Record Setting Mail-in Ballot Request

NEBRASKA- While we were “hunkering down” during COVID-19, every voter in Nebraska received an early ballot request form in early April. With three weeks left before Nebraska’s primary election, early ballot requests are being heavily utilized by voters.  “We are receiving an unprecedented number of early ballot requests from voters. Statewide totals equal 390,000 requests for early ballots. The number of these early ballot requests already surpasses the 313,000 statewide votes in the 2016 Presidential primary election.” Evnen stated. “That number excludes 11 counties that already vote by mail.”
 
Dodge County Clerk, Fred Mytty, said, “There are about 6,000 early ballot request applicants so far and we have processed 4,728 as of April 20th. What’s difficult is that there are 159 different combinations of ballots possible due to political party and the 32 precincts we have.” “Compared to the presidential primary four years ago, we only had 818 early ballot requests filed and completed.”
 
Nebraskans have begun to return their completed ballots. Thus far, 111,000 completed ballots have been received.  Voters can return their ballot by mail, drop it off in the secure voter box located outside their county building, or give it to a trusted friend or family member to put in the mail or drop off.
 
Secretary Evnen stressed, “If you give your ballot to someone else to put in the mail or deliver to a dropbox, only give your ballot to a trusted person, for example, a close friend or close relative.”
 
Evnen emphasized, “Do not give your ballot to a stranger. Mail or deliver it yourself, or give it to someone who you know and trust to mail or deliver it for you.”
 
The deadline to request an early ballot is May 1 at 6:00 p.m. Early ballot requests received after that date and time will not be processed.
 
The deadline for new voters to register is April 24^th postmark for mail-in registrations and April 27^th for online voter registration.
 
Voters have until May 12 when the polls close to return their completed ballot. For more information, visit the Secretary of State website at https://sos.nebraska.gov/