Minneapolis sets record municipal turnout
Minneapolis reported a record 147,702 ballots cast (55% of registered voters) in the 2025 municipal election, surpassing the city’s 2021 high-water mark. Ranked-choice tabulation for the mayoral race and a close City Council contest will resume Wednesday, Nov. 5, with final results to be certified by the City Council acting as the Municipal Canvassing Board on Monday, Nov. 10.
Elections
Local Government
📌 Key Facts
- Turnout: 147,702 voters, 55% of registered (record; prior record 54% with 145,337 voters in 2021)
- RCV tabulation resumes Nov. 5; certification set for Nov. 10 by the Municipal Canvassing Board
- Elections Director Katie Smith credited 1,900 election workers for smooth operations
📚 Contextual Background
- In 2009, the city of Minneapolis implemented ranked-choice voting that allows voters to rank up to three candidates; if no candidate receives a majority of first-choice votes, the lowest-performing candidates are sequentially eliminated and their votes are reallocated to voters' next-highest choices until a candidate achieves 50%.
- The 2021 Minneapolis municipal election had a turnout of 54% of registered voters, the highest turnout in the city since at least 1979.
- The Minneapolis City Council is composed of 13 seats.