On Election Day, here's what you need to know

Voters cast ballots.
Voters fill out ballots at the Coyle Community Center in Minneapolis on Tuesday morning.
Judy Griesedieck / For MPR News

If you're planning to vote today, you've already waited until the last minute. Minnesota now allows you to vote absentee even if the only place you're planning to be absent from is the voting booth.

Election 2014: Full coverage | Select a Candidate | Find your polling place | Daily politics newsletter | Capitol View

Where to vote, how to get there for free

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But the window for so-called no excuses absentee voting closed at 5 p.m. Monday, so your only remaining option is to go in person to your polling place between the hours of 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. today.

Before you vote: Find your polling place

Thanks to a new state law passed earlier this year, voters across the state will be able to ride public transit for free on Election Day.

In the Twin Cities, Metro Transit will offer free rides from the start to the end of their service day on buses, light rail lines and the Northstar Commuter Rail line. Transit Link and Metro Mobility are not included.

What's at stake

Do you know what will be included on your ballot? The secretary of state's website can generate a sample ballot specific to your neighborhood.

• Before you vote: Browse your sample ballot

The extensive list of races may surprise you. For example, Minneapolis voters will choose not only a U.S. senator and Minnesota governor and lieutenant governor, but state representatives, secretary of state, state auditor, attorney general, county commissioner, school board members, Supreme Court justices and others. And they'll vote to approve or reject two amendments to the City Charter.

• Before you vote: Find out which candidates' views align with yours

State Republicans are hoping to take control of the Minnesota House of Representatives, which would require their picking up seven seats. The other balance-of-power contest is in the U.S. Senate, where Republicans need a net gain of six seats to assume majority control.

Election Day 2014 with MPR News

After you've voted, follow the news of the election on MPR News and MPRnews.org. We'll be live blogging throughout the day and night, and will provide comprehensive election results from across the state after the polls close.

Listen on the radio (or on our app and desktop live streams) to live Election Day coverage starting at 7 p.m.

Follow all of our coverage — with ongoing updates, results, photos, live video and more — on Twitter (@MPRnews and @MPRpolitics) and on Facebook.