Virginia, Minnesota Public Records

Minnesota offers online voter registration through the Minnesota Secretary of State website at mnvotes.uf.umn.edu, where eligible residents can register or update their registration up to 21 days before an election. The state also offers same-day voter registration at polling places on Election Day, allowing unregistered voters to register and vote simultaneously by providing proof of residence such as a Minnesota driver's license, current utility bill, or another registered voter from the same precinct who can vouch for their residence. Minnesota does not require photo ID to vote, though acceptable forms of identification include driver's licenses, tribal IDs, student IDs, or recent bills, and voters without ID can have another registered voter vouch for them. The city holds municipal elections for mayor, city council members, and other city offices on a schedule determined by the city charter, typically in odd-numbered years. The next municipal elections are expected in November 2025 for city council positions, with mayoral elections following the staggered term schedule. Residents can find information about local candidates, ballot questions, and sample ballots through the Saint Louis County Elections Division website or by contacting Virginia City Hall at 218-748-7500. Voters can locate their assigned polling place using the Polling Place Finder on the Minnesota Secretary of State website at pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us, which requires entering a street address. Most residents cast ballots at designated precincts including Virginia City Hall and other community locations depending on their ward and precinct assignment. Under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 201, voter registration data is public information and available for inspection, though certain data such as birthdates and driver's license numbers are private. Registered voter lists showing names and addresses are available for purchase for election-related purposes. Campaign finance records for state and local candidates are maintained by the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board and searchable at cfb.mn.gov, where users can view contribution and expenditure reports for candidates, committees, and political parties. Precinct-level election results for the city and all Saint Louis County precincts are published by the county after each election and are public information. In the November 2024 presidential election, Saint Louis County reported voter turnout of approximately 67 percent, with over 120,000 ballots cast out of approximately 179,000 registered voters. On November 3, 2026, voters in the area will participate in statewide elections including races for Minnesota Governor (as 2026 is a gubernatorial election year in Minnesota), all Minnesota constitutional offices including Attorney General, Secretary of State, and State Auditor, and all seats in the Minnesota House of Representatives. Voters will also elect one U.S. Senate seat (Minnesota's Class 2 seat currently held by Senator Tina Smith is up for election in 2026), Minnesota's 8th Congressional District U.S. House seat (which includes Virginia and the Iron Range), and various Saint Louis County offices including county commissioners for specific districts, county attorney, sheriff, and other county positions depending on term schedules. Municipal offices may also appear on the ballot depending on the city's election schedule. Minnesota offers no-excuse absentee voting, allowing any registered voter to request an absentee ballot without providing a reason. Absentee ballot applications can be submitted online through the Minnesota Secretary of State website, by mail, or in person at the Saint Louis County Elections Office. Absentee ballots must be requested by one week before Election Day (or one day before for in-person absentee voting), and completed ballots must be returned by mail (postmarked by Election Day and received within three days) or delivered in person to the Saint Louis County elections office or polling place by 8:00 PM on Election Day. Minnesota also offers in-person early voting at designated locations beginning 46 days before Election Day.