Mail-in Ballots are Corrupting Our Elections and Hurting Pro-Life & Rural Nebraska

Opinion Editorial by Scott Petersen, Candidate for Secretary of State

I agree with President Trump – “Mail-in Ballots are corrupting our elections.” And, it’s absolutely hurting Pro-Life and Rural Nebraska.

For years, outside forces have sent money and operatives into eastern Nebraska’s population centers of Omaha and Lincoln to harvest ballots and influence outcomes. Examples include over $400,000 “Zuckerbucks” went into Lancaster County in 2020, and recently, foreign billionaire Hansjörg Wyss has funneled millions into Nebraska petitions and initiatives pushing policies at odds with pro-life values.

The result: Good Republican candidates lose close races in lean-Republican districts. We end up sending people to the Legislature, education boards, and public power boards who do not share the morals and values of our pro-life state. A clear example is Republican Russ Barger in LD 26, who lost to Democrat George Dungan by just 224 votes in 2022; Barger requested a hand recount, but it was denied.

Secretary of State Bob Evnen used the 1999 no-excuse absentee reform to expand the mass-mailing of ballot applications during COVID, and the practice has remained in place ever since. Ballots for the May 12 primary began going out on April 6, creating a voting window that spans more than a month. Eleven counties now conduct all-mail elections, automatically mailing ballots to every registered voter. Outdated or ineligible registrations mean ballots can reach people who have moved, died, or are no longer eligible.

With that, we effectively have a 35-day election. I don’t think the Founding Fathers intended to have a month-long election. And, President Trump agrees, we need to get back to having “Election Day.”

When elected, I will work to shorten (or eliminate) the 30+ day mail-in period and return to a common-sense absentee-excuse system: for military members, those physically unable to reach the polls, and voters living a prohibitive distance from their polling place.

This will take away the incentive for outside forces to send money and people into Nebraska to influence our elections.

The voices of Pro-Life Nebraska will have a level playing field in our fight to protect the unborn. If we don’t fix our elections, we won’t protect life.

Make your voice and your vote count in the Republican Primary on Tuesday, May 12^th.