South Bend, Nebraska Public Records

Election information is accessible through the Cass County website at www.cassne.org, with additional statewide resources at the Nebraska Secretary of State's election division website at www.sos.nebraska.gov/elections. Residents can register to vote online through the Nebraska Online Voter Registration system at www.sos.nebraska.gov/elections/voter-registration, which requires a valid Nebraska driver's license or state ID. Registration can also be completed by mail or in person at the Cass County Clerk's office or at the Nebraska DMV. The state requires voters to register at least 10 days before an election - the deadline is typically the third Friday before Election Day for in-person registration, with earlier mail registration deadlines. Voters must be U.S. Citizens, at least 18 years old by Election Day, and residents of Nebraska. Residents vote in Cass County elections, Nebraska state legislative elections, and federal elections. Local voters are assigned to specific polling places based on their residential address within their precinct. Polling place lookup is available online through the Nebraska Voter Registration Search at www.sos.nebraska.gov/elections/voter-registration-lookup, where voters can enter their name and date of birth or address to confirm registration status, precinct, and assigned polling location. Polling places are typically open from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM Central Time on Election Day. Nebraska allows early voting in person at the Cass County Clerk's office beginning 30 days before an election. Election records that are public in Nebraska include voter registration lists, available for purchase for political and election purposes with restrictions on commercial use. Campaign finance reports filed by candidates and committees are searchable at www.nebraska.gov/nadc. Candidate filings and petitions are maintained by election offices, and precinct-level election results are published after each election by the Cass County Clerk and Secretary of State. Individual voter history, whether a person voted, not how they voted, is part of the public registration record. In the November 2024 presidential election, Cass County reported strong voter turnout consistent with Nebraska's historically high participation rates, with approximately 60-65% of registered voters casting ballots, slightly above the statewide average, reflecting Cass County's engaged electorate and competitive suburban/rural mix. The November 3, 2026 general election will be particularly important for the area and Cass County voters. Nebraska will hold elections for all seats in the unicameral Nebraska Legislature, nonpartisan races for state senators representing single-member districts. South Bend is part of one of the 49 legislative districts with a four-year term up in 2026. Nebraska's U.S. Senate seats are on a rotating schedule; in 2026, one of Nebraska's U.S. Senate seats will be on the ballot. The Governor of Nebraska is elected to four-year terms; depending on the cycle, 2026 may include a gubernatorial race. Nebraska's unique unicameral legislature means all legislative representation is at the state level, no separate state house and senate. County offices up for election in 2026 will likely include some Cass County Commissioner seats, County Clerk, Sheriff, Treasurer, Assessor, and other constitutional county offices on staggered terms. Specific candidate filings and local ballot measures will be posted by the Cass County Clerk in the months before the election. Nebraska is one of only two states that allocates Electoral College votes by congressional district, Maine is the other - making Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District, which includes parts of Omaha but not South Bend, a potential swing vote in presidential elections. The village itself votes in the more conservative 1st District. Nebraska offers early voting by mail, or absentee voting, to any registered voter without requiring an excuse. Voters can request an absentee ballot application from the Cass County Clerk by phone, mail, or online. Completed applications must be received by the second Friday before the election for regular mail ballots. Ballots can be returned by mail, they must be received by Election Day, not just postmarked - or delivered in person to the Cass County Clerk's office. Nebraska does not have permanent absentee status; voters must request a ballot for each election. Military and overseas voters have additional options under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) including electronic ballot transmission. Residents are encouraged to verify their registration, review their sample ballot online, and familiarize themselves with candidates and issues before each election through the Cass County Clerk and Secretary of State websites.