By Allison Peck
LINCOLN COUNTY, Neb. — Nebraska voters are entering an important stretch of the 2026 General Election cycle, with early voting ballots scheduled to be ready for delivery beginning next week.
The Nebraska Secretary of State's official election calendar lists Tuesday, November 3, 2026, as General Election Day.
Early voting ballots are scheduled to be ready for delivery to registered voters on Monday, September 28.
In-person early voting will begin October 5 at county election offices. In Lincoln County, the Election Commissioner's Office is located at 301 North Jeffers Street in North Platte.
Nebraska is a no-excuse early voting state, meaning registered voters may request an early voting ballot without providing a reason.
Several registration deadlines are approaching. October 16 is the deadline for mail-in voter registrations to be postmarked. It is also the deadline for voter registration through the DMV or another state agency and for online voter registration.
Voters who register in person at the county election office have until 6 p.m. October 23.
October 23 at 6 p.m. is also the deadline for the county election office to receive an application for an early voting ballot to be mailed to a specific address.
In-person early voting continues through Monday, November 2.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, with polls opening at 8 a.m. Central Time. The deadline for early voting ballots to be returned is the close of polls on Election Day. Ballots may be returned by mail, in person, by an authorized agent or through a secure ballot drop box.
Voters using a secure ballot drop box should use one located within their county. Nebraska's Secretary of State maintains a statewide drop-box locator, and the state says every Nebraska county currently has at least one secure ballot drop box.
Lincoln County election officials encourage voters to use available county drop-box services when returning election-related paperwork. Using a county drop box can eliminate the need for postage.
The Lincoln County Election Commissioner's Office is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be reached at 308-534-4350, extension 4110.
Voters can also use the Lincoln County election website to check their registration, find early voting information and access the 2026 early voting application.
The 2026 General Election is November 3.