Important deadlines and dates for the 2025 Omaha and Lincoln city elections
By Jackie Ourada 
, All Things Considered Host Nebraska Public Media
Feb. 9, 2025, 6 a.m. ·
Election commissioners in Lancaster and Douglas counties are mailing early voting applications to voters who want to cast their ballots by mail for the upcoming Lincoln and Omaha city elections.
The Lancaster County Election Commission will begin sending out early voting applications the week of February 10. The Douglas County Election Commission began mailing out early voting applications to its regular early voters in late January. A voter will only need to complete one early voting application for their city's primary and general elections since, they are scheduled so closely together.
Lincoln's primary election is Tuesday, April 8, and the Lincoln general election is Tuesday, May 6. Omaha's primary election is Tuesday, April 1, and the Omaha general election is Tuesday, May 13.
Voters who prefer casting their ballots in person can vote early at their county's election office or at the polls on Election Day.
In Lincoln, voters will weigh in on four seats on the Lincoln Public Schools Board of Education, three at-large seats on the city council and a seat on the Lincoln Airport Authority. On the April 8 primary ballot, voters will likely decide whether to continue a quarter-cent sales tax for street-improvement projects. Several advocacy groups collected petition signatures to place a ballot measure on the May 6 general election ballot that aims to provide more protection for renters to fulfill their rent payments by using government program benefits and housing vouchers.
In Omaha, the mayor's office and all city council seats are up for election. There could be charter amendments considered, but no issues have been certified yet to appear on either the primary or general election ballot for Omaha voters.
The Lancaster County Election Commission’s mailing address is 601 N. 46th St., Lincoln, NE 68503.
The Douglas County Election Commission’s mailing address is 12220 W. Center Road, Omaha, NE 68144.
Important dates and deadlines for the Lincoln primary and general elections
Voters in the upcoming Lincoln elections must live within the boundaries of Lincoln and must be registered to vote in Lancaster County. Lincoln voters can see if their voter registration information is up to date here. Eligible voters can register to vote online here. Voter registration deadlines for each election are listed below.
The Lincoln primary election is Tuesday, April 8.
Friday, March 21 — Deadline to register to vote online (by midnight), by mail (postmarked March 21), at a state agency (DMV, DHHS, Dept. of Ed.), by a deputy registrar or by agent.
Monday, March 24 — Lancaster County Election Commission begins mailing early voting ballots to voters who properly submitted early voting applications.
Monday, March 24 — Early in-person voting for the Lincoln primary election begins at the Lancaster County Election Commission.
Friday, March 28 — Deadline (by 6 p.m.) to register to vote in person for the Lincoln primary election at the Lancaster County Election Commission.
Friday, March 28 — Deadline to request an early voting ballot for the Lincoln primary election.
Tuesday, April 1 — United States Postal Service's recommended deadline to mail an early voting ballot to the Lancaster County Election Commission. Ballots will not be accepted after 8 p.m. on primary election day, regardless of the ballot return envelope's postmark date.
Monday, April 7 — Last day to vote early in person for the Lincoln primary election at the Lancaster County Election Commission.
Tuesday, April 8 — City of Lincoln Primary Election Day. Polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. A Lincoln voter can find their polling place and preview their sample ballot here. A voter's personal agent has until 7 p.m. to pick up an early voting ballot for a voter. Early voting ballots must be returned to the Lancaster County Election Commission or an election drop box in the county by 8 p.m. Late ballots will not be accepted.
Tuesday, April 15 — Deadline for voters to present acceptable photo ID to the Lancaster County Election Commission if they didn't have proper ID on Election Day.
The Lincoln general election is Tuesday, May 6.
Friday, April 18 — Deadline to register to vote online (by midnight), by mail (postmarked April 18), at a state agency (DMV, DHHS, Dept. of Ed.), by a deputy registrar or by agent.
Monday, April 21 — Lancaster County Election Commission begins mailing early voting ballots to voters who properly submitted early voting applications.
Monday, April 21 — Early in-person voting for the Lincoln general election begins at the Lancaster County Election Commission.
Friday, April 25 — Deadline (by 6 p.m.) to register to vote in person for the Lincoln general election at the Lancaster County Election Commission.
