Nebraska Election Guide

Election 2024 Information for Wood River, NE

Voter Registration

Registration Deadline: 

   -Mail-in voter registrations must be mailed and postmarked on or before the third Friday preceding an election. 

-Registrations completed at the state Department of Motor Vehicles must be completed by the third Friday preceding an election.

-Voter registrations delivered by personal messenger or personal agent must arrive on or before the third Friday preceding an election.

 -Individuals may register in person at the County Clerk/Election Commissioner’s office

prior to 6 p.m. on the second Friday preceding an election.

 - Online Voter Registration closes just before midnight 10 days before the election

Party Affiliation: Voters may choose from one of the three statewide parties currently recognized in Nebraska:  Democratic, Republican and Libertarian or they may choose to not affiliate with any party by checking the non-partisan box on the application.

If you wish to vote in the primary election, where parties choose their nominees for state and county offices, you need to declare your party affiliation. If you register without a political party affiliation, you will receive only the non-partisan ballots at a primary election. Non-partisans may designate a party preference at primary elections and receive partisan ballots for the Senate and House congressional races.



Voter Registration Qualifications

Age: Be at least 18 years of age on or before the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of the election year

Citizenship: Must be a United States citizen

Residency: Must live in the State of Nebraska. You may register to vote the same day you become a resident of the state of Nebraska and in the county where you are registering. If you move to a different county, you will have to re-register.

Mental Competency: Must not have been officially found to be mentally incompetent

Felony Convictions: Have not been convicted of a felony or, if convicted, it has been at least two years since completion of the sentence for the felony, including any parole or probation term. For more information click here.

ID Requirements: If registering for the first time in Nebraska by mail, please provide

   -a copy of a current and valid photo ID; or 

   -a copy of a utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document which is dated 60 days immediately prior to the date of presentation showing the same name and residence address provided on the voter registration application. 



Obtaining a Voter Registration Form

Online: Online Voter Registration (Spanish)

In person: Nebraska Voter Registration Application is available at:

   -local County Clerk/Election Commissioner’s office

   -Department of Motor Vehicles when applying for or renewing your driver’s license 

   -Public assistance agencies (State Department of Health and Human Services & State Department of Education)

   -May be available at banks, post offices, and libraries

By mail/ in writing: You may download a Nebraska voter registration application in English or Spanish or pick up one from the above locations and mail it to your County Clerk.

By fax: Contact your County Clerk for faxing options.



Verifying Your Voter Registration Status

Online: Nebraska Voter registration verification

Phone: Contact county election office

 

EARLY VOTING QUALIFICATIONS (previously absentee voting)

Who can vote early: Anyone may apply for an Early Voting ballot. Since 1999 Nebraska law has not required a person disclose a reason for their request on the Early Voting application.



OBTAINING AN EARLY VOTING BALLOT

In person: You may apply for an early voting ballot by contacting your County Clerk or Election Commissioner in person at the election office

By mail: Print the Nebraska Early Voting Ballot Application,  complete the form and sign it, then mail, take a picture, or fax it to your County Clerk or Election Commissioner. You may also send in a handwritten request. You can obtain an early voting ballot by writing to your county clerk or election commissioner with the following information:

   -Your name and residence address

   -Your political party affiliation

   -Your voting precinct(if known)

   -Your phone number

   -The mailing address you want ballots sent to

   -Your signature.

 

The last day to request an Early Voting ballot to be mailed is close of business on the second Friday preceding the election

 

Military and overseas voting: Military Voter Information, Overseas Voter Information



SUBMITTING AN EARLY VOTING BALLOT

Location and time: All county election offices will accept Early Voting applications up to 120 days prior to a statewide Primary or General election.

All early voting ballots, whether personally delivered, delivered by agent, delivered by mail or other carriers must arrive by the closing of the polls on Election Day (8:00 p.m. Central Time/7:00 p.m. Mountain Time).



Additional Information

Deciding how to vote: https://votesmart.org

Polling Place: Nebraska polling place finder

ID Requirements: The only time voters are asked for their ID is if they are a first time Nebraska registrant who mailed in their registration application and didn't provide ID at that time.

How to Vote: Election Day FAQ

Getting your vote counted: Nebraska's Voter Rights

Problems with voting: HAVA/Nebraska Elections Administrative Complaint Form. See more information on HAVA in Nebraska.

