Nebraska won’t join several states that have delayed May primaries until June, but voters are encouraged to use the state’s “no excuse” early voting option to avoid the polls.

Gov. Pete Ricketts said the May 12 primary will proceed as scheduled. The governor said the state has a duty to carry out elections, and previous generations have held elections during times of pandemic and war.

“It is important for us to hold elections,” Ricketts said. “Throughout our history as a nation, whether we’ve had emergencies such as pandemics or wars or what-have-you, we have held our elections.”

Secretary of State Bob Evnen said polls will be open in the state, and poll workers will be given sanitizer and disinfectant wipes along with masks and gloves. Polling sites will not be subject to the 10 person limit on gatherings, but each site will have protocols that encourage voters to maintain their social distance.

To vote by mail, Nebraskans must fill out, sign and submit a ballot application to their county election official by May 1. Those ballots must then be returned by mail or to drop boxes outside of county offices to be counted.

Early voting ballots will be mailed starting April 6, and they must be returned by 8 p.m. Central on May 12. Find more information at sos.nebraska.gov/elections/2020-elections.