Ballots being mailed out for special election in rural Lancaster County

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The Lancaster County Election Commission is conducting a special budget override election for the Firth Rural Fire Protection District.

Eric Johnson, the district’s board president, said the election will be important for updating their trucks and other equipment used by the two rural fire departments in the district.

He said they have hoses, breathing equipment and other firefighter gear that’s outdated by the National Fire Protection Association standards.

“We need to catch up,” Johnson said. “We may not use them as much as a paid department, but as a volunteer, I want to know that the gear – when I go into a house that’s on fire – that it’s going to protect me.”

Election Commissioner Todd Wiltgen said that the election will be done entirely by mail and that ballots will be sent to registered voters in Lancaster and Gage counties starting this week.

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He expects more of these special elections for rural fire departments in the future, as inflation continues to eat up their budgets.

“A lot of those rural fire districts don’t have the resources that the larger communities have,” Wiltgen said. “However, they still have the same demand. So I think you may see more rural fire districts needing to make more investment in their infrastructure.”

The Gage County clerk will be distributing and collecting ballots in Gage County, but Lancaster is administering the election since it has most of the voters in the district.

Voters can mail their ballots to their county election office or hand deliver them during business hours.

You can also use the ballot drop boxes, which are open 24 hours a day at both locations: 601 N. 46th St. in Lincoln and 601 Grant St. in Beatrice.

The election takes place Tuesday, Aug. 15, and ballots must be received by 5 p.m. that day.

If you’re not registered to vote, you must register online by Friday or in person by 6 p.m. on Aug 4.

Voters can direct any questions about the special election to their respective county’s election office.