Nebraska Voting Guide

Welcome to FindLaw’s Nebraska Voter Guide. This guide will answer your questions about voting information, voter registration, and early voting. It also explains how to find your polling place, what to bring to the polls, and what to do if you see illegal activity at the voting locations.

If you’ve never voted before or are new to Nebraska, there are things you should know. Every state has distinct voting laws and rules for Election Day. Before heading to the polling places, it’s a good idea to become familiar with this information.

Some common questions about voting in Nebraska include:

• Do I qualify for early voting?
• How can I request early voting?
• Can I register to vote online?
• Does the Nebraska government provide election information?

This Nebraska Voter Guide will help answer questions about Nebraska elections and voting in your state. If you believe someone has violated your voting rights, contact a local civil rights attorney.

Eligibility for Voting in Nebraska

The Nebraska legislature requires that all voters be U.S. citizens over the age of 18. You must also be a resident of Nebraska and the county in which you register. People who are 17 can register to vote as long as they will turn 18 before the next general election.

There are also a few other qualifications voters must meet to be eligible to cast their ballot:

• You must be a resident of the state and your county for at least 30 days before an election
• You must register to vote at least 20 days before any election in which you wish to participate

Certain groups of people cannot legally vote in the State of Nebraska. These include:

• People serving a prison sentence for a felony, on parole, or on probation
• People the court has deemed mentally incompetent

Nebraskans with past felony convictions will have their voting rights restored immediately upon completion of their sentence, including probation and parole. They must re-register to vote at that time. You can check your voter registration status here.

Nebraska’s New Identification Requirements

On November 8, 2022, the Nebraska Legislature passed Constitutional Amendment Initiative 432, which requires voters to present a valid photo ID before casting a ballot. Some of the types of photo ID that are permissible under this new initiative include:

• Nebraska Driver’s License
• Passport
• State ID
• Military ID
• Tribal ID
• Nursing Home ID
• Expired ID (if it was issued after the last general election)

The law also provides for people with a reasonable impediment to obtaining a photo ID. If you don’t have a valid ID at the time of the election, you can cast a provisional ballot. As long as you present an accepted form of voter ID within one week of the election, your vote will count.

Where Do I Vote?

Unless you qualify for an early mail-in ballot, you must vote in person at your assigned polling location. If you are unsure of where to vote, you can contact your local election commission or visit VoterCheck. The polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Central Time Zone and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Mountain Time Zone.

How To Register To Vote in Nebraska

If you are not registered to vote in Nebraska, you must do so at least 20 days before the next election. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways. Most people opt for online registration at NEReg2Vote. You can also register to vote in person and by mail.

If you want to vote in person, you can do so at your local election official’s office. To register by mail instead, you can download the voter registration form and mail it to your election official’s office. You can also register to vote at the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

What Are the Voter Registration Deadlines in Nebraska?

You must register to vote prior to the third Friday before the election. This applies to mail-in registration, DMV registration, and registration by personal messenger or agent. If you opt for in-person registration, you must do so by 6 p.m. on the second Friday preceding the election. You can find the exact dates for the next election on the official election calendar.

Can You Take Advantage of Early Voting?

Any registered voter can apply for an early voting ballot. You don’t have to provide a reason. Apply by contacting your county election office in person, by mail, or by fax. You can also print an early voting application and mail or fax it to your county election office. You must do this no later than 6 p.m. on the second Friday before the election.

You can submit your early voting application up to 120 days before the election. Election officials will send your early ballot approximately 35 days before a primary election or general election and at least 15 days before other elections, including special elections.

Your county elections office must receive your early voting ballot before the polls close on Election Day at 8 p.m. You can return your ballot by mail or deliver it in person on the last day before Election Day.

Note: Nebraska used to refer to early voting as filing an absentee ballot.

How Can I Vote by Provisional Ballot?

If you have moved or changed your name since the last election, you may have to cast a provisional ballot at your polling location. You must also fill out a new voter registration form. Election officials must validate your information before they count your vote.

If you are a Nebraskan who has changed your mailing address or moved from one county to another, you must re-register before the next registration deadline. If you don’t, the election commissioner won’t allow you to vote.

Nebraskans’ Voting Rights

If you live in the State of Nebraska, you have certain voting rights. One of the most important of these rights is the right to reasonable accommodations during the voting process. Nebraska election officials must ensure that all polling locations have accessible voting machines, poll workers available to assist citizens with disabilities, and other conveniences, such as curbside voting.

Some of the other voting rights in Nebraska include:

• Poll worker training: Election officials require that all poll workers undergo training to detect voter fraud and to assist eligible voters in casting their ballots
• Protect voters’ personal information: Election officials must ensure that voters’ personal and private information is protected and used only for election purposes
• Secret ballot laws: All voters must cast their ballots in secret

In addition to the above protections, Nebraska residents can cast an absentee ballot if warranted. Under Nebraska law, people who are unable to vote in person on election day can participate in absentee voting.

To take advantage of absentee voting, you must request your absentee ballot at least five days before an election. You can mail it in or deliver your absentee ballot in person to a county election official. Election officials also require people voting by absentee ballot to provide a signature verification to confirm their identity and prevent voter fraud.

Are Special Accommodations Available in Nebraska?

Nebraska ensures all polling places are handicapped-accessible. If you find it difficult to access or vote at your polling place, you can vote at a more convenient place or time, such as early at the county election office. You can also ask the local board of elections to deliver your ballot to your home, hospital room, or care facility address. There is also the option to vote curbside. If you need assistance reading or marking your ballot, you can ask an election official for help, bring someone with you, or have an interpreter help you.

Nebraska election officials also provide AutoMARK voting stations for voters with disabilities. This technology has an audio function and a zoom feature for the visually impaired. In addition, there are multiple language options for those who do not speak English, as well as a sip-and-puff tube for those who cannot use a touchscreen.

The Secretary of State’s website has more information about accessible voting in Nebraska.

What To Do if You See Something Suspicious at the Polls

All registered voters have the right to cast their ballot without threat or intimidation. Nobody can tell you how to vote or force you to vote for a specific candidate. If you feel somebody has engaged in this behavior, you should immediately notify the poll workers. You should also notify a poll worker if you witness someone harassing another voter.

It’s illegal to bring a concealed weapon into a polling place in Nebraska. If you believe somebody at the polling location has a firearm, report them immediately. Do not confront them yourself.

Contact the Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office if you believe someone has violated your voting rights or if you witness illegal activity at the polls. You can call (888) 727-0007 or (402) 471-2555 and speak with someone at the Secretary of State’s office. You can also submit an election complaint form to the U.S. Department of Justice.

If necessary, contact a local Nebraska attorney with experience in civil rights law.

State laws change frequently due to new legislation, higher court rulings, and other means. While FindLaw strives to provide the most current information, talk to a civil rights attorney to verify Nebraska’s laws.

A Civil Rights Lawyer in Nebraska Can Help

If you need election or registration information, you have options. You can visit the Nebraska State Legislature’s website to review the available information. You can also contact a voting rights attorney.

A civil rights attorney can help determine if someone has violated your voting rights. They can also help if you’re having trouble registering to vote or qualifying for early voting.