October 2026

10 Voting Trends to Know Ahead of Election Day

Midterm elections are coming up on Tuesday, November 3, with Governor, U.S. Senator, and many other races on the ballot. In 2022, 61% of eligible Minnesotans voted in the midterm. Will we top that this year?

Also—do you ever wonder if the Twin Cities suburbs or Greater Minnesota have more voters? Or where we see the greatest gaps in voter turnout? Or why some Minnesotans don’t vote?

All those questions and more are answered in our voting trends article! Dig into the trends and then get your voting plan in place.

The Census is Under Threat—What You Can Do

Proposed rule changes for the next U.S. Census could significantly alter how Minnesotans are counted. Key proposals include removing race and ethnicity from the questionnaire, shifting your “usual residence," and excluding certain noncitizens. If enacted, these changes will have devastating impacts on the data we all rely on for important decisions in our communities.

The good news? You have until November 2 to leave a comment against these changes, and every comment counts. Our article and webinar recording give you all the facts and ways to take action.

Minnesota's Hispanic and Latino Communities

National Hispanic Heritage Month 2026 comes to a close on October 15, but Compass provides data on Minnesota's Hispanic and Latino communities all year round! The Hispanic and Latino population is one of the fastest-growing racial and ethnic groups in the state. Check out our new insights article for the latest data on population trends and outcomes, plus breakdowns by cultural community and geographic region.

The Greater MN Roadshow has begun!

Minnesota Compass is officially on the road, headed across Greater Minnesota to share the latest regional trends, hear about community strengths and needs, and uplift stories from the region.

Each free stop includes a regional dashboard presentation, a listening session where you can help inform our work, and a guided conversation from our partners at Minnesota: Land of Neighbors. Plus, you'll enjoy a free meal!

We kicked off the road show this week in Fergus Falls. Sign up for the stop in your region now, or register for a virtual session in December!

October 13

West Central: Fergus Falls

October 27

Southern: Rochester

November 5

Southwest: Willmar

November 10

Northwest: Bemidji

November 17

Northland: Duluth

November 19

Central: St. Cloud



Prenatal to Three Policy and Practice Convening

Join us on Thursday, November 12, for critical discussions on early childhood policies and practices that impact families today. This FREE event will connect policymakers, practitioners, and researchers dedicated to improving outcomes for our youngest children. Hosted in-person at the Wilder Center in St. Paul and online.

Interested in making Compass data go even further? Contact us to learn how Minnesota Compass can help your organization connect with your community, whether that’s through analyzing and interpreting local data, presenting a training or workshop, or tabling at a community event.

Connect with us to get the conversation started!