Lancaster County has begun mailing early ballots for the Nov. 3 general election after processing more than 34,000 requests. Election Commissioner Todd Wiltgen told KLIN News the number is “a good sign” of voter interest. Voters whose valid requests arrived by Friday should receive their ballots by the end of this week.
The commission could not process 360 requests, most because they were missing a signature or voter ID information. Wiltgen said his office is mailing those voters a postcard explaining the problem and how to correct it. A completed request is required before the office can issue a ballot.
Voters can also visit the Election Commission at 601 N. 46th St. to pick up an early ballot now. Wiltgen said they can take it away, fill it out and return it, but voting inside the office will not begin until Monday, Oct. 5.
Wiltgen urged voters to sign the envelope when returning a completed ballot. The signature must be the voter’s own; someone else, including a family member or a person with power of attorney, cannot sign it for them. His office will notify voters if an envelope arrives without a signature so they have an opportunity to correct it.
Ballots must reach the Election Commission by 8 p.m. Nov. 3, whether they are mailed or placed in a drop box. “It doesn’t matter when it’s postmarked,” Wiltgen said. The county has drop boxes at the Election Commission and the Anderson, Eiseley, Gere and Walt branch libraries.
The deadline to request an early ballot by mail is 6 p.m. Oct. 23. Voters can check their ballot status at Nebraska’s Voter View website or contact the Election Commission at 402-441-7311.