Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Nebraska

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Note: This article is not intended to serve as an exhaustive guide to running for public office. Individuals should contact their state election agencies for further information.

In order to get on the ballot in Nebraska, a candidate for state or federal office must meet a variety of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines. These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. These laws are set at the state level. A candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.

There are three basic methods by which an individual may become a candidate for office in a state.

  1. An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
  2. An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
  3. An individual can run as a write-in candidate.

This article outlines the steps that prospective candidates for state-level and congressional office must take in order to run for office in Nebraska. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates, see "Ballot access requirements for presidential candidates in Nebraska." Information about filing requirements for local-level offices is not available in this article (contact state election agencies for information about local candidate filing processes).

The Nebraska Legislature is the only state legislature in the United States that operates as a unicameral body. Consequently, the legislature is often referred to as "the unicameral" or "the uni" by state residents (see "State legislature" below for more information). It is also the only legislature that specifically requires candidates to run on nonpartisan ballots.

DocumentIcon.jpg See state election laws

Year-specific filing information

2024

U.S. Senate

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates in Nebraska in the 2024 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Nebraska, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2024
State Office Party Signatures required Signature formula Filing fee Filing fee formula Filing deadline Source
Nebraska U.S. Senate Qualified party N/A N/A $1,740.00 1% of annual salary TBD Source
Nebraska U.S. Senate Unaffiliated 4000 Fixed number $1,740.00 1% of annual salary TBD Source

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Nebraska in the 2024 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Nebraska, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2024
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Nebraska U.S. House Ballot-qualified party N/A $1,740.00 TBD Source
Nebraska U.S. House Unaffiliated 20% of registered voters in the district who voted for president in 2020, or 2,000, whichever is less $1,740.00 TBD Source


For filing information from previous years, click "[Show more]" below.

Show more

2022

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Nebraska in the 2022 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Nebraska, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2022
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Nebraska U.S. House Ballot-qualified party N/A $1,740.00 2/15/2022 Source
Nebraska U.S. House Unaffiliated 20% of registered voters in the district who voted for president in 2020, or 2,000, whichever is less $1,740.00 9/1/2022 Source

Governor

The table below details filing requirements for gubernatorial candidates in Nebraska in the 2022 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Nebraska, click here.

Filing requirements for gubernatorial candidates, 2022
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source Notes
Nebraska Governor Ballot-qualified party N/A $1,050.00 2/15/2022 Source
Nebraska Governor Unaffiliated 4,000 $1,050.00 9/1/2022 Source

2020

U.S. Senate

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates in Nebraska in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Nebraska, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2020
State Office Party Signatures required Signature formula Filing fee Filing fee formula Filing deadline Source
Nebraska U.S. Senate Qualified party N/A N/A $1,740.00 1% of annual salary 3/2/2020 Source
Nebraska U.S. Senate Unaffiliated 4000 Fixed number $1,740.00 1% of annual salary 9/1/2020 Source

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Nebraska in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Nebraska, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2020
State Office Party Signatures required Signature formula Filing fee Filing fee formula Filing deadline Source
Nebraska 1st Congressional District Qualified party N/A N/A $1,740.00 1% of annual salary 3/2/2020 Source
Nebraska 2nd Congressional District Qualified party N/A N/A $1,740.00 1% of annual salary 3/2/2020 Source
Nebraska 3rd Congressional District Qualified party N/A N/A $1,740.00 1% of annual salary 3/2/2020 Source
Nebraska 1st Congressional District Unaffiliated 2,000 20% of registered in the district who voted for governor in 2018, or 2,000, whichever is less $1,740.00 1% of annual salary 9/1/2020 Source
Nebraska 2nd Congressional District Unaffiliated 2,000 20% of registered in the district who voted for governor in 2018, or 2,000, whichever is less $1,740.00 1% of annual salary 9/1/2020 Source
Nebraska 3rd Congressional District Unaffiliated 2,000 20% of registered in the district who voted for governor in 2018, or 2,000, whichever is less $1,740.00 1% of annual salary 9/1/2020 Source

State Senate

The table below details filing requirements for Nebraska State Senate candidates in the 2020 election cycle.

Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020
Chamber name Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Nebraska State Senate All candidates N/A $120.00 3/2/2020 Source

2018

See also: State and federal candidate filing deadlines for 2018 and Nebraska elections, 2018

See below for 2018 candidate filing deadlines.

March 1, 2018

2016

See also: Nebraska elections, 2016

The calendar below lists important dates for political candidates in Nebraska in 2016.

