Voters face long lines on final day of early voting

Lancaster County officials prepare for Election Day

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Long lines formed outside the Lancaster County Election Commissioner’s Office on Monday as residents took advantage of their last opportunity to vote early in person before Election Day.

With the parking lot packed and voters lining the sidewalk, some faced wait times of an hour.

Lancaster County Election Commissioner Todd Wiltgen said the lines were longer than expected.

“So we just have more people who want to vote early and are choosing to come into the office instead of getting it mailed to them,” Wiltgen said.

As of Saturday, Lancaster County had received about 42,000 early ballots out of approximately 48,000 issued.

Meanwhile, election officials were making preparations for Tuesday’s election. Inspectors from the county’s 199 precincts were picking up ballots, voting equipment and other supplies.

Wiltgen is projecting voter turnout of around 52%.

He also encouraged voters to confirm their polling locations before heading out Tuesday.

“First, make sure you know where your polling place is,” Wiltgen said. “If you are unsure, you can go to the Secretary of State’s VoterView website, and you can enter your address, and that will tell you what your polling place is and where you would go.”

Voters will also need to bring an acceptable form of photo identification.

In-person early voting ended at 5 p.m. Monday, although anyone in line by that time was still allowed to cast a ballot.

Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Any outstanding early ballots must be received by the Election Commissioner’s Office or an official drop box by 8 p.m. Tuesday to be counted.

Wiltgen said the first election results released at 8 p.m. Tuesday will include early ballots returned through Saturday. Early ballots returned Sunday through Tuesday are scheduled to be counted Friday.