Stanton County backs mail elections

STANTON, Neb. — Based on the response from surveys, Stanton County residents appear to be in favor of conducting a mail-only election.

The county has been considering conducting elections using an all-mail method because of the difficulty of finding and training poll workers.

Plus, some voters have had to drive at least 18 miles to vote.

Stanton County Clerk Martha Detlefsen, who also serves as election commissioner, said her office mailed surveys on Sept. 9 to voter households asking whether they would be in favor of or opposed to a mail-only election.

Since 2004, statewide primary and general elections in Nebraska have been permitted to be conducted using an all-mail method.

The percentage of surveys returned was consistent with the percentage of voters who have voted in past elections, Detlefsen said.

Of the 2,072 surveys mailed, 978 or 47.2 percent were returned. Of the 978 surveys returned, 805 (82.3 percent) were in favor of a mail-only election, 164 (16.7 percent) were opposed and nine (1 percent) had no preference.

Detlefsen said some respondents commented on the convenience of a mail-only election, particularly for rural and elderly residents.

But some opponents of the idea noted that absentee voting already is an option and expressed concerns about the potential for fraud, the reliability of the post office and the privacy of voters' choices.

The county will consider applying to the Secretary of State's Office for approval of mail-only elections in rural precincts.

Detlefsen said she has raised the subject of mail-only elections in the past, and County Board members did not object.

If the secretary of state approves a precinct for mail-only voting, the county clerk will notify each household, she said.

The precincts being considered for mail-only election require voters to travel to Stanton or Pilger to vote.

« Metro/Region

Share