Dates and requirements for candidates in 2016
Deadline Event type Event description
December 1, 2015 Ballot access Filing period for both incumbents and non-incumbents running in the primary election opens
December 1, 2015 Ballot access Filing period for both incumbents and non-incumbents running in the general election opens
February 16, 2016 Ballot access Filing period for incumbents running in the primary election closes
March 1, 2016 Ballot access Filing period for non-incumbents running in the primary election closes
April 11, 2016 Campaign finance First primary statement due
May 2, 2016 Campaign finance Second primary statement due
May 10, 2016 Election date Primary election
June 20, 2016 Campaign finance Post-primary statement due
July 15, 2016 Ballot access Filing period for incumbents running in the general election closes
August 1, 2016 Ballot access Filing period for non-incumbents running in the general election closes
October 10, 2016 Campaign finance First general statement due
October 31, 2016 Campaign finance Second general statement due
November 8, 2016 Election date General election
January 17, 2017 Campaign finance Post-general statement due
Sources: Nebraska Secretary of State, "Candidate Filings Information – 2016 Election," accessed July 1, 2015
Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission, "2016 Election Year – Candidate Brochure," June 2015

2015


2014


Process to become a candidate

The first page of Nebraska's nonpartisan candidate filing form, 2013
See also: Nebraska signature requirements

For all candidates

According to the Nebraska Secretary of State, every prospective candidate must complete and submit a candidate filing form (which includes a candidate statement that must be signed) and provide for the payment of the filing fee. For state offices, the candidate must submit a statement of financial interests. A candidate for federal office must submit a financial statement according to Federal Election Commission instructions.[2][3]

Filing fees vary by office and are established by Chapter 32, Section 608, of the Nebraska Revised Statutes.[4][5]

Filing fees
Office sought How the fee is determined
United States Senator or United States Representative 1% of the office's annual salary
Governor 1% of the office's annual salary
Secretary of state 1% of the office's annual salary
State auditor 1% of the office's annual salary
State treasurer 1% of the office's annual salary
Attorney general 1% of the office's annual salary
Public service commissioner 1% of the office's annual salary
State senator 1% of the office's annual salary

If the office for which the candidate is filing pays only a per diem (i.e., an allowance for expenses incurred as a result of fulfilling an office's duties) or a salary of less than $500 per year, the filing fee is waived. In addition, no filing fee is required of any candidate who completes an affidavit requesting to file in forma pauperis (i.e., a person whose "income and other resources for maintenance are found to be insufficient for meeting the cost of his or her requirements and whose cash or other available resources do not exceed the maximum available resources that an eligible individual may own").[4]

For partisan candidates

DocumentIcon.jpg See statutes: Chapter 32, Section 610 of the Nebraska Revised Statutes

To be eligible for inclusion on a partisan primary ballot, a candidate must be a registered voter of the party, if so required. A partisan candidate must complete the aforementioned paperwork and pay the filing fees required of all candidates.[6]

For independent candidates

DocumentIcon.jpg See statutes: Chapter 32, Section 616 of the Nebraska Revised Statutes

Any registered voter who was not a candidate in the primary election and who was not registered to vote with a party affiliation on or before March 1 in the calendar year of the general election may have his or her name placed on the general election ballot either by petition or nomination by political party convention or committee. The number of signatures required for nominating petitions varies by office (see below table for more information).[7][8]

Signature requirements
Office sought Number of signatures required
Nonpartisan office (including state legislators) filled by registered voters of a county or political subdivision 10% of the total number of registered voters voting for governor or president at the most recent general election; not to exceed 2,000
Partisan office 4,000 signatures for candidates for statewide office of U.S. House

For further information regarding petition requirements, see below.

Petition requirements

See also: Methods for signing candidate nominating petitions

DocumentIcon.jpg See statutes: Chapter 32, Section 628 of the Nebraska Revised Statutes

In some cases, candidates may need to obtain signatures via the petition process to gain access to the ballot. This section outlines the laws and regulations pertaining to petitions and circulators in Nebraska.

Format requirements

All petitions must meet specific formal requirements.[9]

  • Space for signature must be at least 2.5 inches long; space for written name must be least 2 inches long.
  • Sufficient space must be left for birth date and address.
  • Lines on each petition cannot be less than 0.25 inches apart.
  • Petitions may be designed so that lines for signatures and other information run the length of the page instead of the width.
  • Petitions should include no more than 20 signatures per page.

Language requirements

Every sheet of every petition containing signatures must include the following statements "printed in boldface type in substantially the following form:"

“ "WARNING TO PETITION SIGNERS—€”VIOLATION OF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING PROVISIONS OF LAW MAY RESULT IN THE FILING OF CRIMINAL CHARGES: Any person who signs any name other than his or her own to any petition or who is not qualified to sign the petition shall be guilty of a Class I misdemeanor. Any person who falsely swears to a circulator's affidavit on a petition, who accepts money or other things of value for signing a petition, or who offers money or other things of value in exchange for a signature upon any petition shall be guilty of a Class IV felony."

[Name of circulator], being first duly sworn, deposes and says that he or she is the circulator of this petition containing [...] signatures, that he or she is at least eighteen years of age, that each person whose name appears on the petition personally signed the petition in the presence of the affiant, that the date to the left of each signature is the correct date on which the signature was affixed to the petition and that the date was personally affixed by the person signing such petition, that the affiant believes that each signer has written his or her name, street and number or voting precinct, and city, village, or post office address correctly, that the affiant believes that each signer was qualified to sign the petition, and that the affiant stated to each signer the object of the petition as printed on the petition before he or she affixed his or her signature to the petition.

