolis African American Historic and Cultural Context Study. The study highlights Minneapolis’ Black history from around 1800 to the present. It identifies important people, places and events in the city. It has a lot of rich stories, and more stories can and should also be uplifted in the future.
Read the full context study on the City website.
Dashboard gives residents clear view of City progress
An interactive tool has fully launched that offers regular updates on the City’s public safety, recruitment and retention, climate action, opioid response, economic inclusion, and homelessness response.
The City’s Mayoral Dashboard is a first-of-its-kind public tool providing regular updates on several of Minneapolis’ top priorities.
The dashboard is designed to make government more transparent, accountable and data-driven.
Read more about the dashboard on the City website.
You can now follow new Fire Department social media channels. The City launched the new channels to share timely public safety information and education, information on emergency preparedness and community events, stories highlighting the work and history of the department’s dedicated firefighters, and a behind-the-scenes look at our firefighters who serve Minneapolis every day.
Follow and share the Minneapolis Fire Department’s channels to stay informed and connected:
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