Nebraska mail voting threatened by Trump push and GOP nominee

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 23 Oct, 20:32 · Archive

Nebraska's Republican nominee for secretary of state proposes ending all-mail voting in rural counties, a practice that has saved money and boosted access for decades.

Eleven Nebraska counties with fewer than 10,000 residents have conducted elections entirely by mail since 2005, following bipartisan action to expand voting access. The system has saved taxpayer money and made voting easier for residents in the state's most isolated rural areas.

Scott Petersen, who won the Republican primary for secretary of state in May, has called for ending all-mail voting in those counties and establishing in-person voting instead. He has argued that technology could make polling places accessible to rural voters without requiring all-mail elections. His proposal comes as President Trump pushes to restrict mail voting nationwide.

Candace Panas, election commissioner for Morrill County in the Nebraska Panhandle, said all-mail voting saves the county money on polling place setup and poll worker hiring. 'I don't have the money in my budget to turn around and get all my polls in order and all the equipment and things I would have to get to do that,' she said. The eleven counties conducting all-mail elections—Boone, Cedar, Cherry, Clay, Dawes, Dixon, Garden, Knox, Merrick, Morrill and Stanton—all supported Trump by wide margins in 2024, ranging from 71% to 90%.

How it is being reported

• In rural Nebraska, mail voting saves money and boosts access. Restrictions could change that.The practice has received support for decades and across political parties in Nebraska. Now President Trump wants to restrict it, and Nebraska’s Republican nominee for secretary of state is proposing changes, too.WOWT · 23 Oct, 20:13
• In rural Nebraska, mail voting saves money and boosts access. Restrictions could change that.The practice has received support for decades and across political parties in Nebraska. Now President Trump wants to restrict it, and Nebraska’s Republican nominee for secretary of state is proposing changes, too.1011Now · 23 Oct, 20:13

In this story: Nebraska · Scott Petersen · Donald Trump · Morrill County · Candace Panas

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