Friday, April 25 — Deadline to request an early voting ballot for the Lincoln general election.
Tuesday, April 29 — United States Postal Service's recommended deadline to mail an early voting ballot to the Lancaster County Election Commission. Ballots will not be accepted after 8 p.m. on general election day, regardless of the ballot return envelope's postmark date.
Monday, May 5 — Last day to vote early in person for the Lincoln general election at the Lancaster County Election Commission.
Tuesday, May 6 — City of Lincoln General Election Day. Polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. A Lincoln voter can find their polling place and preview their sample ballot here. A voter's personal agent has until 7 p.m. to pick up an early voting ballot for a voter. Early voting ballots must be returned to the Lancaster County Election Commission or an election drop box in the county by 8 p.m. Late ballots will not be accepted.
Tuesday, May 13 — Deadline for voters to present acceptable photo ID to the Lancaster County Election Commission if they didn't have proper ID on Election Day.
Important dates and deadlines for the Omaha primary and general elections
An Omaha voter wanting to cast a ballot in the upcoming Omaha elections must be a resident of Omaha and must be registered to vote in Douglas County. Omaha voters can see if their voter registration information is up to date here. Eligible voters can register to vote online here. Voter registration deadlines for each election are listed below.
The Omaha primary election is Tuesday, April 1.
Friday, March 14 — Deadline to register to vote online (by midnight), by mail (postmarked March 14), at a state agency (DMV, DHHS, Dept. of Ed.), by a deputy registrar or by agent.
Monday, March 17 — Douglas County Election Commission begins mailing early voting ballots to voters who properly submitted early voting applications.
Monday, March 17 — Early in-person voting for the Omaha primary election begins at the Douglas County Election Commission.
Friday, March 21 — Deadline (by 6 p.m.) to register to vote in person for the Omaha primary election at the Douglas County Election Commission.
Friday, March 21 — Deadline to request an early voting ballot for the Omaha primary election.
Tuesday, March 25 — United States Postal Service's recommended deadline to mail an early voting ballot to the Douglas County Election Commission. Ballots will not be accepted after 8 p.m. on primary election day, regardless of the ballot return envelope's postmark date.
Monday, March 31 — Last day to vote early in person for the Omaha primary election at the Douglas County Election Commission.
Tuesday, April 1 — City of Omaha Primary Election Day. Polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. An Omaha voter can find their polling place and preview their sample ballot here. Early voting ballots must be returned to the Douglas County Election Commission or an election drop box in the county by 8 p.m. Late ballots will not be accepted.
Tuesday, April 8 — Deadline for voters to present acceptable photo ID to the Douglas County Election Commission if they didn't have proper ID on Election Day.
The Omaha general election is Tuesday, May 13.
Friday, April 25 — Deadline to register to vote online (by midnight), by mail (postmarked April 25), at a state agency (DMV, DHHS, Dept. of Ed.), by a deputy registrar or by agent.
Monday, April 28 — Douglas County Election Commission begins mailing early voting ballots to voters who properly submitted early voting applications.
Monday, April 28 — Early in-person voting for the Omaha general election begins at the Douglas County Election Commission.
Friday, May 2 — Deadline (by 6 p.m.) to register to vote in person for the Omaha general election at the Douglas County Election Commission.
Friday, May 2 — Deadline to request an early voting ballot for the Omaha general election.
Tuesday, May 6 — United States Postal Service's recommended deadline to mail an early voting ballot to the Douglas County Election Commission. Ballots will not be accepted after 8 p.m. on general election day, regardless of the ballot return envelope's postmark date.
Monday, May 12 — Last day to vote early in person for the Omaha general election at the Douglas County Election Commission.
Tuesday, May 13 — City of Omaha General Election Day. Polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. An Omaha voter can find their polling place and preview their sample ballot here. Early voting ballots must be returned to the Douglas County Election Commission or an election drop box in the county by 8 p.m. Late ballots will not be accepted.
Tuesday, May 20 — Deadline for voters to present acceptable photo ID to the Douglas County Election Commission if they didn't have proper ID on Election Day.