Nebraska absentee and mail ballot guide
Nebraska absentee ballot overview
Absentee ballots and mail ballots are the same thing, and the process for getting one is straight forward.
- Request your ballot by the deadline
- Receive your in ballot in the mail
- Return your ballot by the deadline
Nebraska absentee deadlines
- Earliest day to apply: 120 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (online): N/A
- Request deadline (by mail): Received 11 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (in person): 1 day before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Received by Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by Election Day
Nebraska absentee ballot rules
Any registered Nebraska voter can request an absentee ballot and vote by mail.
Nebraska online ballot request
Nebraska does not allow you to request your ballot online.
Nebraska by-mail ballot request
- Download the Nebraska absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Print the application.
- Sign and date your application. This is very important.
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed application directly to your local election office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline.
- If it’s close to the deadline, call your local election office and see if they will let you submit your application via email or fax.
- Your application must be received 11 days before Election Day .
Nebraska in-person ballot request
- Visit your local election office.
- Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Sign and date your application.
- The deadline to apply in person is 1 day before Election Day .
After you receive your ballot
- Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
- Sign and date the outside envelope.
- Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your local election office. You can also hand-deliver your ballot to a state-provided drop box. Please check with your local election office if your county has a drop box. You can use our Find Out Where To Vote tool to find an official drop box.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be received by Election Day .
- If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by Election Day .
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
Nebraska absentee ballot ID requirements
- ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot:
The signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
- ID required when returning a mail-in ballot:
If you are a first time voter and did not provide valid ID when registering or applying for your ballot then you must provide a non-expired photo ID or a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document dated within 60 days.
Nebraska absentee ballot tracker
Track your ballot here: Nebraska absentee ballot tracker
Nebraska absentee ballot curing
Ballot curing is the process of resolving any problems with your absentee or mail ballot to ensure that your vote is counted. After tracking your ballot, contact your local election office to fix any issues that have been noted.
- Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if the signature does not match the one that the state has on file for you.
- You must make corrections by 8:00 pm on Election Day for your vote to count.
Nebraska emergency ballots
Some states have special procedures that allow you to obtain an emergency ballot if a medical or other emergency occurs after the standard absentee ballot application window.
Emergency Ballot RulesIf you are an emergency responder providing services outside of your county of residence at any point during the 45 days before or including Election Day, you may request a ballot via fax or email.
- Emergency ballot request starts 45 days before Election Day
- Emergency ballot request ends NOON Election Day
- Emergency ballot return deadline is Election Day
Contact your local election office
Local election office
Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Statewide election office
This is the statewide agency that is ultimately responsible for Nebraska elections. You can contact them with questions, but your local election office will probably respond faster.
Nebraska Secretary of State Suite 2300, State Capitol Bldg. Lincoln, NE 68509‐4608
External resources
- Nebraska online voter registration
- Nebraska voter status lookup
- Nebraska absentee ballot tracker
- Nebraska polling place locator