Voting in Nebraska

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The policies governing voter participation are enacted and enforced primarily at the state level. These policies, which include voter identification requirements, early voting provisions, online voter registration systems, and more, dictate the conditions under which people cast their ballots in their respective states.

This article includes the following information about voting policies in Nebraska:

See Election administration in Nebraska for more additional information about election administration in the state, including voter list maintenance policies, provisional ballot rules, and post-election auditing practices.

Do you have questions about your elections? Looking for information about your local election official? Click here to use U.S. Vote Foundation’s election official lookup tool.

Voter registration

Eligibility and registration details

Check your voter registration status here.

To register to vote in Nebraska, each applicant must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of the Nebraska county in which they are registering, and at least 18 years old by the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Citizens are eligible to register to vote on January 1 of the year they will turn 18 before the November general election. People convicted of a felony are ineligible to register to vote until two years after the terms of their sentence have been completed, and individuals who have been declared mentally incompetent by a court are ineligible to register to vote.[1][2] A voter registration application can be completed in person at the county clerk or election commissioner's office, the Department of Motor Vehicles, or other state agencies. In-person registration must be completed by the third Friday preceding the election if completed at the DMV or other state agencies. In-person registration at county election offices must be completed by 6 p.m. on the second Friday before the election. Applications returned by mail must be postmarked by the third Friday before the election.[3] Online applications must be submitted by midnight on the third Friday before the election.[4]


In-person voting

Poll times

See also: State poll opening and closing times

In Nebraska, all polling locations are open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Central Time and 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Mountain Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote. Nebraska is divided between Central and Mountain time zones.[5]

Voter identification

See also: Voter identification laws by state

Nebraska does not require voters to present identification while voting.

Initiative 432, approved by Nebraska voters in November 2022, amended Article I of the state constitution to require voters to present valid photo identification in order to vote. Governor Jim Pillen (R) signed Legislative Bill 514 into law on June 1, 2023, in order to implement this policy change. Due to this legislation, Nebraska's voter ID requirement will take effect on April 1, 2024, allowing implementation in time for the state's 2024 primary.[6][7]

Early voting

See also: Early voting

Nebraska permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.

Absentee/mail-in voting

See also: Absentee/mail-in voting

The state of Nebraska refers to its no-excuse absentee voting option as early voting. All voters are eligible to vote absentee in Nebraska. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting absentee.[8]

The last day to request an absentee ballot to be mailed is the Wednesday prior to Election Day at 4 p.m (CST). A returned absentee ballot must then be received by election officials by 8 p.m. (CST) on Election Day.[8]


Local election officials

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Voting rules for people convicted of a felony

See also: Voting rights for convicted felons

In Nebraska, people convicted of a felony regain their voting rights two years after they complete their probation. For more information on Nebraska's voting restoration rules, click here and here.[9]

Voting rights for people convicted of a felony vary from state to state. In the majority of states, people convicted of a felony cannot vote while they are incarcerated but may regain the right to vote upon release from prison or at some point thereafter.[10]


Noteworthy events

2015

In early 2015, Senator Tyson Larson introduced LB111 in the Nebraska State Legislature. The bill proposed requiring voters to present government-issued photo identification at the polls. The legislation also "[provided] for acquisition of a state card at no cost for voters who may not have a photo ID." Larson argued that the requirement was necessary in order to "protect the integrity and reliability of the electoral process."[11]

On February 17, 2015, opponents in the legislature began a filibuster. Senator Adam Morfeld said the legislation "[imposed] on a fundamental constitutional right [to solve] a nonexistent problem." Senator Ernie Chambers, meanwhile, called the bill "treacherous, disingenuous and racist." Other opponents of the legislation argued that providing free identification to voters who lack it could have cost the state upwards of $1 million.[11]

On February 18, 2015, state legislators voted to move the bill to the bottom of the legislative agenda, effectively eliminating any chance of passage in the 2015 legislative session. Larson said he would consider introducing a similar bill in a later session. Larson said, "The new members of the Legislature, nobody quite knew where they were going to be, and they showed where they were and that's part of dealing with a new body."[12]

Election agencies

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See also: State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about voting provisions in Nebraska can contact the following state and federal agencies.

Nebraska Secretary of State

State Capitol, Third Floor, 1445 K Street
Lincoln, Nebraska 68508-2731
Telephone: 402-471-2555
Email: sos.elect@ne.gov

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20001
Telephone: 301-563-3919
Toll free: 1-866-747-1471

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See also

Elections in Nebraska


External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, “Nebraska Voter Registration Background,” accessed April 18, 2023
  2. ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, “Felon Voting Rights FAQ,” accessed April 18, 2023
  3. ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, “Voter Information Frequently Asked Questions,” accessed April 18, 2023
  4. ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, “Online Voter Registration Frequently Asked Questions,” accessed April 18, 2023
  5. ↑ Nebraska Statutes, "Section 32-908," accessed April 18, 2023
  6. ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, "Full text," accessed June 8, 2023
  7. ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, "Election Day FAQ," accessed June 8, 2023
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Nebraska Secretary of State, “Early Voting,” accessed April 18, 2023
  9. ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State Robert B. Evnen, "Felon Voting Rights," accessed April 18, 2023
  10. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Felon Voting Rights," April 6, 2023
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 JournalStar.com, "Voter photo ID bill prompts filibuster," February 17, 2015
  12. ↑ The Columbus Telegram, "Voter ID legislation abruptly stops, likely dead in Nebraska," February 18, 2015
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