What You Need to Know Before NE Primary Election

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Welcome Brian Cruise to the program.Brian's a Douglas County election commissioner, and
we go to the Nebraska primary aweek from next Tuesday, will be May
fourteenth. Brian, Good morning,Good morning, how are you guys?
Well, good to have you on. It turns out that today, this
is the third of May, acouple of important deadlines today. What do
we need to know? That's right? So, today's the last day to

(00:23):
request a ballot to be mailed toyou, and it's the last day to
register to vote for this election.And our office and all offices across the
state will be open until six pmby state statue or state law. Well,
so if you want to vote bymail, you got to go into
the office today, right, Well, you have to have your form,

(00:46):
We have to have your four menare possessions chins, either in a dropbox
or in our office. You know, we've sent out about seventy six thousand
ballots so far. We've had aboutthirty three thousand returned. And I think
it's important to note if you've gotone of those by mail ballots out there,
the Post Office recommends not mailing themback after next Tuesday, the seventh

(01:11):
of May to allow time to getto our office. So after that we
encourage voters to use one of ourdrop boxes around the county. Okay,
Brian, I used to see,and it's been many years ago, you
go into a grocery store or whatever, and there would be people in there
where you could register to vote.I never see that anymore. What's the

(01:33):
What do you need to know?If say, somebody is shot through suddenly
with with patriotism and they decide theywant to vote and they're not registered,
what do they need to do?Where do you go? At this point?
You that's right, At this pointyou have to come into our office
in person. So your only optionto register to vote for this election is

(01:53):
to come to our office here atone hundred and twenty second in center in
the bel Air Pleasant register in person. Now you can go online and register
to vote if you have a Nebraskadriver's license or a state ID. That
deadline was last Friday, but youcan always do it for the fall election.
And the best majority of our folksdo it online now, Garry,

(02:16):
you know, like seventy five percent. So that's why you don't really see
those voter drives, you know,with quote unquote pay per forms anymore.
All right, So today's day.If you want to register to vote and
you're not, you got to gointo the one hundred and twenty second and
Center office. You're predicting what,Brian, for the turnout? That's right,

(02:37):
a thirty five percent turnout. Youknow, last time in four years
ago, we had thirty eight percent. Before that, in twenty twelve and
twenty sixteen we were in the twentiestwenty percent, So we're definitely on the
uptick. So I'm thinking about thirtyfive percent. You know. It's also
north Worth noting you can come intoall office and vote in person. So

(03:00):
you can come in here, getaboullot vote in our office and you can
do that through the Monday before theelection. You can also go to your
polling place on election day. Obviously, we know Senator Ricketts is expected to
come to the office and vote today, so it's a great option for a

(03:21):
lot of people to come into ouroffice and vote. By the way,
is that percentage I can never remember, Brian? Is that percentage a percentage
of registered or eligible voters? It'sregistered voters and we've got about three hundred
and fifty five thousand registered voters hereDouglas County. About a third of the
state's registered voters reside here. Anyidea how many are what percentage of eligible

(03:47):
voters are registered? You know,we've done some rough numbers through census dated
it's kind of hard to get anaccurate number, but we believe that it's
a pretty high percentage, over eightypercent of those eligible to register to vote.
Our registered to vote, so there'salways room for more, but it's

(04:09):
a fairly high percentage. What theoot idea requirement? Now? Was there
any heartburn Brian on your part andother election officials about making sure that the
poll workers know exactly what has tohappen. Yeah, you know, I
don't know about heart heartburn, butwe definitely had to revamp training and there's

(04:33):
been a lot, a lot oftraining and a big, big ad campaign.
You know, we hear commercials onthis station all the time. Secretary
of State's offices put out a lotof materials. Local election officials like myself
have done a lot of materials.You know, we've had very very few
problems with in person voting so far, and even the by mail component,

(04:57):
and honestly, ninety nine percent offolks have used their driver's license. That's
going to be the number one thing. Use your driver's license or State I
D. That's the easiest and simplerlist, but of course there are other
options. You're good, always goodto the Chad Brian, thank you,
oh wonderful weekend. Brian Cruise,Douglas County Election Commissioner,