Nebraska Secretary of State to Observe Primary Election Preparations

Evnen to tour 8 counties, witness logic and accuracy testing of ballot counting equipment

Apr. 17, 2026 at 9:41pm

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A photorealistic painting of a lone ballot box sitting in a dimly lit room, with warm sunlight streaming in through a window and casting deep shadows across the scene, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation and the importance of the electoral process.Nebraska's Secretary of State takes steps to ensure the integrity of the state's upcoming primary election through transparent pre-election testing.Lincoln Today

Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen announced a five-day election transparency tour to observe logic and accuracy testing of ballot counting machines in eight counties ahead of the state's May 12 primary election. Evnen will personally visit election offices to ensure the testing process, required by state law, is being properly conducted.

Why it matters

This tour is part of Evnen's efforts to promote transparency and public confidence in Nebraska's electoral process. Logic and accuracy testing is a critical safeguard to verify voting machines are functioning correctly before an election.

The details

During the tour, Evnen will observe three sets of test ballots being run through the vote-counting machines in each county. The first set is provided by the machine programmers, the second by election officials, and the third by voters of a different political party. The machine results must match the known figures exactly for the test to pass.

  • The tour will take place from April 24 to April 30, 2026.
  • Nebraska's statewide primary election is scheduled for May 12, 2026.

The players

Bob Evnen

Nebraska Secretary of State, responsible for overseeing the state's elections.

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What they’re saying

“County election offices are working hard to prepare for our May 12 primary election, and an important part of those preparations is logic and accuracy testing. Each of our 93 counties will perform tests of their equipment to check that the machines are working perfectly prior to election day. These tests are completed before every election and are just one of the many processes we have in place to ensure Nebraska's elections run smoothly and accurately every time.”

— Bob Evnen, Nebraska Secretary of State

What’s next

A law passed last year allows one representative from each legally recognized political party to observe the logic and accuracy testing in each county.

The takeaway

Evnen's transparency tour demonstrates Nebraska's commitment to ensuring the integrity of its elections through rigorous pre-election testing and bipartisan observation. This proactive approach helps build public trust in the electoral process.