With just a few days left before the Nov. 6, 2018 election, today’s a great day to talk with your friends and neighbors and jot down your plan to vote. It’s great to have a plan to help ensure that you don’t miss your opportunity to cast your ballot and exercise your right to vote.
Insure the Good Life has a short survey that you can use to think through your voting plan. After you submit, you’ll get an email that you can print or keep on your phone as a reminder of your plans to vote on or before Nov. 6.
Here are some more resources to share on voting in Omaha.
For Everyone
Read Nonpartisan Candidate Profiles
Get nonpartisan candidate info, customized for your specific ballot, at Vote411.org. See also: How to Use Vote411 to Get All the Info You Need to Vote
We also have our full Douglas County Voters’ Guide (PDF).
View A Sample Ballot
You can look up what your specific ballot will look like. To do this, visit the election commission website for Douglas County or Sarpy County (pick the county you live in). See also: Did You Know? You Can View Sample Ballots Before Voting
For Early Voters
Find a Dropbox
If you have an early/vote by mail ballot that you haven’t yet returned, make sure you get it in by mail, into a dropbox or return it in person to your county election commission office. See also: Did You Know? Douglas County Voters Can Return Early Ballots via Anytime Dropboxes
Check Your Ballot Status
If you’ve turned in your ballot, you can check that it was accepted on the Nebraska Voter Check website.
Vote Early In Person
If you did not get in an application to get a ballot mailed to you in on time but would still like to vote early, you can vote early in person at your county election commission office.
Douglas County
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Monday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3
Location: 225 North 115th Street, Omaha 68154
Phone: 402-444-VOTE (8683)
Sarpy County
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Thursday and Friday
Location: 501 Olson Dr. Suite 4, Papillion, NE 68046
Phone: 402-593-2167
For Election Day Voters
Get Time Off
In Nebraska, as long as you provide notice before Election Day, you can take up to two hours’ paid time off to vote on Nov. 6.
Exceptions: Your employer can specify which hours you take and can deny your request if you already have at least two hours of eligible voting time before or after your shift. Example: If you work 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., your employer can deny you voting leave because you could, theoretically, vote between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.
Locate Your Polling Place
Look up your polling place by entering your info on the Nebraska Voter Check website.
Remember: Polling places are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you’re in line at 8 p.m. but haven’t yet voted, stay in line. You cannot be denied a ballot if you are in line at your polling place by 8 p.m.
Get A Ride to Your Polling Place
If you need a ride to the polls in North Omaha, you can call Black Votes Matter at 402-312-2891.
Rideshare apps Uber and Lyft are also offering free or reduced-rate rides to the polls on Nov. 6.
The Omaha Metro bus system is not offering reduced rates, but you can plan your route to your polling place via the bus on their website.
Report Voter Intimidation or Any Other Issues
If you experience any problems on Election Day, you can report issues to Civic Nebraska via the following phone numbers.
In English: 402-904-5191
En Español: 1-888-839-8682
The Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office also has an Election Integrity Unit, reachable at 888-727-0007.
