Lincoln Votes Tuesday: Polls 8 to 8, Photo ID in Your Pocket, Ballot Must Be in Hand
Nebraska polls open at 8 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Central. Bring a photo ID — and if you still have an early ballot, it must reach the Lancaster County Election Commissioner by 8 p.m., not just be postmarked.
Election Day in Lincoln is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Nebraska polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Central Time (7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mountain in the Panhandle), and voters in line at closing time have the right to cast their ballots. Lincoln voters vote at their designated polling places; the Nebraska Secretary of State's VoterCheck site and the Lancaster County Election Commissioner can confirm yours.
Bring a photo ID. Nebraska has required voters to present an acceptable photo ID since the 2024 cycle — a Nebraska driver's license or state ID, a Nebraska college or university ID, a political subdivision ID (including public school IDs), a military or tribal ID, a U.S. passport, or certain care-facility records. If you arrive without one, you may cast a provisional ballot and present your ID to the county election office by the close of business on Tuesday, Nov. 10, for it to count.
Early voting ended Monday at county election offices. The critical rule for Nebraskans still holding an early-voting ballot: it must ARRIVE at the county election office or a secure drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Nebraska does not count ballots on postmarks — a ballot in Tuesday's mail is a ballot that doesn't count. Drop boxes sit at the county's designated locations; the Election Commissioner's office in Lincoln accepts hand-delivered ballots during the day.
Nebraskans will choose a governor, a U.S. senator, all three U.S. House members, the statewide constitutional officers, and decide four statewide ballot measures — alongside the nonpartisan Legislature, University of Nebraska Board of Regents, State Board of Education, judicial retention questions and Lancaster County and Lincoln local offices.
Secretary of State Bob Evnen's office reminds voters to verify their registration and sample ballot through VoterCheck before heading out — Nebraska's ballots are long this year and vary by precinct.
Polls close at 8. In a state that counts carefully and reports steadily through the night, Lincoln's results will build precinct by precinct after the boxes come in.
