Local elections are just as important as state and national elections. There are many reasons why local elections get less publicity and promotion or education by local governments.
Check back here later for more information about our local 2026 elections for Ely and surrounding communities.
What’s the filing info on Ely website?
Here’s “current” filing information for the City of Ely 2026 elections as posted on the official City of Ely website. This is a screenshot taken at 9:19 pm on Sunday, May 17, 2026. Yes, the year posted is for 2024. Filing for Ely City elections starts on Tuesday, May 19, 2026!
2026 filing info for Ely –> MN SOS website
For complete instructions, go to https://www.sos.mn.gov/election-administration-campaigns/become-a-candidate/filing-for-city-offices/. The info posted here is not in the same order as posted on the Secretary of State’s website.
Why wasn’t 2026 election & filing info posted on the Ely City website back in April 2026?
If you subscribe to the Ely Echo, the City of Ely’s official newspaper, you will see the Notice of filing for the 2026 primary and general election City of Ely, MN on Section 2, Page 4, in their May 19th issue. Apparently, the Echo posted announcements on May 2nd May 9th (2026). Not all citizens in Ely (want to) subscribe to the Ely Echo for financial or political reasons. Maybe less than half. To be in the May 2nd issue of the Echo, City Hall must have been submitted info in April. What’s going on??
Chances are the Ely City Website will not be specific about who’s up for election. You’ll have to go to https://www.ely.mn.us/council and scroll down the page to see when their current term expires. The expiration term date of 12/31/2026, means the seat is up for election this November 2026. That means Mayor Heidi Omerza. That means Council Members Al Forsman, Angela Campbell and Adam Bisbee.
Until the City of Ely posts current information, go to the Secretary of State website.
What are the 2026 Primary & Election Dates
Outdated 2024 info on Ely City website
2026 info on MN Sec of State website
Some previous election postings
Do a search on our website. Use the right- and/or left-sided columns for word or category searches.
Our Area 2024 Elections – Open Seats – Filing Info
Check out our website https://elyminnesota.com/blog/our-area-2024-elections-open-seats-filing-info/We posted information about 2024 elections in some of the surrounding area. What do those local government websites look like? If you don’t like what you see (or do like what you see), let them know.
2023 Post about Ely Council Appointments
Look back at posts on our Citizens for Transparency website, you’ll see we addressed issues about appointments too. Here’s from December 2023 when we had just set up the website and were using pages instead of posts. Look on the menu bar for Go See Speak Now! To find the 12/05/2023 original agenda, packet, last minute additions and the approved minutes go to https://www.ely.mn.us/2023-meetings
Most important: Posting of openings for Commissioners whose terms expire the end of January
#13, New Business C: Advertise for Open Committee Seats that the term limits will be expiring or coming due in January 31, 2024. 1) Did you know there were term limits? Do people continually stay on the Commission(s) until some maximum limit? Where is that posted on the official Commission websites, ordinances, or City Charter? 2) Why didn’t City Hall provide a list of those upcoming open (?) positions, sorted by Commission, Committee or Board? Why does Council – or the public – have to search page-by-page, print or write out and then figure who reached their term limit, etc.? 3) Will Council request, indeed demand, an open and fair process to fill those open (??) positions? What are the qualifications, the real ones and not the political ones? Do we really need “experts” and lobbyists or people who think systemically and in the interest of Us the People?4) Will Council address City Hall’s proactive (politely phrased) seeking of a replacement of Commissioner Caruso on Planning and Zoning? Review Part C of the citizens’ recording of P&Z meeting on Nov. 15th. Part C = https://youtu.be/bZLWQTG4xA4 Includes discussions after P&Z meeting was adjourned
From the 12/5/2023 agenda and Council packet https://www.ely.mn.us/2023-meetings
P&Z Nov. 15 minutes – Is all this – more length and details – essential? If you have time, compare pages 16-19 in the packet with YouTube recordings listed below. Especially look at 5:23+ time marker on Part A when Council Member Angela Campbell reports. What did she say the citizen requested from Council on Nov 7th? Codes of ethics, standards of conduct, conflict of interest and (finally) open meeting policies. The P&Z meetings only mention open meeting laws. Why didn’t ethics, standards and conflicts make it to the minutes? Why filter or cleanse from the record? This is why meetings need to be recorded and made public. Some individuals within City Hall, Council and Commissions want discussions about ethics, standards of behavior to go away.
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