With Election Day close, early voting has been well underway - and turnout across the country is expected to be high. Nebraska is one of two states (the other being Maine) that awards its electoral college delegates by district. As such, Nebraska's 2nd district, which currently comprises Douglas and Sarpy county has not been as reliably Republican as the rest of the state. President Donald Trump is expected to win the state at large, as well as Nebraska's 3rd and Nebraska's 1st, but the 2nd has been competitive. The last time the 2nd went for a Democrat was when then candidate-Obama won it in 2008.
When getting ready to vote, Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen recommends in a press release to be well read on the candidates and to check your voter registration and polling place. Beyond the races for President, Representative and Senate - the political parties of the candidates are not identified on a 2020 Nebraska ballot, so researching races beforehand is necessary to weigh in on the more local races.
In that press release, Secretary Evnen mentions that if you have moved to a different county, but have not changed your voter registration, that you can still vote - but you will need to obtain a provisional ballot at your new precinct.
Evnen says that masks will be made available to voters who do not have one, and that resources such as hand sanitizer will be available to help combat the Coronavirus pandemic. Evnen recommends practicing social distancing while waiting in line at the polls.
If you require special assistance to vote at your polling site, let a poll worker know. Curbside help is available for those who have difficulty walking or utilize assistive devices.
It is illegal to campaign within 200 feet of a polling site, and campaign items such as buttons, shirts and stickers are prohibited while voting.
In addition to the several candidates on the ballot - Nebraska will also see several ballot measures: including a measure that would repeal language in the Nebraska constitution that allows for slavery or involuntary servitude to be used as criminal punishments, a measure to cap payday interest loans at 36 percent, three initiatives that respectively: changes the constitution to allow statutes authorizing gambling at licensed racetracks, establishes a governing commission for gambling, and establishes a tax on gambling, and one final initiative that increases the repayment period for TIF (Tax Incremental Financing) from 15 years to 20 years.
Payday interest loans, or more simply payday loans, are when you borrow a relatively small amount of money given with a high interest rate under the expectation that you'll pay it back when you receive your next paycheck. The current average interest rate for payday loans in Nebraska, according toCNBC, is 404%. Nebraska will be the fifth state to pass a cap on payday loans if this measure passes.
TIF is, as reported by Ballotpedia, a creation that allows the government to issue bonds to areas where more than one half of properties are considered extremely blighted by declaring said areas "TIF districts." Nebraska defines an area as 'extremely blighted' when the poverty rate is over 20 percent and when the average unemployment rate is 200 percent or more than the average state unemployment rate. TIF is intending to finance economic development in an area.
For both Douglas and Sarpy county, you can see where your polling place is located on The League of Women Voters website.
Civic Nebraska offers a drop box map where you can see the location of a certified drop box near you. They also offer several nonpartisan resources that will help new voters understand what positions are on their ballots and help answer questions for those who still need to vote.
You can track your ballot's progress with the Nebraska Voter Information Lookup. To use the NVIL, you type in your first and last name, as you wrote them on your ballot, followed by your county, you will then be taken to a list of names. Click on your name and then confirm your date of birth - and you will see whether your ballot has been received and/or accepted.
Your ballot can be rejected if not properly identified, according to Nebraska law. If that happens, Nebraska law dictates that another one be mailed out to you. If you signed up for early voting, but lost your ballot - you can still vote with a provisional ballot at your polling place, just let a poll worker know. You can learn more at the Nebraska Secretary of State's website.
The polls will remain open until 8 pm on Election Day. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3rd.
(Credit for photo goes to WOWT 6 News)