So far more than 230,000 Nebraska voters have asked for absentee ballots for the Nov. 3 election.Secretary of State Bob Evnen expects a half of the ballots cast will be from early voters and most will be mailed in."Mail-in ballots create this whole new category of issues and problems," Evnen said.He said as soon as they mail ballots out to people, they lose control over what happens to them."The question is, did the voter receive it? Did someone else receive it? If the voter received it, were they subjected to undo influence by third parties about how to fill out and cast their ballot have they given their ballot to a third party to deliver back?" Evnen said.Another concern Evnen has seen are potentially confusing mailings."Voters are being bombarded with 3rd party communications," Evnen said. One flyer sent to KETV Newswatch 7 from viewer who didn't want to be identified, reads "voter registration confirmation" on the envelope. On the inside, what resembles a ballot, is actually a political questionnaire asking for contributions. "That doesn't mean it's bad. It's certainly not illegal. Just make sure you know what you're looking at," Evnen said."If it isn't from your county election office, if it isn't from you Secretary of State, it's from a third party that's trying to influence your vote."Nebraska has safeguards.To receive an early ballot, you have submit a signed request before Oct 23.The return envelope containing the ballot also has to be signed.Election workers verify the signature with the on the voter registration file. Voters can track the status of their mail in ballot on the Secretary of State's website."Let's say they didn't sign it, it will say in there it's either pending or suspended and tell them why," said Lancaster County Election Commissioner Dave Shively.But the executive director of the Nebraska Republican Party said he has other issues."My primary concern has to do with the reliability of the mail," Ryan Hamilton said.He said budget cuts and staff shortages at the U.S. Postal Service could cause delays, or even lost mail. Ballots have to be received by local election offices by Election Day."There is so much that can go wrong between the ballot request and it actually getting back and being counted that it seems to make the most sense to show up and do it in the traditional way," Hamilton said.The Chairwoman of the Nebraska Democrats accused Republicans of creating fear to cause chaos."What we're concerned about is the Republican party and Trump trying to discredit the Postal Service," Jane Kleeb said.She said the Nebraska Primary — where a record 400,000 voter turned in early ballots — showed mail-in voting works."We have a trustworthy post office. So you can mail your ballot back through the post office. And Nebraska has drop boxes at you county offices that you can put your ballot in there as well," Kleeb said.Nebraska Republicans and Democratics both said they don't participate or condone any mailing that could resemble official election material."The Republican Party hasn't sent out anything like that," Hamilton said."It is disheartening that there are groups out there that are purposely trying to confuse voters," Kleeb said.Voters can also cast their ballot early at local election offices.In-person early voting begins Oct. 5.Evnen said they have protective gear to keep voters and staff safe for both early voting and on Election Day. He still believes voting in person is the most secure way to cast your ballot."When you go to the polls, you ballot is under control at all times," Evnen said. Evnen recommends mailing in your ballot by Oct. 27 to insure it gets delivered in time to be counted. "It doesn't matter what the postmark is or what the other things are, if your ballot is received after the close of the polls on Election Day, it will not be counted," Evnen said.
So far more than 230,000 Nebraska voters have asked for absentee ballots for the Nov. 3 election.
Secretary of State Bob Evnen expects a half of the ballots cast will be from early voters and most will be mailed in.
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"Mail-in ballots create this whole new category of issues and problems," Evnen said.
He said as soon as they mail ballots out to people, they lose control over what happens to them.
"The question is, did the voter receive it? Did someone else receive it? If the voter received it, were they subjected to undo influence by third parties about how to fill out and cast their ballot have they given their ballot to a third party to deliver back?" Evnen said.
Another concern Evnen has seen are potentially confusing mailings.
"Voters are being bombarded with 3rd party communications," Evnen said.
One flyer sent to KETV Newswatch 7 from viewer who didn't want to be identified, reads "voter registration confirmation" on the envelope. On the inside, what resembles a ballot, is actually a political questionnaire asking for contributions.
"That doesn't mean it's bad. It's certainly not illegal. Just make sure you know what you're looking at," Evnen said.
"If it isn't from your county election office, if it isn't from you Secretary of State, it's from a third party that's trying to influence your vote."
Nebraska has safeguards.
To receive an early ballot, you have submit a signed request before Oct 23.
The return envelope containing the ballot also has to be signed.
Election workers verify the signature with the on the voter registration file.
Voters can track the status of their mail in ballot on the Secretary of State's website.
"Let's say they didn't sign it, it will say in there it's either pending or suspended and tell them why," said Lancaster County Election Commissioner Dave Shively.
But the executive director of the Nebraska Republican Party said he has other issues.
"My primary concern has to do with the reliability of the mail," Ryan Hamilton said.
He said budget cuts and staff shortages at the U.S. Postal Service could cause delays, or even lost mail.
Ballots have to be received by local election offices by Election Day.
"There is so much that can go wrong between the ballot request and it actually getting back and being counted that it seems to make the most sense to show up and do it in the traditional way," Hamilton said.
The Chairwoman of the Nebraska Democrats accused Republicans of creating fear to cause chaos.
"What we're concerned about is the Republican party and Trump trying to discredit the Postal Service," Jane Kleeb said.
She said the Nebraska Primary — where a record 400,000 voter turned in early ballots — showed mail-in voting works.
"We have a trustworthy post office. So you can mail your ballot back through the post office. And Nebraska has drop boxes at you county offices that you can put your ballot in there as well," Kleeb said.
Nebraska Republicans and Democratics both said they don't participate or condone any mailing that could resemble official election material.
"The Republican Party hasn't sent out anything like that," Hamilton said.
"It is disheartening that there are groups out there that are purposely trying to confuse voters," Kleeb said.
Voters can also cast their ballot early at local election offices.
In-person early voting begins Oct. 5.
Evnen said they have protective gear to keep voters and staff safe for both early voting and on Election Day.
He still believes voting in person is the most secure way to cast your ballot.
"When you go to the polls, you ballot is under control at all times," Evnen said.
Evnen recommends mailing in your ballot by Oct. 27 to insure it gets delivered in time to be counted.
"It doesn't matter what the postmark is or what the other things are, if your ballot is received after the close of the polls on Election Day, it will not be counted," Evnen said.
September 21, 2020 at 11:07AM
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'Mail-in ballots create this whole new category of issues and problems' - KETV Omaha
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