Grand Island, Nebraska Public Records

Nebraska residents can register to vote online at www.nebraska.gov/apps-sos-voter-registration, by mail using a downloadable registration form, or in person at the County Election Commissioner's office. Registration deadlines are 6:00 p.m. on the second Friday before Election Day for in-person registration, including same-day registration at early voting locations, or postmarked at least 18 days before the election for mail registration. Voters must provide a valid Nebraska driver's license or state ID number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number. As an incorporated city, Grand Island holds municipal elections for mayor and city council in odd-numbered years on the first Tuesday in May. The city operates under a strong-mayor government with a city council of ten members elected from geographic wards. The next municipal election arrives in May 2025, with the mayor's seat and several council positions on the ballot. Information about municipal candidates, sample ballots, and local ballot measures is available through the Hall County Election Commissioner's office or the City Clerk's office at 308-385-5444. Residents can look up their assigned polling place using the Nebraska Voter Registration Lookup tool at www.nebraska.gov/apps-sos-voter-registration, which provides polling location addresses, hours, and sample ballots by entering name and date of birth or voter registration information. Nebraska law, specifically Neb. Rev. Stat. § 49-1443 et seq., makes certain election records public. These include voter registration lists available for purchase for lawful purposes, campaign finance reports filed with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission and viewable at www.nadc.nebraska.gov, candidate filing documents, and precinct-by-precinct election results. The Election Commissioner's website publishes unofficial election results on election night and certified results following canvass. In the November 2024 presidential election, Hall County recorded approximately 25,000 votes cast, representing roughly 70% turnout of registered voters, with strong participation in both early voting and Election Day voting. Looking ahead to November 3, 2026, voters in Grand Island and Hall County will decide several significant races. Nebraska does not have a U.S. Senate seat up in 2026, though Senator Deb Fischer faces reelection that year under the state's 2020/2026 and 2022/2028 cycles. The Nebraska Governor's race will be on the ballot, with incumbent Jim Pillen's term running through 2026. All 49 members of the unicameral Nebraska Legislature are up for election, including District 38 which represents Grand Island. Nebraska's three U.S. House seats will be contested, with the city falling in the 3rd Congressional District. Hall County offices on the ballot include County Commissioners, County Attorney, County Sheriff, County Clerk, Register of Deeds, County Assessor, and County Treasurer. Early voting begins 35 days before any election at the County Election Commissioner's office. Voters can request absentee ballots by submitting an application available at www.hallcountyne.gov/election by mail, in person, or online through the state portal. Absentee ballot applications must be received by the second Friday before Election Day for mail delivery, or voters can request ballots in person until the day before the election. Nebraska does not require an excuse for absentee voting. Completed absentee ballots must be received by the Election Commissioner's office by the time polls close on Election Day.