Lancaster County begins mailing early ballots for Nebraska primary

Election officials have started sending out over 32,000 requested early vote-by-mail ballots.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 4:10pm

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A photorealistic painting of a metal ballot drop box on a city sidewalk, with warm sunlight casting deep shadows across the scene, capturing the quiet, contemplative mood of civic participation.The secure placement of ballot drop boxes in Lancaster County aims to facilitate early voting access ahead of the upcoming primary election.Lincoln Today

The Lancaster County election commissioner's office has begun mailing early ballots for the upcoming Nebraska primary election. Every voter who submitted a valid early vote-by-mail ballot request by last Friday will receive their ballot by the end of this week. The election commission has received and processed over 32,000 early vote-by-mail ballot requests, though 340 requests could not be processed due to missing voter information.

Why it matters

The timely distribution of early ballots is crucial for ensuring voter access and participation in the upcoming primary election. Lancaster County's proactive approach to mailing ballots aligns with recent federal directives to expand early voting options.

The details

According to Election Commissioner Todd Wiltgen, the commission has been unable to process 340 early ballot requests, mostly due to missing voter signatures or identification information. These voters have been notified and instructed to correct the deficiencies. Early ballots must be returned to the election commission by 8 p.m. on primary election day, May 12th. Voters can also pick up early ballots in person starting April 13th.

  • The Lancaster County election commissioner's office started mailing early ballots on April 6, 2026.
  • The deadline to submit an early vote-by-mail ballot application is 6 p.m. on May 1, 2026.
  • Early in-person voting will begin on April 13, 2026.

The players

Todd Wiltgen

The Lancaster County election commissioner.

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What they’re saying

“Since all the deadlines set forth in the President's recent Executive Order for federal agencies are beyond the May 12th Statewide Primary Election, we are proceeding with the primary election as planned in compliance with existing state and federal laws.”

— Todd Wiltgen, Lancaster County Election Commissioner

What’s next

Voters can check the status of their early ballot on the Nebraska Secretary of State's Voter View website. The election commission office will have extended hours leading up to the primary election on May 12th.

The takeaway

Lancaster County's proactive approach to mailing early ballots demonstrates its commitment to ensuring voter access and participation in the upcoming primary election, despite some administrative challenges with processing a small number of ballot requests.