https://sos.nebraska.gov/news-releases

Nebraska Secretary of State Robert B. Evnen
November 30, 2020
Contact: Cindi Allen

Nebraska Canvas Board certifies 2020 General Election

LINCOLN- The 2020 General Election is officially in the books. Members of the Board of State Canvassers reviewed and approved the results of the statewide election. No major problems were noted in the Canvass Board review. Four NRD state races qualified for an automatic recount, however, the candidates who were behind in three of the contests waived their right to an automatic recount. A recount for Lower Platte North NRD Sub 5, where the candidates are separated by one vote, will still occur on December 2, with the results of that election to be certified during the next Canvas Board meeting December 4.

Secretary of State Bob Evnen opened with a few remarks regarding the success of the general election amid a coronavirus pandemic. “The November 3rd general election was historic in a number of respects. More Nebraskans voted in our 2020 general election in the history of our state.” Evnen added, “Nebraska polls were open, and our voters and poll workers were kept safe.

This was all accomplished within the existing legal framework in our state. Nebraska voters refused to allow the coronavirus pandemic to prevent them from exercising their right to vote.”

Deputy Secretary for Elections Wayne Bena noted, “All 93 counties received new ballot counting machines and ADA-compliant ballot marking equipment this year, and Nebraska received high marks for election security.”  Last year, Nebraska was awarded the Inaugural Innovators Award presented by the National Association of State Election Directors (NASED) for our state’s work in election security. 

Participating as members of the Board at today’s meeting were Governor Pete Ricketts, Secretary of State Bob Evnen, State Treasurer John Murante and Auditors of Public Accounts Charlie Janssen, Chief Deputy Attorney General Dave Bydalek participated on behalf of Attorney General Doug Peterson

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Nebraska Secretary of State Robert B. Evnen
October 30, 2020
Contact: Cindi Allen

It is Illegal for Campaign Workers to Pick Up Early Ballots for Voters

LINCOLN – Campaign workers are forbidden by state law from serving as an agent for a voter unless the voter is a relative of the campaign worker.

Secretary of State Bob Evnen cautioned voters to beware of strangers who offer to serve as their agent to obtain an early ballot. The Secretary of State has learned of plans by a congressional campaign to have campaign workers offer to act as an agent to pick up the ballot for a voter.

“The solicitation of voters by campaign workers to serve as an agent for the voter and obtain the voter’s ballot is a solicitation of an activity that is prohibited by law,” Evnen said.

“If a voter who intended to vote at the polls would prefer instead to obtain a ballot and vote early, the voter should only entrust their ballot to a trusted friend or family member,” Evnen continued.

Nebraska State Law states any person serving on a campaign committee for a candidate shall not act as an agent for any registered voter requesting a ballot unless that person is a family member. No person shall act as an agent for more than two registered voters in any election.

Evnen issued a letter asking a congressional campaign to cease and desist from this activity. A copy of the letter is attached to this media release.

For more information about Nebraska Elections go to the Secretary of State website https://sos.nebraska.gov/

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Nebraska Secretary of State Robert B. Evnen
October 29, 2020
Contact: Cindi Allen

Voter Tips and Tools for November 3rd General Election

LINCOLN- Secretary of State Bob Evnen is outlining what to expect at the polls for the Tuesday, November 3 General Election. Polls will be open November 3rd from 8:00am – 8:00 pm Central Time (CDT) and 7:00am -7:00 pm Mountain Time (MDT).

Check your voter registration and polling place. You can check the status of your voter registration and location of your polling place by contacting your county election office or logging onto https://www.votercheck.necvr.ne.gov/ If you voted early by mail, or have to complete a provisional ballot on Election Day, you can go to the same website to check the status of you ballot.

Change of address. If you have moved within your county, but have not updated your voter registration, you can still vote. You will need to go to your new precinct, in order to obtain a provisional ballot. To identify the polling place for your current address, go to https://www.votercheck.necvr.ne.gov/

Be Prepared Before going to the polls; make an effort to become informed about the candidates and issues on the ballot. Sample ballots are printed in the newspapers and posted on county websites.

Campaigning prohibited Campaign items such as buttons, stickers and T-shirts are not allowed in a polling place. It is illegal to campaign within 200 feet of a polling site. Campaign signs can be installed on private property within 200 feet of a polling site, provided that the property does not include where the polling place is located. -more-

Conduct at the Polls. To maintain proper decorum at the polls, it is requested that you turn off your cell phones, and other electronic devices. Phone conversations or loud bell tones can be distracting to others. Ballot selfies should be allowed in polling places, however, photos should only be taken of your own ballot and not someone else’s.

• Mask with be available for voters if you do not have one.
• Black pens to mark your ballot will be given to you to keep
• Voting booths will be wiped down after each voter is finished voting
• Maintain proper distance of 6 feet away from others
• Respect your poll workers
• Be patient, many poll workers are new this year
• Be sure to thank your poll worker for their service

Special accommodations and assistance If you require special assistance to vote at your polling site, let the poll worker know. Curbside help is available for those who have difficulty walking or utilize assistive devices. Ballot marketing devices are available for use with specially designed machines. Those features can also help those with hearing or vision difficulties. Be sure to let a poll worker know what accommodations you might need.

Provisional Ballots If you happen to lose a ballot, spoil it or have not received your early ballot by Election Day, you can still vote with a provisional ballot at your polling place. That ballot will be counted once it is confirmed that no other ballots have been cast for you.

Unofficial results for statewide races will be posted and refreshed starting 8:00 pm (CST) and7:00pm (MST) on the Secretary of State website https://sos.nebraska.gov/

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Nebraska Secretary of State Robert B. Evnen
October 27, 2020
Contact: Cindi Allen

One Week Ahead of the General Election, Evnen Tells Voters, “Elections Matter, and Your Vote Counts.”

LINCOLN – One week ahead of the November General Election, Secretary of State Bob Evnen said that election officials across Nebraska are ready to conduct a safe, sensible and secure election.

“Voters are concerned about the elections this year. My message to Nebraskans is that we will maintain the integrity of our voting,” Evnen said. “Every legally cast vote will count.”

So far, early ballots from 395,420 Nebraska voters have been received and accepted by county election officials. Properly completed early ballots that are received by county election officials prior to the close of the polls on election day will be counted.

Once the early ballot return envelopes are verified by county officials, early ballots will be stored securely until the day before the election, when, by law, county officials are permitted to begin counting them. No results will be released until after the polls close on Election Day.

“In most of our counties with larger populations, including Lancaster, Douglas and Sarpy and many other counties as well, the first results posted Tuesday night will be the results of early voting,” Evnen said. “Ballot counts from the polls will come later in the evening. We anticipate that our unofficial results will be posted statewide by the end of the night,” Evnen continued.

“I encourage registered voters who did not ask for early ballots to be sure to go to the polls on Tuesday, November 3,” Evnen said. “Just as in the primary election in May, our voters and poll workers will be kept safe at the polls,” Evnen advised.

The polls will open on November 3rd at 8:00 a.m. Central Time, 7:00 a.m. Mountain Time. The polls will close at 8:00 p.m. Central Time, 7:00 p.m. Mountain Time. Voters are reminded that Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 1.

You can check the status of your early voting ballot, provisional ballot, or look up your polling place on the Secretary of State voter-check website: www.ne.gov/go/votercheck

“Elections matter, and your vote counts,” Evnen emphasized.

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