Counties have begun mailing early voting ballots to voters who submitted an early voting application for the May 12, 2026, statewide primary election. Over 94,000 ballots will have been sent by the end of the day today, with an additional 16,000 in the next two days.
Voters who completed an early voting application and fulfilled the voter ID requirements by enclosing a photocopy of their driver’s license or state ID or writing in their driver’s license or state ID number should expect to receive their ballot in the mail sometime in the next couple weeks. County election offices are working with voters who did not successfully complete the new voter ID requirement.
“We are expecting a smooth election process this year considering the highly successful rollout of Nebraska’s voter ID law in 2024,” said Secretary Evnen. “Nebraskans are prepared to cast their votes and county election officials do a very effective job working with voters to ensure that our elections run properly.
I have every confidence in their ability to do their jobs well.”
Registered Nebraska voters can still request an early voting ballot by sending their completed early voting form to their county election office.
Contact information for each county can be found at https://sos.nebraska.
gov/election-officials-contact-infor mation. There are 121 secure ballot drop boxes across Nebraska, voters can find theirs online at https://sos.
nebraska.gov/elections/nebraskadrop- box-locator.
Ballots must be received by the county election office no later than 8 p.m. Central Time or 7 p.m. Mountain Time on Election Day – May 12, 2026. If mailing, the United States Postal Service (USPS) recommends that voters mail their ballot back no later than May 5 to timely arrive at the county election office by the deadline.
Otherwise, voters can return their ballot in person or by secure drop box up through the deadline.
If you have questions about Nebraska’s voter ID law before heading to the polls next month, visit voterID.
nebraska.gov to find information in both English and Spanish.
Important upcoming election dates: April 13 – Voting in person begins at county election offices.
April 27 – Last day to register to vote online (by midnight), at the DMV, at DHHS, at the Department of Education, via agent, via deputy registrar or by mail (voter registration application must be postmarked by April 27, 2026.)
May 1 – Last day to register to vote in person at the county election office (6 p.m. local time) and the last day to submit an early voting application to request a ballot to be mailed to the voter.
May 11 – Last day to vote in person at the county election office.
May 12 – Election Day and the last day county election offices will accept any early voting ballots for counting – whether delivered by mail, by agent, in person, or by secure drop box.
