by Joey Colbert, reporter
OMAHA – The Douglas County Election Commission held a press conference Monday, Sep. 28, discussing mail-in ballots and the addition of new drop box locations in Omaha.
The press conference was held by Election Commissioner Brian Kruse at the Goodwill parking lot at 4805 N. 72 St. Alongside him was Goodwill President in Omaha Tobi Mathouser and Douglas County Commissioners Chris Rogers of District 3 and Mary Ann Borgeson of District 6.
Kruse said that Douglas County set a record this year by sending out over 111 thousand mail-in ballots to recipients of the Omaha metropolitan area. There is a total of 155 thousand mail-in ballot applications in the county.
With a high demand for mail-in ballots, Kruse announced that the Election added four more drop boxes, making it a total of 13 locations across Douglas County. These are the four new drop box locations:
- Clarkson College Parking lot, located at 42 and Farnam Streets
- The Goodwill parking lot, located at 4805 N. 72 St.
- The Asian Market, located at 321 N. 76 St.
- The Spring Ridge Shopping Center, located at 178 and Pacific Streets
Kruse notes the drop boxes are larger, and are constructed to endure the weather conditions in Nebraska. With major concerns on whether mail-in ballots are an efficient mode for casting in ballots, Kruse reassured it’s conveniency for the drop boxes.
“Voters can be assured that these drop boxes are safe, they are secure, and they are the most direct means for voters to return their ballots to the Election Commission,” he said.
Kruse expects the voter turnout in Douglas County to be 70 percent mail-in voting and 30-percent poll-in voting. Douglas County Commissioner, of District 3, Chris Rogers has confidence for conducting mail-in voting moving forward.
“We can do all mail elections in Douglas County,” he said. “My hope is this helps have more competence in the process with the citizens that we can get there and have greater participation in this process all throughout the country.”
The last day to request a mail-in ballot is by Friday, Oct. 23, at 6 p.m. However, Kruse encourage voters to fill in their ballots and get them turned in as soon as they can.
“When you vote [and] when you cast [in] your vote, it truly is democracy in action,” he said.
For more information, you can visit the Douglas County Election Commission’s website regarding the drop box locations.
