2026 Nebraska Election: Races, registration and important dates

OMAHA, Neb. —

Are you ready for November’s midterms?

KETV NewsWatch 7 has a comprehensive guide on every race, key issues, need-to-know questions and more so that you’re prepared for general election day.

Nebraska’s general election will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 3, and will include a U.S. Senate seat, the state’s three representatives in Congress, legislative seats and more. Polls open at 8 a.m. CST and 7 a.m. MST.

Where Can I Vote?

POLLING PLACES: DOUGLAS | SARPY | WASHINGTON | DODGE | SAUNDERS | CASS | LANCASTER

Which statewide offices are up for election?

• U.S. Senate (six-year term)
• United States representatives in Congress (two-year terms)
• Governor and lieutenant governor, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, Attorney General, Auditor (four-year terms)
• Nebraska Legislature (four-year terms for even-numbered districts)
• State Board of Education (four-year terms for Districts 5, 6, 7, 8)
• University of Nebraska Board of Regents (six-year terms for Districts 1, 2; four-year team for District 4)
• Public Service Commissioner (six-year term for District 2)

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U.S. Senate candidates

• Pete Ricketts (Incumbent, Republican)
• Cindy Burbank (Democrat)
• Mike Marvin (Legalize Marijuana Now)
• Dan Osborn (Independent)

* Osborn says he’s submitted more than 12,500 signatures to qualify for the November ballot. The Secretary of State will work to verify the signatures.

Nebraska congressional candidates

District 1

• Mike Flood (Incumbent, Republican)
• Chris Backemeyer (Democrat)
• Nik Sandman (Libertarian)
• Austin Ahlman (Independent)

* Ahlman launched an independent bid for Congress and needs to submit at least 2,000 signatures by Aug. 3 to appear on the ballot.

District 2

• Brinker Harding (Republican)
• Denise Powell (Democrat)
• Eric Foreman (Libertarian)

District 3

• Adrian Smith (Incumbent, Republican)
• Becky Stille (Democrat)
• David Else (Legalize Marijuana Now)

Nebraska gubernatorial candidates

• Jim Pillen (Incumbent, Republican)
• Lynne Walz (Democrat)
• Rick Beard (Legalize Marijuana Now)

Bacon retiring at the end of 2026 term

Don Bacon, Nebraska’s longtime District 2 representative, is retiring at the end of his term.

Bacon has held Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District seat since 2017 when he defeated Brad Ashford, becoming the only Republican to defeat an incumbent Democrat in the 2016 U.S. House of Representatives elections.

The five-term congressman and former Air Force general is known for being a moderate in Washington.

He’s won Nebraska’s “blue dot” while those same voters have picked Democratic presidential candidates.

Early voting drop box locations

• Douglas County Election Commission, 12220 W Center Road, Omaha
• City/County Building, 1819 Farnam Street, Omaha
• South Omaha Library, 2808 Q Street, Omaha
• Charles B. Washington Branch Library, 2868 Ames Avenue, Omaha
• Clarkson College Parking Lot 8, 42nd & Farnam Street, Omaha
• Asian Market, 321 N 76th Street, Omaha
• Ralston Police Department, 7400 Main Street, Ralston
• Goodwill, 4805 N 72nd Street, Omaha
• Milton R. Abrahams Branch Library, 5111 N 90th Street, Omaha
• Douglas County Engineer’s Office, 15505 W Maple Road, Omaha
• Millard Public Schools Foundation, 5231 South 159th Avenue, Omaha
• Spring Ridge Shopping Center, 178th & Pacific Street, Omaha
• Bess Johnson Elkhorn Branch Library, 2100 Reading Plaza, Elkhorn

Voter ID law in Nebraska

If you’re voting in person, you must have your Nebraska driver’s license or Nebraska state ID with you. If you don’t have either of those, you must bring another acceptable form of ID; photos or copies are not valid.

According to the Nebraska Secretary of State, these are the acceptable forms of ID:

• Nebraska driver’s license or state ID
• Passport
• Military ID
• Tribal ID
• Hospital, assisted living or nursing home record
• Nebraska political subdivision (state, county, city, school, etc.)
• Nebraska college or university ID

They also can be expired, but identification cards from private entities won’t work.

If you’re voting by mail, you’ll have to write your Nebraska driver’s license number or your Nebraska state ID number on your ballot application, or enclose a photocopy of another acceptable form of ID when you request a ballot.

Mail-in voting vs. Absentee

Nebraska is a “no-excuse” state, which means a registered voter can request an early-voting (absentee) ballot and is not required to provide a reason.

Absentee is normally used to describe a ballot that is sent to a voter outside of a polling place.

According to the Nebraska Secretary of State’s website, Nebraskans can apply for an early-voting ballot by contacting your county election office: “You can print an online early voting application, complete the form, and then mail, fax or scan/take a picture of your application and email it to your county election office. The last day for an early-voting application to be received is 6 p.m. on the second Friday preceding the election.”

The county election offices will accept early voting applications up to 120 days prior to the election.

Early voting ballots will not be sent out until at least 35 days before the primary or general election. All early-voting ballots must be received by the close of polls on election day.

What if I’ve moved?

If you’ve moved, it’s important to update your voter registration information on or before the deadlines for the election. If you’re new to the state, you need to register to vote and cancel your registration in your previous state.

If you don’t update your address prior to the deadlines and you’re registered to vote in the county where you now live, you can vote a provisional ballot at the polling place for your new address.

When can I vote?

The Nebraska general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls open at 8 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. If you’re still in line when the polls close, you should be allowed to cast your ballot.

What about absentee ballots?

Nebraskans can apply for an early-voting ballot by contacting your county election office. The county election offices will accept early-voting applications up to 120 days prior to the election. If you mailed your ballot, it must arrive at the county clerk’s office by end of business on Election Day.

Can I see a sample ballot?

Yes! Fill in your registration information at the Nebraska secretary of state’s website. You’ll be able to click through to see a sample of the ballot you’ll see when you vote.

Which districts do I live in?

Fill in your registration information at the Nebraska secretary of state’s website. You’ll be provided with a list of the various election districts you live in.

What if I have problems at the polls?

If you have any issues at the polls, you are asked to contact an election supervisor at your polling place. The supervisor can get in touch with the election office for advice.

You can reach KETV NewsWatch 7 at 402-978-8954 or news@ketv.com.

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