The upcoming primary election is drawing a high amount of interest, and demanding a lot of last-minute preparations, in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

Local officials are offering several reminders to voters and are encouraging participation by mail instead of in-person voting.

Voter Deadlines Approach

The deadline for mailed voter registrations to be postmarked is Friday, April 24.

The deadline for voter registrations to be deposited into an election commission ballot drop box is Monday, April 27, at 5 p.m.

The deadline for voter registration online is Monday, April 27, prior to midnight.

“Monday, April 27, 2020 is the deadline to register to vote by any method other than using the self-service station in our entrance through Friday, May 1, at 6 p.m.,” said Douglas County Election Commissioner Brian W. Kruse.

Early voting requests must be made by Friday, May 1, too.

The primary election is May 12. Polls will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. County election officials must receive early voting ballots prior to 8 p.m. to be counted.

Tips for Voting by Mail

The Douglas County Election Commission offers the following tips for voting by mail:

•  Follow the instructions enclosed with your ballot.

• Use a blue or black ballpoint pen to mark your ballot.

• Use the return envelope for your ballot only.

• Sign the back of your ballot return envelope.

• You cannot change your vote after you return your ballot.

• Return ballots to election commission drop boxes by 8 p.m. Election Day (Tuesday, May 12) or by mail. Drop boxes are available 24/7 and don’t need postage.

• Do not return your early voting ballot at a polling place.

Polling Places Moved

Voters whose in-person polling places had to be changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, or other reasons, have been or will be notified by Douglas County.

Yellow postcards were mailed to about 60,000 voters in Douglas County to inform them of changes regarding their voting location.  More postcards will be mailed as remaining changes are finalized, Kruse said.

“A few changes are simply due to changing precinct numbers or building names,” he said. “Other changes are caused by growth or changes in building ownership or scheduling conflicts.”

Half the changes are related to COVID-19, which forced officials to move polling places away from retirement communities and public housing sites.

About a third of polling places in the county will be affected by the changes.

“My staff continue to work hard to finalize the status of all polling places,” Kruse said.

Voters are strongly encouraged to vote by mail instead of going to the polls for the primary.

Disabled Voters Options

Nebraska county election offices are closed through the primary, but disabled voters can still make appointments to vote early in-person, despite the restrictions.

Voters with disabilities may also choose to vote by mail or at the polls on May 12.

“We want Nebraskans who have disabilities to be able to vote early,” Secretary of State Bob Evnen said in a statement. “Although many of our county buildings are closed to the public, those voters who have disabilities are able to access early voting in person by appointment.

Each polling location, and on-site early voting locations, has an accessible voting device. Express Vote devices will help those who are visually or hearing impaired, or who use a wheelchair, to mark their ballots, allowing early voters to cast a ballot independently, privately and securely.

City Seeks Bond Approval

The City of Omaha has a $200 million street transportation bond issue on the primary ballot.

Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert said the COVID-19 pandemic hit just after the deadline passed to take the road improvement bond off the ballot, and the pandemic is driving a decision not to emphasize the campaign – freeing up the resources for pandemic response.

The Greater Omaha Chamber was going to run the campaign, Stothert said. But the city is still using donated funds to mail voters brochures to explain the facts of the bond issue as an educational effort, she said.

“There is a chance that it could pass,” Stothert said.

If it doesn’t, though, the city is unable to put it on the November ballot and would be barred from asking voters again for two years.

Other Ballot Issues

Two metropolitan area school districts are asking voters to approve bonds in the primary.

Millard Public Schools is asking for approval for up to $125 million in bond approval. The Springfield Platteview Community Schools is asking for up to $28.5 million in bond approval.

The City of Gretna also has a proposal to increase the local sales and use tax rate by 0.5% to pay for public infrastructure.

Find a Drop Box

To avoid paying postage while returning an early voting ballot, return the ballot to a drop box.

Douglas County voters have access to nine drop boxes locations:

• 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 find a drop box at the county election office at 501 Olson Drive, but officials caution that the “owners of Jerzes and our building, have decided to tear up the parking lot during the early voting period.”

Another drop box can be found nearby at the Sarpy County Courthouse, 1248 Golden Gate Drive. Two other drop boxes are available at the Bellevue Public Library, 1003 Lincoln Road, and McKinney’s Food Center, 215 Enterprise Drive in Gretna.

For More Information

 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.

To find contact information for other county election clerks or commissioners, or for more from the Secretary of State’s Office, go to sos.nebraska.gov/elections.

Check the status of your early voting ballot or voter registration at votercheck.necvr.ne.gov.