Next week’s election is on pace to be record-breaking in the number of ballots cast. That is unusual for midterms, which usually see lower voter turnout. The Douglas County Election Commission is predicting a 57 percent voter turnout for this election. It ties the 2018 rate and blows past previous midterm elections in the last decade by as much as 17 percent. Douglas County has more registered voters than ever before. Plenty cast their ballot early on Wednesday. “This could be a record-breaking turnout,” said Brian Kruse, the Douglas County election commissioner. Kruse says his office sent out more than 100,000 ballots and received 67,000 back already. They are expecting a high voter turnout next week. “You know, I think in this election, really, there’s something for everybody to get out there and vote on that’s driving them to get a ballot,” said Kruse. UNO political science professor Randy Adkins tells KETV four things draw people out to vote: a sense of civic duty, the ease of voting by mail-in ballot, the clarity of the issues at hand and if a particular race is close, like the fight for Congressional District 2 between Republican incumbent Don Bacon and Democrat Tony Vargas. “That is probably going to be what drives turnout more than any other race in the district. When people know that a race is close, they’re more likely to turn out to vote for it,” said Adkins. “We felt it’s extremely important to come out and cast our vote because of the direction of the country and how it’s been headed in regards to the economy, the safety of the border, crime,” said Scott Hanson, a Douglas County voter. And with inflation, the abortion fight and the war in Ukraine on voters’ minds, the stakes are as high as ever. “The issues are as probably important as we have had in a decade or more,” said Adkins. Douglas County Democrats outnumber Republicans by about 8,000 in registered voters, but 25 percent identify as non-partisan. Adkins expects they will play a big role in these competitive District 2 races. Per Douglas County Election Commission: The voter turnouts for previous statewide gubernatorial general elections were 40.2 percent in 2010, 45.0 percent in 2014, and 57.7 percent in 2018.The Statewide Gubernatorial General Election is Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. Polls are open from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Voters may confirm their information, such as political districts and polling place, as well as view their sample ballot, by visiting our website at www.votedouglascounty.com and entering their house number and zip code in the “Find Your Voting Information” area. Voters may also call the Election Commission at (402) 444-VOTE (8683) during business hours (Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.).All early voting ballots must be received by the Douglas County Election Commission, either at its office or at one of the drop box locations, by 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. At this date, voters are discouraged from returning ballots via the US Postal Service due to extended processing times. Ballot drop box locations are listed on the instruction sheet included with every early voting ballot and are posted at www.votedouglascounty.com.Voters are encouraged to return their ballots as soon as they feel comfortable making their choices. Kruse encourages voters to return their ballots this weekend to one of the official convenient drop boxes if they are ready to do so.
Next week’s election is on pace to be record-breaking in the number of ballots cast.
That is unusual for midterms, which usually see lower voter turnout. The Douglas County Election Commission is predicting a 57 percent voter turnout for this election. It ties the 2018 rate and blows past previous midterm elections in the last decade by as much as 17 percent.
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Douglas County has more registered voters than ever before. Plenty cast their ballot early on Wednesday.
“This could be a record-breaking turnout,” said Brian Kruse, the Douglas County election commissioner.
Kruse says his office sent out more than 100,000 ballots and received 67,000 back already. They are expecting a high voter turnout next week.
“You know, I think in this election, really, there’s something for everybody to get out there and vote on that’s driving them to get a ballot,” said Kruse.
UNO political science professor Randy Adkins tells KETV four things draw people out to vote: a sense of civic duty, the ease of voting by mail-in ballot, the clarity of the issues at hand and if a particular race is close, like the fight for Congressional District 2 between Republican incumbent Don Bacon and Democrat Tony Vargas.
“That is probably going to be what drives turnout more than any other race in the district. When people know that a race is close, they’re more likely to turn out to vote for it,” said Adkins.
“We felt it’s extremely important to come out and cast our vote because of the direction of the country and how it’s been headed in regards to the economy, the safety of the border, crime,” said Scott Hanson, a Douglas County voter.
And with inflation, the abortion fight and the war in Ukraine on voters’ minds, the stakes are as high as ever.
“The issues are as probably important as we have had in a decade or more,” said Adkins.
Douglas County Democrats outnumber Republicans by about 8,000 in registered voters, but 25 percent identify as non-partisan. Adkins expects they will play a big role in these competitive District 2 races.
Per Douglas County Election Commission:
The voter turnouts for previous statewide gubernatorial general elections were 40.2 percent in 2010, 45.0 percent in 2014, and 57.7 percent in 2018.
The Statewide Gubernatorial General Election is Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. Polls are open from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Voters may confirm their information, such as political districts and polling place, as well as view their sample ballot, by visiting our website at www.votedouglascounty.com and entering their house number and zip code in the “Find Your Voting Information” area. Voters may also call the Election Commission at (402) 444-VOTE (8683) during business hours (Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.).
All early voting ballots must be received by the Douglas County Election Commission, either at its office or at one of the drop box locations, by 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. At this date, voters are discouraged from returning ballots via the US Postal Service due to extended processing times. Ballot drop box locations are listed on the instruction sheet included with every early voting ballot and are posted at www.votedouglascounty.com.
Voters are encouraged to return their ballots as soon as they feel comfortable making their choices. Kruse encourages voters to return their ballots this weekend to one of the official convenient drop boxes if they are ready to do so.