Midterm Election Day is Soon Approaching in Omaha

By: Madison Bonin, Reporter

OMAHA Neb. – Midterm Election Day is next Tuesday in Omaha. On average voter turnout for midterm elections is much lower than the presidential election.

This year is a very important midterm election year in Nebraska. All three seats for the House of Representatives, governor, secretary of state, attorney general and many seats in the Nebraska legislature are up for election.

Many other local elections including Douglas county attorney, sheriff and treasurer are also being held this year.

According to the Pew Research Center presidential elections have a 50 to 60 percent voter turnout rate. While the midterms elections only bring in 40 percent of eligible voters. Douglas County Election Commissioner, Brian Kruse said, there are lots of reasons to vote in not only the midterm elections but every election.“It’s always important to have voters have their voice heard. You know midterm elections are just as important as presidential or city elections” says Kruse.

Low voter turnout for midterm elections can lead to non-representative groups of Americans making decisions about issues like education, housing, criminal justice, policing and minimum wage. 

UNO Political Science Associate Professor, Gregory Petrow said, “When fewer people vote in elections that tends to mean that certain kinds of people are voting more and other kinds of people are voting less.”

Election day is just under a week away and for Douglas county residents there are three ways to vote. Request a mail in ballot, vote early at the Douglas county election commission office and in person voting at your polling location on Nov 8. 

As a reminder, it doesn’t matter how you vote, just that you make a plan ahead of time of how you are going to vote.

To find your polling location visit votedouglascounty.com or to vote early in person visit the Douglas County Election Commission Office at 12220 West Center Rd.