FAQs about the 2021 Lincoln and Omaha elections

Both of Nebraska's largest cities will hold general elections this spring for several of their respective cities' elected offices. Here's what voters in those cities need to know.

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Who is voting in 2021?

Both Lincoln and Omaha will hold general elections this spring for a number of city offices. Together, the two cities are home to more than 40 percent of all registered voters in Nebraska.

Lincoln

Lincoln’s general Election Day is May 4. Lincolnites will be electing three at-large members to the Lincoln City Council; four members to the Lincoln Public Schools Board of Education; and two members to the Lincoln Airport Authority Board of Directors. City of Lincoln elections are officially nonpartisan, meaning political party information is not printed on the ballot. For the City Council election, the six candidates receiving the most votes will advance to the general election. Learn more about what’s on the ballot this year in Lincoln here.

Omaha

Omaha’s general Election Day is May 11, one week after Lincoln’s general election. Omahans will be electing a mayor and all seven members of the Omaha City Council. City of Omaha elections are officially nonpartisan. The two candidates receiving the most votes in each race in the April 6 primaries will advance to the city’s May 11 general election. Learn more about what’s on the ballot this year in Omaha here.

Registering to vote

I’m an eligible Lincoln voter but am not registered. By what date(s) do I have to register, to vote in Lincoln’s May 4 citywide general election?

1) If you wish to register online, you must do so by 11:59 p.m. Friday, April 16. This is also the deadline if you wish to mail in a postmarked voter registration for the May 4 general election.

2) If you wish to register in person at the Lancaster County Election Commissioner’s Office, you get one additional week. That means you have until 6 p.m. Friday, April 23, to get there and get it done.

I’m an eligible Omaha voter but am not registered. By what date(s) do I have to register, to vote in Omaha’s May 11 citywide general election?

1) If you wish to register online, you must do so by 11:59 p.m. Friday, April 23. This is also the deadline if you wish to mail in a postmarked voter registration for Omaha’s May 11 general election.

2) If you wish to register in person at the Douglas County Election Commissioner’s Office, you get one additional week. That means you have until 6 p.m. Friday, April 30, to get there and get it done.

For all important dates in both Lincoln and Omaha’s 2021 elections, visit our election countdown pages for each city. Lincoln | Omaha

I can’t remember if I’m registered to vote. Where can I check?

Go here to check — and double-check. It takes 30 seconds.

I’m a college student from Lincoln/Omaha but I’m now living in Omaha/Lincoln. Am I required to vote in the city I go to school in, or the city where I am originally from?

If you’re a Lincolnite who moved to Omaha to go to college, or vice-versa – an Omahan who moved to Lincoln to go to college, you are not required to re-register at your college address. Temporary leaves from your home city do not require a change in voter registration. That said, it’s up to you! If you wish to re-register in your college city, you can do so.

Voting by mail / early mail-in ballot

I voted by mail in the November 2020 general election. Do I have to request another early mail-in ballot for the spring elections?

Yes. If you wish to vote early by mail – and any registered voter in our state can do so for any reason – you must first fill out a request for that ballot. The first day early mail-in ballots could be requested for the April 6 primaries in both cities was Dec. 7, 2020. Go to CivicNebraska.vote and we can help you obtain a request form if you’re eager to get yours as quickly as possible.

Are Douglas and Lancaster counties automatically sending out early mail-in ballot request forms, like they did in 2020?

No. Neither Douglas (Omaha) nor Lancaster (Lincoln) counties plan to send all registered voters in their counties a form to request an early mail-in ballot. Again, we can help you get your early mail-in ballot.

When will the early mail-in ballots be sent out?

The first day that election officials in Lincoln cities can send ballots out to those who have requested them is April 19. In Omaha, it’s April 26. If you have concerns about the status of your ballot, don’t hesitate to call your county election office. 

What will happen if I submit more than one request form to vote by mail?

Only your first request will be processed. Anything else will be discarded as a duplicate. Our election systems have guardrails against sending out multiple ballots to the same person – you can’t, for example, send in three requests for a mail-in ballot, and then get three ballots. If you send in three requests for a mail-in ballot, only the first one counts. You will only get one ballot.

