Almost everyone intends to vote. But any unforeseen reasons – school, work, family, health – can prevent us from casting our ballots despite our best intentions. That’s why, in the run-up to Election Day, you’ll often hear calls to make a plan to vote.
This means three things: 1) mind the calendar, 2) plan for contingencies, and 3) be specific.
Before Election Day
Every plan starts with making ABSOLUTELY sure that you are registered to vote. Check your status with the Nebraska Secretary of State here. It doesn’t hurt to double-check, even if you’re pretty sure you’re on the rolls. Plus, it’s quick and easy.
Thoroughly review candidates, issues, and measures on the 2024 ballot. Your vote is more powerful when you make informed choices. For your convenience, sample ballots and voter guides are posted at our 2024 Election Central hub.
Make your voting plan
This should go beyond saying “My plan is that I plan to vote.” Many Nebraskans will vote early from home, thanks to our state’s no-excuse absentee ballot option. This has worked well since the onset of COVID-19 concerns, driving participation in every statewide election since the May 2020 primary.
Usually, a general election draws roughly twice the voters of a primary. While the U.S. Postal Service delivered 99 percent of mail ballots on time in 2020, we continue to suggest the “Three Rs” approach — Register (if you have not yet), Request (your mail-in ballot by the Oct. 25 deadline), and Return (by U.S. Mail no later than Oct. 24) — to give our postal workers as much cushion as possible.
If it’s less than a week before Election Day and you still haven’t mailed your ballot back, get it to a secure county dropbox before 8 pm CST on Nov. 5.
There is more than one way to vote early in Nebraska. You can also go to your county’s election commission office and vote early in person. That option has been available since Oct. 7 and ends at the end of the business day on Nov. 4.
To review, here are Nebraskans’ two early voting options:
Voting in person on Nov. 5
If you plan to vote on Election Day, polls will be open from 8 am to 8 pm Central Standard Time (7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mountain Time) across the state.
Be sure to build adequate time into your schedule for the day. Identify when you will go to the polls and strive to meet that time. Reserve the time on your calendar and set a reminder on your smartphone.
Double-check your polling place. Polling places may have moved since the last time you voted in person. Go here to double-check.
Consider transportation and weather. Early November can be unpredictable weather-wise in Nebraska. The average high is 57, and the average low is 33, but we’ve had everything from snowstorms to thunderstorms in early November in recent years. So be sure to have a Plan B if your first transportation option falls through.
Ask yourself:
- How am I getting to my polling place? Am I driving? Do I have reliable transportation in bad weather? Do I need someone else to drive me?
- Should I carpool with a friend or a neighbor? (Pro tip: Planning to vote in person with a friend helps ensure you both vote.)
- How much time should I set aside for travel, parking, etc.?
- Should I bring a coat (in case lines stretch outside my polling place’s building) or something to snack on while I wait?
Know your rights. Voting is our most important and precious of democratic rights. If you or someone you know is denied a ballot for any reason, we need to know about it immediately. Call our Voter Protection Line at 402-890-5291. We’ll have staff and attorneys to assist and advise you all day.
After voting
Celebrate! It’s time to bask in the awesomeness of participating in democracy. Nebraska law permits “ballot selfies,” meaning you can take a picture of yourself voting and your filled-in ballot if you want to.
Share that you voted on social media. This will help remind everyone in your social network to vote if they haven’t yet. Help spread the joy of voting this year — your democracy will love you for it.
