The Nebraska Board of State Canvassers convened today to canvass and certify the results of the May 14, 2024, statewide primary election.
The Nebraska Board of State Canvassers includes Governor Jim Pillen, Secretary of State Bob Evnen, Attorney General Mike Hilgers, State Treasurer Tom Briese and Auditor of Public Accounts Mike Foley. The board is required by law to certify the 2024 primary election results following the election.
The Board of State Canvassers reviewed election results and certified the election. The board did not identify any automatic recounts for statewide races.
A digital copy of the 2024 Primary Election Canvass Book is posted on the Nebraska Secretary of State’s website.
“I am very grateful for the diligent work conducted by our election officials and poll workers who served the people of Nebraska in this election,” Secretary of State Bob Evnen said. “For the first time in Nebraska’s history, registered voters in Nebraska were required to present acceptable photo identification before casting their ballots. I’m proud to report that Nebraska’s election officials and voters successfully implemented and followed the new voting requirement.”
No errors found in routine post-election audit
After every statewide election, the Elections Division randomly selects precincts for review to ensure that the ballot tabulators functioned as expected. This process is one of several post-election reviews. The procedure involves bipartisan teams that hand-count ballots for three contests – two federal contests determined by the Elections Division and an additional contest determined by county election officials. Three percent of precincts were randomly selected statewide, resulting in the hand-counting of 7,898 ballots in 40 precincts. It is not unusual to see a very small amount of variance. In this audit, however, there was no discrepancy between this hand-count and the results from Nebraska’s ballot counting equipment.
Election workers, voters followed new voter ID law
The efforts of the Elections Division, Nebraska’s county election officials and poll workers across the state resulted in a successful voter ID implementation. In total, 99.95% of voters who cast ballots in the primary election provided an approved photo identification prior to voting.
Turnout surpassed pre-pandemic voting trends
346,661 Nebraskans cast ballots in the May 14, 2024, statewide primary. Final voter turnout for the May primary election was 28%, which was higher than voter turnout in recent pre-pandemic presidential primary elections.
Nebraska Primary Election Voter Turnout History
2000 – 31.1%
2004 – 21.0%
2008 – 23.3%
2012 – 26.2%
2016 – 26.9%
2020 – 40.5%
2024 – 28.1%
Post-pandemic trend of voting by mail continues
The majority of Nebraskans prefer to cast their ballots at their polling places; however, the preference to vote early by mail and drop box remains higher than pre-pandemic levels.
52% of voters who cast ballots did so by voting at their polling places.
40% of voters cast ballots early by mail, drop box or in-person.
8% of ballots cast were from voters in by-mail counties or precincts.
0.09% of ballots cast were from Nebraska voters who are military/overseas voters (UOCAVA).
36.1% of registered voters with the Republican Party voted in the primary.
28.4% of registered voters with the Democratic Party voted in the primary.
8.4% of registered voters with the Libertarian Party voted in the primary.
6.3% of registered voters with the Legal Marijuana NOW Party voted in the primary.
12.0% of voters registered as nonpartisan (no party affiliation) voted in the primary.
Coming up
July 3 – Deadline for initiative petitions to be turned into the Secretary of State’s Office
July 8 – First day county election offices can accept early voting applications for the November general election
July 17 – Deadline for referendum petitions to be turned into the Secretary of State’s Office
August 1 – Deadline for nonpartisan presidential candidates to file for the November general election