05/08/2026
Election Commissioner Todd Wiltgen reminds voters the Statewide Primary Election is Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
Partisan Primary Election – Tuesday’s election is a partisan primary election which allows Nebraska’s political parties to nominate their candidates to the November 3rd General Election. Voters will be issued a ballot for the party they are registered.
Nonpartisan Voters – Nonpartisan voters will receive a nonpartisan ballot containing only the nonpartisan races. They may choose an additional nonpartisan-partisan ballot page. The Nebraska Republican and Legal Ma*****na NOW parties did not open their elections to nonpartisan voters. The only races that will appear on their nonpartisan-partisan ballot page will be the House of Representatives and Senate races. The Nebraska Democratic and Libertarian parties opened their entire ballot to nonpartisan voters. State and local partisan races will appear on their nonpartisan-partisan ballot page.
Voters may view a sample of their ballot on the Nebraska Voter Information Lookup website at votercheck.necvr.ne.gov.
Early Vote Ballots – Monday, May 11th, is the final day to vote in person or obtain an early vote ballot from the Election Commissioner’s Office. The office will be open from 7:00 AM until 5:00 PM. An agent may obtain an early vote ballot for another voter until 7:00 PM on election day.
As of Thursday, May 7th, the Election Commission had only received about 25,800 of the 35,700 early vote ballots it had issued. Voters may confirm their ballot was received by the Election Commission on the Nebraska Voter Check website at votercheck.necvr.ne.gov.
All early vote ballots must be returned to the Election Commission no later than 8:00 PM on election day. It is too late to mail them. Anyone with an early vote ballot should drop it off in one of the Election Commission’s Official Ballot Drop Box locations listed below:
Election Commission Building, 601 North 46th Street
Anderson Branch Library, 3635 Touzalin Avenue
Eiseley Branch Library, 1530 Superior Street
Gere Branch Library, 2400 South 56th Street
Walt Branch Library, 6701 South 14th Street
Bipartisan teams will be present at each drop box at 8:00 PM on Election Day to collect any last-minute ballots. Early vote ballots cannot be returned to a voter's polling location.
Voting Hours – Polling locations will be open from 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM.
Where to vote – Voters must vote at the location for their current address.
If voters are unsure where to vote they may look up their polling location on the Nebraska Voter Check website at votercheck.necvr.ne.gov or they may call the election office at (402) 441-7311.
Voter ID – Voters will need to present an acceptable photo identification such as a Driver’s License or State ID issued by the State of Nebraska, or another acceptable form of photo identification before they will be issued a ballot. The identification must have the voter’s name and photo. It may be expired and does not need to include an address. Voters who are unable to obtain an ID due to a religious objection to being photographed, disability, illness, or lack of required documentation may complete a Reasonable Impediment Certification in lieu of presenting an ID. For more information about Nebraska Voter ID requirements, visit voterID.nebraska.gov.
Any voter who attempts to vote at their polling place on election day without an acceptable form of identification will be required to use a provisional voter identification verification ballot which will require additional time and paperwork. These ballots will not be counted until the reasonable impediment certificate is verified or a voter presents an acceptable photo identification to the Election Office. Voters will have until 4:30 PM on Tuesday, May 19th, to present an acceptable ID in person at the Election Commission office.
Campaigning Prohibited – Campaign items for any candidate or issue on the ballot, such as buttons, stickers, and T-shirts are not allowed in a polling place. It is illegal to campaign within 200 feet from an entrance to a polling site. Campaign signs can be installed on private property within 200 feet of a polling site entrance, provided that the property does not include where the polling place is located.
Conduct at the Polls – To maintain proper decorum at the polls, it is requested that voters silence their cell phones and other electronic devices. Phone conversations or loud bell tones can be distracting to others. Ballot selfies are allowed in polling places; however, photos should only be taken of your own ballot. Please respect your poll workers and thank them for their service!
Election Results – The primary election results will be posted on the Election Commission’s website starting at 8:00 PM at lancaster.ne.gov/election.
Turnout Prediction – Commissioner Wiltgen predicts the turnout for the primary election will be 29%.
Individuals who have questions should contact the Election Commissioner’s Office at (402) 441-7311.
