By Allison Peck
North Platte, Neb. — With Nebraska’s May 12 primary approaching, Secretary of State Bob Evnen visited Lincoln County April 27 to demonstrate the testing process used to verify ballot counting machines and highlight election security measures during a stop on his statewide Transparency Tour.
The visit included logic and accuracy testing on Lincoln County’s ballot counting equipment at the courthouse, a process required before each statewide election.
Before every statewide primary and general election, three separate pre-marked test decks are run through each ballot counting machine in Nebraska to ensure votes are tabulated accurately, Evnen said.
“We are checking the machines to assure that they are counting accurately,” Evnen said.
One test deck is prepared by the county clerk or election commissioner’s office, another by a different political party than the clerk, and a third by the machine programmer. Evnen said all three are run through every machine statewide during the month leading up to an election.
Evnen also highlighted a recent change in state law requiring political parties be notified so representatives may observe logic and accuracy testing.
He called the process part of maintaining confidence in Nebraska elections and said it is one reason Nebraska is “the gold standard for election integrity.”
During questions from media and attendees, Evnen also emphasized Nebraska voting machines are not connected to the internet and said the state uses federally certified equipment.
“The ballot counting machines that we use in the state of Nebraska cannot be connected to the internet,” he said.
Lincoln County Clerk and Election Commissioner Rebecca Rossell said Lincoln County was selected as one of the stops on Evnen’s tour and said the testing process is designed to verify machine counts match hand-tabulated totals.
“It’s just making sure that machine is counting correctly,” Rossell said.
Rossell also noted Lincoln County has a long history of using election technology, saying the county was among the first in Nebraska to use optical scan voting systems.
Evnen also discussed the complexity of election administration in Nebraska, noting the state had nearly 5,000 ballot variations in the November 2024 election because of overlapping political subdivision boundaries. He said reducing that number is something he hopes to address in the future.
Rossell reminded voters the Nebraska primary election is May 12. Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and voters must bring a valid photo voter ID.