Many counties throughout Nebraska are seeing a very high number of early voting requests. Some have already surpassed the number requested in the 2008 election, and there is about two weeks to go still.
Hall County is having a hard time keeping up with their early voting requests. "I've got three computers going, and could
literally use three more to process all the requests we're receiving. We've
been getting about 500 a day since it started," said Hall County Election
Commissioner Dale Baker.
The Lincoln
County Election Commissioner said her office has sent out 2,000 ballots
since early voting started on October 1. The first week was the busiest her
office has ever had.
Numbers in Nebraska's three largest counties are also running very high this year. Lancaster County is
nearing the 20,000 mark. "Four years ago we had a total of a little over
30,000 early vote ballots," said Lancaster County Election
Commissioner Dave Shively. "I'm sure we will well exceed that number this
year with just about two weeks left to go."
Douglas County has already exceeded the early voting numbers from 2008. More than 54,774
requests have been submitted for ballots and of those, more than 20,000 have
been returned. County Election Commissioner Dave Phipps said this already
exceeds early voting requests and response during the 2008 general election and
he believes it will only grow in the weeks to come.
"We expect early
voting to account for a fairly large percentage of the vote for this election.
In 2008, approximately 27% of all Douglas County voters voted early. This year,
we expect that number to be somewhere between 35% and 40% of the total
vote," said Phipps.
In reaction to the enormous response, Secretary of State John
Gale said, "A surge in early voting signals a probable high turnout for
our November 6 election. While convenience is a factor, early voting shows people
have been paying attention and are ready to vote."
He reminded those who wish
to cast their ballots early, there are deadlines approaching:
- Registered voters can make requests until 4 p.m. October
31 for early voting ballots to be mailed. November 5 is the deadline for
in-person early voting at county election offices for registered voters.
- The close of polls on November 6 is the deadline for the
return of early voting ballots to county election offices, including ballots
returned by mail.
"Don't waste your ballot. Early voting in person or by
mail should be done well ahead of deadlines to make sure your ballot gets cast
and counted," advised Gale.
"Early voting mail-in ballots have been shown to have as
high as a 4 percent rejection rate when envelopes aren't signed, or signed by someone
else, or sent in a wrong envelope, or returned due to no postage. So, follow the simple rules, get it done
right, and make your ballot count."
Requests for early voting ballots can be found on the
Secretary of State's website. Look under 'Elections' for 'Voter Forms'.