Verifying provisional ballot status: Nebraska provisional ballot verification

Verifying absentee ballot status: Early/Absentee ballot verification

Election 2024 Ballot Measures

Prohibit Abortions After the First Trimester

The object of this petition is to amend the Nebraska Constitution to provide that except when a woman seeks an abortion necessitated by a medical emergency or when the pregnancy results from sexual assault or incest, unborn children shall be protected from abortion in the second and third trimesters.

More Information: Click Here

Paid Sick Leave Initiative

The object of this petition is to enact a statute to provide eligible employees the right to earn paid sick time for personal or family health needs, to entitle those employed by employers with fewer than 20 employees to accrue and use up to 40 hours of earned paid sick time per year, to entitle those employed by employers with 20 or more employees to accrue and use up to 56 hours of earned paid sick time per year, to specify conditions for accruing and using earned paid sick time, to prohibit retaliation against an employee for exercising rights granted under the statute, to adopt certain notice and documentation requirements, and to establish enforcement powers and a civil cause of action for violations of the statute.

More Information: Click Here

Medical Cannabis Legalization Initiative

This initiative would enact a statute that makes penalties inapplicable under state and local law for the use, possession, and acquisition of limited quantities of cannabis for medical purposes for a qualified patient with a written recommendation from a health care practitioner, and for a caregiver to assist a qualified patient in these activities.

More Information: Click Here

Medical Cannabis Regulation Initiative

This initiative would enact a statute that makes penalties inapplicable under state and local law for the possession, manufacture, distribution, delivery, and dispensing of cannabis for medical purposes by registered private entities, and establishing a Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission to regulate such activities.

More Information: Click Here

Right to Abortion Initiative

The object of this petition is to amend the Nebraska Constitution to provide all persons the fundamental right to abortion without interference from the state or its political subdivisions until fetal viability, which is the point in pregnancy when, in the professional judgment of the patient's health care practitioner, there is a significant likelihood of the fetus' sustained survival outside the uterus without the application of extraordinary medical measures; or when needed to protect the life or health of the pregnant patient.

More Information: Click Here

Private Education Scholarship Partial Referendum

Gives voters the option to repeal Legislative Bill 1402, which directs $10 million annually for financial grants-in-aid for eligible students to attend a qualifying privately operated elementary or secondary school in Nebraska.

More Information: Click Here

Your Elected Officials

Joe Biden
Democratic 
President
Kamala Harris
Democratic 
Vice President
Deb Fischer
Republican 
U.S. Senate
District Senior Seat
Pete Ricketts
Republican 
U.S. Senate
District Junior Seat
Adrian Smith
Republican 
U.S. House
District 3
Jim Pillen
Republican 
Governor
Joe Kelly
Republican 
Lieutenant Governor
Steve Halloran
Republican 
State Senate
District 33
Fred Meyer
Republican 
State Senate
District 41
Mike Hilgers
Republican 
Attorney General
Bob Evnen
Republican 
Secretary of State
Mike Foley
Republican 
Auditor of Public Accounts
Matthew Blomstedt
 
Commissioner of Education
John Albin
 
Commissioner of Labor
Sherry Vinton
 
Director of Department of Agriculture
Eric Dunning
 
Director of Insurance
Thomas Riley
 
Director of the Department of Natural Resources
Eric Kamler
Republican 
Public Service Commissioner
Christian Mirch
Republican 
Public Service Commissioner
Tim Schram
Republican 
Public Service Commissioner
Kevin Stocker
Republican 
Public Service Commissioner
Dan Watermeier
Non-partisan 
Public Service Commissioner
Tony Fulton
Non-partisan 
Tax Commissioner
John Murante
Republican 
Treasurer
Lisa Fricke
No Party Affiliation 
State Board of Education
District 2
Patti Gubbels
No Party Affiliation 
State Board of Education
District 3
Sherry Jones
Non-partisan 
State Board of Education
District 6
Patsy Koch Johns
No Party Affiliation 
State Board of Education
District 1
Jacquelyn Morrison
No Party Affiliation 
State Board of Education
District 4
Deborah Neary
Non-partisan 
State Board of Education
District 8
Kirk Penner
 
State Board of Education
District 5
Elizabeth Tegtmeier
Non-partisan 
State Board of Education
District 7