During the 2020 election, an astounding 85% of registered voters in Clay County, Nebraska, cast a ballot. That turnout was way higher than the state and national averages — and much higher than Clay County, a rural, politically conservative county, had experienced in 2016 or in any recent election.
So, what changed?
Clay County, and 10 other rural, deep-red counties have gone to all-mail voting. They send every registered voter a ballot in the mail. The voter can mail it back or drop it in a drop box in the weeks and days before the election. There are no Election Day drives to the polling places, no last-minute decisions to vote or not vote, because there are no polling places.
And here’s the rub: Clay County can do this, but Douglas County and Lancaster County can’t. A 2005 state law, sponsored by a then-first year state senator named Deb Fischer, legalizes all-mail voting only in counties with fewer than 10,000 residents, citing costs and long drives to the polls for rural Nebraskans.
Democratic Party leaders see an inherent unfairness in letting the residents of deep-red counties do this, but not the residents of bluer Lincoln or Omaha.
Fascinating story from FFP senior reporter Yanqi Xu.
Bamboozling ballot: If you have already filled out your ballot, or have at least glanced at it in preparation for Tuesday, you may have noticed … it’s really darn long, and kind of confusing.
Naomi Delkamiller’s story this week explains why.
Simply put: More weighty issues than ever before — abortion, medical marijuana, public money for private school scholarships, paid sick leave — are going directly before voters. These citizen-led ballot measures are often backed by big money. And for good reason, because once they get on the ballot, they often become law.
Need an Voting Yoda? I am a learned man, what with my bachelor’s degree in journalism from the flagship campus of the University of Nebraska. It only took me five years. I’m practically a doctor.
And yet, I’m watching the ad campaigns for and against these dueling abortion ballot initiatives, and I feel a little bamboozled myself.
But I have good news for you. FFP state government watchdog reporter Sara Gentzler and elections guide editor Libby Seline are here to help
For starters: Watch these short explainer videos Sara made for Initiative 434, which is the ballot measure backed by anti-abortion groups, and Initiative 439, the ballot measure backed by abortion rights groups.
She demystifies these, and all the ballot measures.
And then go to FFP Election Guide landing page to learn where your candidates for Legislature, the State Board of Education and the Board of Regents stand on the issues. The guide does a fine job of breaking down these races, and also gives you info on judges and answers commonly asked voting questions.
This is Flatwater Free Press’ first-ever election guide, and in large part due to Nebraskans heavily using it — it was an astonishing third of our web traffic in October — we are likely going to do it again and make it even better.
Lincoln, see you Sunday: I’m gonna be in the house at one of my favorite bookstores, Lincoln’s Francie & Finch, on Sunday at 2 p.m. I will talk a little about the Flatwater Free Press, take your questions and hear your story ideas, and also sell a few books by Nebraska authors — Ted Genoways, Joe Starita, Carson Vaughan and others — that I love. A portion of the proceeds goes back to Flatwater Free Press!
Oh and if you have Nebraska food questions, food writer Sarah Baker Hansen will be there, too — we’re also going to be selling a few copies of our book “The Better Half,” our old World-Herald project chronicling the state’s best places to eat and best things to see and do.
Here’s more info. See you Sunday.
Small-town baseball: What were some of the greats of Negro League baseball doing playing a game in Superior, Nebraska, in 1949? Our correspondents Kevin Warneke and John Shorey explain that it involves Jackie Robinson and the end of a segregated era.
The fascinating history story, published this week, is a follow-up to the duo’s previous story for FFP on the Negro League’s connection to Nebraska.
Questions wanted: Some of our best story ideas come from readers, and they typically start with a burning question that just cries out for an answer. Have a question that our reporters need to look into? Complete this form or reach our newsroom at [email protected].
Sincerely,
—Matthew Hansen, Executive Editor
Here’s what we’re into this week: News from around Nebraska
Every week we like to share great Nebraska journalism, no matter who made it. Here’s what caught our eye this week:
- Have you noticed that some of those ads attacking Initiative 439, the ballot measure seeking to loosen Nebraska’s current 12-week abortion ban, are ostensibly being paid for by University of Nebraska regents? The Journal Star’s Chris Dunker with a really good story explaining what’s going on. (May need subscriber access to view.)
- Remember that big lake between Omaha and Lincoln? Yeah, not happening, at least not as originally envisioned. Good, newsy update from the allegedly semi-retired Paul Hammel over at Nebraska Examiner.
- Intrepid NYT reporter, Nebraska native and friend of FFP Dionne Searcey was in the state recently. I saw her but forgot to ask what her next story would be about. It’s … the Runza! Which is weirdly playing a cameo role in the election.
- I admit that when I first started hearing about independent Dan Osborn, I pooh-poohed his chances. But here he is, a few days before Election Day, sticking very close to incumbent Republican Sen. Deb Fischer, according to this story and polling from the New York Times. We shall see on Election Day, of course.
- Remember that woman near Omaha who alleged that her father was a serial killer who had killed and hidden the bodies of dozens of young women? The World-Herald ran a fascinating follow-up to that story, where those allegations remain even though no one has thus far found a single body. (May need subscriber access to view.)
- Even if medical marijuana survives the current legal challenges and wins approval from voters, the industry could face challenges getting off the ground. That’s according to reporting by Neal Franklin at the Lincoln Journal Star. (May need subscriber access to view.)
- Let’s hear it for the next generation of journalists! Gretna High School, kicking butt and taking names at the state high school journalism contest under the leadership of wizened PR and journalism elder Tim Kaldahl.
Today’s newsletter is sponsored by:
