Voter ID, plenty of workers needed for Nebraska’s May primary

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – The desks and offices of the Douglas County Election Commission are a bit quiet these days — but that will soon change as the 2024 political season gains steam. DCEC is in search of lots of temporary employees.

“It will take about 100 temporary employees for the May election, about 125 to 150 for November, and of course poll workers,” said Election Commissioner Brian Kruse.

With this being a presidential election year, Kruse said he expects at least 75% turnout this fall.

Add the fact both of Nebraska’s incumbent U.S. Senators are running; both Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts have their seats up for re-election. All three Nebraska Congressmen are also up for re-election: Reps. Mike Flood, Don Bacon and Adrian Smith.

Kruse says the one point he wants to drive home is that voter ID is now the law in the Cornhusker State.

“If you vote at the polls, you just show up at the polling place with either your State ID or driver’s license,” Kruse said. “If you’d like to vote by mail, when you request a ballot, you’ll need to write down your driver’s license number or State ID number on the request or submit a proper form of ID with a photocopy.”

Voters can now request an early-voting ballot for the statewide primary.

As for questions concerning possible threats toward poll workers, the commission says it has no reports of people feeling threatened or fearful of applying for a job due to the contentious political climate.

Kruse also stressed to voters that any voter fraud concerns should be put to rest.

“We’re kind of the gold standard,” Kruse said. “We use paper ballots. We do checks and re-checks, audits both before and after the election.”

The last day to register for Nebraska’s primary is Friday, May 3. The primary itself will be held May 14.

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