FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                           Contact: Deena Keilany

Email: dkeilany@leg.ne.gov

Senator Megan Hunt Introduces Legislation to Increase Local Control in Election Administration

Lincoln, NE— 1.11.19 — Today Senator Megan Hunt introduced LB163 to allow polling precincts in all Nebraska counties to administer their elections using a vote by mail standard.  Currently, counties with populations greater than 10,000 do not have the option of conducting vote by mail elections.  Senator Hunt’s proposed legislation would remove this population cap, expanding local control and allowing 26 Nebraska counties to assess their own needs and make decisions informed by local data.

In the 2018 Primary, Garden County held Nebraska’s first county-wide vote by mail election where voter turnout skyrocketed to 59% -- double the 2014 primary turnout. Following this election, many Nebraska counties expressed interest in following Garden County’s example, which would be possible with the passage of LB163.

“Every county in Nebraska, in cooperation with the Secretary of State, should be able to choose to do vote by mail elections if it makes sense for them. Removing this administrative barrier will increase turnout and make elections more accessible and secure,” said Senator Hunt.

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For more information, please contact Deena Keilany at (402) 471-4604 or dkeilany@leg.ne.gov