Nebraska will hold a primary election statewide today despite the risks associated with the novel coronavirus, although a record number of voters opted to skip the polls today and vote by mail.

Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Central today. Early ballots must be received by the close of polling. Outstanding ballots should be placed in a drop box, not taken to a polling site.

“Postmarks do not count,” said Secretary of State Bob Evnen.

Nebraska has already exceeded the statewide vote total from 2016 as more than 321,500 ballots had been submitted as of last Thursday, compared to 313,000 ballots cast overall in the last presidential primary election.

“Voter participation in early balloting has reached unprecedented levels,” Evnen said.

Eleven Nebraska counties with sparse populations density do not face the risk of residents going to the polls today as they conduct elections by mail only. A total of 52,132 early ballots were mailed to voters in those counties. In addition, 441,466 voters across the state requested early ballots.

The Secretary of State’s Office calculates that, in advance of the primary, two-thirds of requested early ballots have been returned along with and nearly half the ballots from mail-only counties.

“Nebraskans have taken the opportunity to vote by mail in record numbers, all in compliance with Nebraska’s existing elections laws,” Evnen said. “Voters are choosing for themselves whether to vote early by mail or cast their vote at the polls.”

Those heading to the polls today are asked to maintain social distancing recommendations from public health officials. Masks will be available at the polls for those who do not already have one.

Voters will receive a black pen to mark their ballot, and they will be asked to keep the pen to avoid potentially spreading the virus.

Poll workers will wipe down voting booths and ballot sleeves after each voter finishes voting. Voters are asked to stay 6 feet from others, respect their poll workers and be patient.

Despite the changes, campaigning is still prohibited at the polls.

Voters should avoid wearing any campaign buttons, stickers or T-shirts to the polls. Campaigning is prohibited within 200 feet of a polling site, and signs on private property within that range cannot reference the nearby polling site.

Many poll workers are new this year, since many longtime poll workers are staying home because they are in at-risk demographics for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

Attorneys, accountants and real estate agents have stepped up to fill the void, as have members of public service organizations.

Many polling sites also had to be moved because of the health risks associated with COVID-19. About half of polling sites in Douglas County have changed.

 Voters should double-check their polling site online at votercheck.necvr.ne.gov. If they have changed their address since they registered, they can also use that website to identify the correct polling site where they can request a provisional ballot.

Voters who requested an early ballot but did not complete it, or who lost or spoiled it, can vote at the polls using a provisional ballot as well. The ballot will be counted after officials confirm no other ballot has been cast.

Early ballots can still be returned to drop boxes. Those doing so should follow instructions on the early ballot, including properly signing the envelope, so their vote is counted.

Douglas County voters can take their ballots to one of nine drop boxes: Omaha Douglas County Civic Center, 1819 Farnam St.; South Omaha Library, 2808 Q St.; Washington Branch Library, 2868 Ames Ave.; Ralston Police Department, 7400 Main St.; Abrahams Branch Library, 5111 N. 90th St.; Douglas County Election Commission, 12220 W. Center Road; Douglas County Engineer’s Office, 15505 W. Maple Road; Millard Public Schools Foundation, 5225 S. 159th Ave.; and Elkhorn Branch Library, 2100 Reading Plaza.

Sarpy County voters can take their ballots to one of four drop boxes: Sarpy County Election Commission, 501 Olson Drive, Papillion; Sarpy County Courthouse, 1248 Golden Gate Drive, Papillion; Bellevue Public Library, 1003 Lincoln Road, Bellevue; and McKinney’s Food Center, 215 Enterprise Drive, Gretna.

For more information from the Douglas County Election Commission, call 402-444-8683 or visit votedouglascounty.com.

For more information from the Sarpy County Election Commission, call 402-593-2167 or visit sarpy.com/election.

For statewide election information, visit sos.nebraska.edu.