What’s the difference between an “absentee ballot” and an “early mail-in ballot?”

Nothing. You may be hearing several different terms – absentee voting, early mail-in voting, vote-by-mail, vote-at-home, etc. This time-honored practice goes by many names, but it is all the same thing. And it’s proven, reliable, and secure.

Do I need to give election officials a reason to get an early mail-in ballot?

No. Nebraska is a “no excuse” state, meaning we place no unnecessary burdens on showing why you want to request an early ballot. 

I’m worried that my ballot will not get to election officials, or not get to them in time. What can I do to make sure it gets counted?

First, know that voting by mail is extremely secure. If you want to be absolutely sure that your ballot is received as quickly as possible, you can always take it to one of your county’s official drop boxes at any time before 8 p.m on May 4 if you’re a Lincoln voter, or May 11 if you’re in Omaha. You can track the status of your ballot here

In-person voting

I want to vote early but I’d like to do it in person. Can I still do that?

Absolutely. Both Douglas (Omaha) and Lancaster (Lincoln) election offices are expected to be open for early in-person voting. In Lincoln, it starts April 19. In Omaha, it starts April 26. The last day for early in-person voting for Lincolnites is May 3. For Omahans, the last day of in-person early voting is May 10.

For Omahans: 12220 W Center Road, Omaha.

For Lincolnites: 601 N. 46th St., Lincoln.

Where do I go on Election Day to vote?

If you choose to vote in person this year, you can head to your polling station from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CDT.

 I can’t remember where my polling place is. Is there a way to double-check beforehand?

Yes. Click here. Enter your address and your polling place will be displayed.

I have to work all day on Election Day. Is there any way I can get time off to vote?

Yes. Nebraska law allows workers time off to vote in certain circumstances. If you are scheduled to work the 12 hours when the polls are open, you can take up to two consecutive hours off to vote. If you apply for this time off before or even on Election Day, your employer can’t punish you or subtract wages on account of your absence. Under the law, your employer is also entitled to specify the hours when you can be gone from work to vote. Work in advance with your employer to ensure you are given time to get to the polls. It’s your right.

If I’m in line when the polls close but I have yet to vote, do I still get to vote?

Yes, yes — by all means, yes! Stay in line. As long as you are in line by 8 p.m., you must be allowed to vote.

I want to be an election observer on Election Day. How do I do that?

Civic Nebraska is training nonpartisan election observers for both May 4 in Lincoln and May 11 in Omaha. COVID-19 is altering our plans a bit, so we’re asking volunteers to join us for a (virtual) advocacy training beforehand. For more information on getting trained so you can observe polling places this spring, contact our Voting Rights Initiatives team.

Ballot access 

What do I do if I’m denied a ballot on Election Day?

This is serious business, and we should know about it right away. If you have been denied a ballot for any reason, we encourage you to contact Civic Nebraska’s Election Day hotline at 402.890.5291, via email at info@civicnebraska.org; or via Facebook or Twitter. 

Do I have to show an ID on Election Day to vote?

No. Identification is not required to vote in Nebraska. The only exception is if you’re a first-time voter, you registered to vote by mail, and did not send in a copy of your ID at that time. If you are asked to present ID at your polling place for any other reason, call Civic Nebraska’s Election Day hotline at 402.890.5291, email us at info@civicnebraska.org, or hit us up on Facebook or Twitter.

Other questions? Let us know at info@civicnebraska.org and we’ll add them (and our answers) here.

Locations

After School Programs

  • Sherman Elementary School

    5618 N 14th Ave.
    Omaha, NE 68110

  • Lewis and Clark Middle School

    6901 Burt St.
    Omaha, NE 68132

  • Lothrop Magnet Elementary

    3300 N. 22nd St.
    Omaha, NE 68110

  • Campbell Elementary School

    2200 Dodge St.
    Lincoln, NE 68521

  • Lincoln High School

    2229 J St.
    Lincoln, NE 68510

  • Lincoln Northeast High School

    2635 N. 63rd St.
    Lincoln, NE 68507