Circulator:
Address:
Subscribed and sworn to before me, a notary public, this [date] day of [month] 20 [year] at [location], Nebraska.
Notary Public:[10]

”

Circulation requirements

Petition circulators must be at least 18 years old.[11]

The relevant statutes do not stipulate a date on which petitions may begin to circulate.

Election-related agencies

See also: State election agencies

Nebraska Secretary of State

Physical address: State Capitol, Third Floor, 1445 K Street, Lincoln, Nebraska 68508-2731
Mailing address: P.O. Box 94608, Lincoln, Nebraska 68509-4608
Telephone: 402-471-2555
Fax: 402-471-7834
Email: sos.elect@ne.gov
Website: http://www.sos.ne.gov/


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Term limits

State executives

State Executive Officials
See also: State executives with term limits and States with gubernatorial term limits

The state executive term limits in Nebraska are as follows:[12]

  • The governor may serve two consecutive terms but then must wait four years after the term expires to serve again.
  • The lieutenant governor may serve two consecutive terms but then must wait four years after the term expires to serve again.
  • The state treasurer may serve two consecutive terms but then must wait four years after the term expires to serve again.

State legislature

See also: State legislatures with term limits

Nebraska voters approved a constitutional amendment on November 7, 2000, that prohibits state legislators from serving more than two consecutive four-year terms. After four years have passed since the end of their most recent term, legislators may serve again.[13]

The Nebraska Legislature was initially a bicameral body. Nebraska politician George Norris argued for a unicameral legislature, citing inefficiencies and inequities in the bicameral system as cause for making the transition. In 1934, a constitutional amendment was passed revoking the House of Representatives and vesting that body's duties and powers with the Senate. Formally designated as the Nebraska Legislature, the body is more commonly referred to as "the Unicameral." State legislators are usually called "senators."[14]

Congressional partisanship

Portal:Legislative Branch
See also: List of United States Representatives from Nebraska and List of United States Senators from Nebraska

Below is the current partisan breakdown of the congressional delegation from Nebraska.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Nebraska
Party U.S. Senate U.S. House Total
Democratic 0 0 0
Republican 2 3 5
Independent 0 0 0
Vacancies 0 0 0
Total 2 3 5

State legislative partisanship

The Nebraska Legislature is a nonpartisan body.

Noteworthy events

2018

On June 14, 2018, Judge John Gerrard, of the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska, issued an order striking down the state statute establishing petition requirements for independent candidates for partisan office in Nebraska. Prior to Gerrard's order, state law required an independent candidate to collect signatures equaling 10 percent of all registered voters eligible to vote for the office being sought by the candidate. With this statute having been struck down, the prior statute, establishing a 4,000 signature requirement, went into effect. Gerrard's order came after both parties to the suit (including John Gale, in his capacity as secretary of state, and the plaintiffs who brought the original suit) agreed that the 10 percent signature requirement was unconstitutional.[15][16][17]

Related legislation

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The embedded table below lists state bills affecting ballot access requirements for candidates introduced in Nebraska. The following information is included for each bill:

  • State
  • Bill number
  • Official name or caption
  • Most recent action date
  • Legislative status
  • Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized alphabetically, first by state and then by bill number. To view additional results, use the arrows in the upper-right corner of the table. For more information about a particular bill, simply click the bill number. This will open a separate page with additional information.

Ballotpedia’s comprehensive Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker is the basis for this data. This user-friendly tracker covers thousands of election-related bills in state legislatures, and organizes them by topic with neutral, expert analysis from Ballotpedia’s election administration researchers.

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See also

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External links

Official state and federal links

Other information

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Official Election Calendar for the State of Nebraska, accessed November 18, 2014
  2. ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, "2014 Candidates Filing for Federal Office," accessed December 2, 2013
  3. ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, "2014 Candidates Filing for State Office," accessed December 2, 2013
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Nebraska Revised Statutes, "Chapter 32, Section 608," accessed December 2, 2013
  5. ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, "Filing Fee Schedule for 2014," accessed December 2, 2013
  6. ↑ Nebraska Revised Statutes, "Chapter 32, Section 610," accessed December 1, 2013
  7. ↑ Nebraska Revised Statutes, "Chapter 32, Section 616," accessed December 3, 2013
  8. ↑ Nebraska Revised Statutes, "Chapter 32, Section 618," accessed December 12, 2013
  9. ↑ Nebraska Revised Statutes, "Chapter 32, Section 628," accessed January 2, 2014
  10. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  11. ↑ Nebraska Revised Statutes, "Chapter 32, Section 629," accessed January 2, 2014
  12. ↑ Nebraska Constitution, "Article IV Sections 1-3," accessed November 18, 2013
  13. ↑ Nebraska Constitution, "Article III, Section 12," accessed November 18, 2013
  14. ↑ Nebraska Council of School Administrators, "Unicameral History," accessed December 4, 2013
  15. ↑ United States District Court for the District of Nebraska, "Berbeck v. Gale: Order," June 14, 2018
  16. ↑ Ballot Access News, "U.S. District Court Strikes Down Nebraska 10% Petition for Independent Candidates," June 14, 2018
  17. ↑ Jerrick Adams, "Email communication with Richard Winger, editor and publisher of Ballot Access News," June 15, 2018
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