Civic Nebraska is seeking volunteers to serve as Election Protectors to monitor the May 14 primary election in Nebraska. Election Protectors are nonpartisan election observers that act in a passive role, monitoring polling places and reporting their observations back to Civic Nebraska.
Director of Communications Steve Smith tells KLIN News Election Protectors gather information and chronicle data regarding how elections are run from county to county in our state. “They also record any irregularities or different treatment of voters. Volunteers will also confirm that polling places are compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act.”
Election Protectors must be at least 18 and live in Nebraska and must attend one virtual or in-person training session before Primary Election Day. Click here to volunteer. Civic Nebraska has deployed nonpartisan observers to Nebraska polling places in every statewide primary and general election since 2012.
The use the information that is gathered to build a post-election report, which is shared with county election officials, state election officials, and the public to identify areas of success and improvement.
The report also informs future legislative initiatives that can improve Nebraska voters’ experiences.