2020 General Election
Turnout rate (VEP)
0
%
Votes cast from mailed-out ballots
0
%
2016 General Election
Turnout rate (VEP)
0
%
Votes cast from mailed out ballots
0
%
State election policies as of 2022...
Full Vote-at-Home
0/10
Full Vote-at-Home
Voter automatically mailed ballot for every election
No Excuse Required
6/6
No Excuse Required
No excuse to vote from home
Single Sign-Up
1/6
Single Sign-Up
Voter signs up once to receive mail ballot for all future elections
Local Vote-at-Home Option
2/5
Local VAH Option
Local governments have discretion to conduct full vote-at-home elections
Online Mail Ballot Sign-Up
0/2
Online Mail Ballot Sign-Up
Voter can apply for mail ballot online
Ballot Tracking
1/4
Ballot Tracking
Voter can receive ballot status notifications.
In-Person Ballot Return
4/5
In-Person Ballot Return
Voter has multiple options to return mail ballot in person
Signature Verification
0/4
Signature Verification
Voter signature verified before ballot is counted
Ballot Cure Process
0/4
Ballot Cure Process
Voter can correct issues so ballot can be counted
Prepaid Postage
0/4
Prepaid Postage
Postage-paid return envelopes provided
Election Day Postmark Acceptance
0/4
Election Day Postmark Acceptance
Ballots postmarked by Election Day are accepted
In-Person Voting
2/4
In-Person Return
Physical locations for voters to vote and receive assistance
Pre-Processing
3/3
Signature Verification
Ballots are verified and scanned before Election Day
Mail Ballot Applications
2/2
Mail Ballot Applications
Election officials can mail ballot applications to all voters eligible to vote from home
Ballot Return Assistance
2/2
Ballot Return Assistance
Voters may receive assistance to return their mail ballot
Opportunities
Nebraska can reduce costs and increase voter convenience by creating a permanent absentee voting list, where voters can sign up to automatically be sent an absentee ballot for each election without having to re-apply. States experience significant savings with these lists; on average, states save $1 for every request they no longer need to process.
Creating an online portal for voters to request an absentee ballot that feeds directly into the voter registration system is an important step to help verify addresses, collect contact information, and to remove administrative steps to process a large amount of requests. We encourage an integrated process that allows new voters to register and current voters to make changes to their address and make requests for ballots.
Guaranteeing prepaid postage is a voter-centric reform that dismantles an economic barrier to voting.
Nebraska should expand its drop box program statewide. Drop boxes reduce strain on the postal system and are sometimes a preferred method by voters who want reassurance that their ballot will make it to the elections office on time. We highly recommend including provisions to allow for ballots to be received at polling or vote centers, drop boxes and other locations deemed necessary by the clerk.
By implementing signature verification procedures, Nebraska can ensure the security of the election process while also streamlining ballot processing.
In the event that a voter’s ballot is rejected, said voter should have the ability to cure their ballot quickly and simply. We recommend implementing a Text2Cure system that allows voters to cure their ballots from their phones.
Accepting ballots with Election Day postmarks is a best practice to ensure that voters are given all options to vote their ballot in a timely manner. Accepting Election Day postmarks is estimated in most jurisdictions to decrease ballot rejection rates by half. We recommend that, not only does a state allow the physical postmark on a ballot, but also to integrate into the USPS system for electronic postmarks to serve as validation that a ballot was mailed on time.
Ballot tracking software such as Ballot Scout or BallotTrax can be a very cost-effective tool to improve the state’s current ballot tracking system. It adds a layer of data for the elections office and provides a means of contacting voters if there is a signature mismatch or deficiency on their return envelope. An expanded notification system helps keep rejection rates low and increases voter confidence and participation.
Recent Legislation
As of June 16, 2021
In 2020, Nebraska passed a bill reaffirming its no-excuse absentee policy and implementing additional safety precautions for the May primary. Moreover, Nebraska passed another bill that included vote by mail and early voting reforms and authorized counties with populations less than 10,000 people to hold elections entirely by mail (given Sec. of State approval). It also required counties to maintain existing early voting procedures, keep at least one polling place open, and allow for ballot drop-off at the county clerk’s office and at drop boxes. Lastly, the Secretary of State ordered all voters be sent applications for absentee ballots for 2020. Nebraska did not pass legislation in 2021 to codify these temporary reforms, nor did it pass any other mail-voting related legislation.
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