Live updates on the 2024 election: Control of the Minnesota House still unknown

Editor's note: MPR News staff will update this story with election news and analysis throughout Wednesday. So check back for updates. See our live updates from Election Day here.

For the latest results from all elections, visit elections.mpr.org.

4:20 a.m.: Control of Minnesota House still unknown

The Minnesota Senate remains in DFL control, but the outcome of the state House of Representatives was still uncertain early Wednesday morning.

House Republican leader Lisa Demuth said early Wednesday that the GOP flipped enough seats in Tuesday's election to give Republicans a majority.

However, Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman said it was too early to say whether the DFL had retained control of the body.

The results will determine what lawmakers can move forward with the state budget for the next two years to fund public schools, health programs, law enforcement and a range of state agencies.

DFL members have governed Minnesota for the past two years, controlling both chambers of the Legislature and the governor's office. They retained the Senate on Tuesday with a victory in a key district. They will retain the office of governor regardless of whether current Gov. Tim Walz becomes vice president.

— MPR News Staff

When and how are the votes counted?

While Minnesotans cast their votes on paper ballots, those ballots are counted using electronic devices. Tabulators used in Minnesota are optical scanners, meaning they “read” the ballot and record a vote for each candidate whose target — usually an oval — is filled in on the ballot.

Absentee ballots can be entered into voting booths starting 18 days before Election Day, but the total will not be tallied until polls close that night. According to the Secretary of State's website, county election officials enter unofficial election results on the Secretary of State's website.

How do we know the totals are correct?

According to the Secretary of State's website, Minnesota election administrators use a variety of procedures to ensure that machines accurately record valid votes. The equipment is approved by the state, tested on site before the election and the results are audited after the election.

Additionally, pursuant to Minnesota Statute 206.89, after all state general elections, Minnesota counties will conduct a post-election audit of election results returned by election counters used in the state.

The verification involves a hand count of ballots for each eligible election in selected precincts. This year, the elections for US President, US Senator and US Representative will be reviewed. The results of the hand count will be compared to the results of the voting system used in those counties.

When are the election results official?

The results of an election are not official until they have been verified by an election committee.

A county election board certifies votes cast within a county for races that extend beyond the county's boundaries, as well as election results for county offices and legislative districts that lie entirely within the county.

The state canvassing agency certifies results for federal offices, statewide offices and legislative districts that cross county lines. The board meets on the 16th day after a state election.

Each municipality and school district has its own election commission to certify the results of these races

Once results are certified by the Advertising Commission, they are considered “official,” but races may be called before they become official.

Who are Minnesota's voters?

Electoral votes are votes cast by a group of voters from each state. There are 538 voters in total. Each state is allocated a certain number of electoral votes based on population. Minnesota has 10 electoral votes.

Here is a list of Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) voters.

Here is a list of Minnesota Republican Party voters

The popular vote is the sum of all individual votes for a particular candidate. If a candidate wins the popular vote in Minnesota, they will receive all 10 electoral votes.

To win the presidential election, a candidate must receive at least 270 electoral votes.

The national popular vote – the sum of all votes for each candidate in the United States – does not determine the winner of the election.

12:44 a.m. Wednesday: Voters are ready to approve more lottery money for natural resources

Minnesota voters are likely to renew a constitutional amendment directing state lottery revenue to protect the environment and natural resources.

The change was first approved in 1988 and was extended ten years later. Since 1991, more than $1 billion in lottery proceeds have been funneled into more than 1,700 projects across the state.

If passed, the amendment will increase the amount that can be spent from the fund each year by an additional 1.5 percent. The additional revenue will fund a new community grant program designed for underserved communities and organizations.

— Kirsti Marohn

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