Live updates: Polls open amid showers
Election Day dawned with clouds, rain and a line of about 12 to 15 people at the YMCA polling place.
At the head of the line was Timoree Klingler, who said she arrived about 25 minutes before voting began.
"All of my friends who voted early had to stand in line for a good amount of time," Klingler said, "and, so, I get really excited about voting in person, so I wanted to be here right away."
According to the National Weather Service, the morning showers should give way to sunshine this afternoon.
Election information
Polls opened at 8 a.m. Central Tuesday in Nebraska for the 2024 general election.
Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen said he expects about 72% of the state's 1.26 million registered voters to cast a ballot, with more than 332,000 already voting early either at county election offices or by mail.
You can click on this link to see election results as they come in throughout the night Tuesday.
Polls will close Tuesday at 8 p.m. Central, which is also the deadline to turn in early ballots to county election offices or secure drop boxes. It's too late to mail them.
A lot of voter information is available at www.ne.gov/go/votercheck , including how to find your polling place, sample ballots and tracking your ballot if you voted early.
In Beatrice, voters in Ward 1 cast their ballots at the YMCA, 1801 Scott St.; Wards 2 and 4, Christ Community Church, 2727 Lincoln St.; and Ward 3, Beatrice Public Library, 100 N. 16th St. Be sure to bring a photo ID with you; you'll need one to vote.
Polling places for areas outside the city are the Adams Village Office (Adams, Hanover, Hooker and Nemaha townships); the Odell Community Building (Elm, Sicily, Glenwood and Paddock), the Filley Community Building (Filley, Logan, Rockford and Sherman): the Cortland Village Office Meeting Room inside the fire hall (Clatonia, Grant/Holt and Highland); the Extension Office Meeting Room, 1115 W. Scott St. (Blakely, Midland, Lincoln and Riverside); and the Wymore Community Center (Wymore Wards 1 and 2, Blue Springs Wards 1 and 2, Island Grove, Barneston and Liberty).
While the presidential contest headlines things, there are plenty of local and statewide races on the ballot in Gage County.
In Beatrice, there are two contested races for seats on the City Council. In the 1st Ward, incumbent Tim Fralin is facing a challenge from Gary Barnard of the 4th Ward, who's running against Fralin after moving into his ward. The 1st Ward is generally the southeast portion of the city, including the area around Beatrice High School and Chautauqua Park.
In the 3rd Ward, incumbent Richard Kerr faces challenger Dana Hydo. The 3rd Ward is Beatrice's largest in area, encompassing its northern and western arms, and most of downtown.
There are two other council races. Ted Fairbanks is unopposed as the incumbent in the 2nd Ward, which is generally the east-central part of the city north of Elk and Court streets, and south of Summit Street, Sara Road/Arbor Avenue and Hoyt Street, not including Hannibal Park. Alex Eckoff is running unopposed to succeed Barnard in the 4th Ward, which is north of the 2nd Ward and east of Sixth Street and the Homestead Trail.
Like the council, there are two contested races for the Gage County Board of Supervisors. In the 4th District, which has the same boundaries as the city's 2nd Ward, Democrat Dave Swavely is defending his seat against Republican Rick Clabaugh.
In the 6th District, Democrat incumbent Don Schuller faces Republican Rex Adams. The district generally covers southeastern Gage County, including Logan, Rockford, Blue Springs-Wymore, Barneston, Sherman, Island Grove, Liberty and a portion of Filley townships.
Emily Haxby is unopposed after winning the Republican primary in May to keep her seat in the 2nd District, which includes the northwest townships of Clatonia, Grant, Holt and Blakely, portions of Lincoln and Midland townships, and a portion of Beatrice's 3rd Ward.
Rob Schafer of Beatrice represents the 5th District of the Nebraska Board of Regents , which includes Gage County. Schafer, the board's chairman, is seeking his second term full term after being appointed to fill a vacancy in 2013. He's facing Gary Rogge, a retired farmer from Auburn, after they both advanced from the May primary.
Eric Book, Marrissa Centeno and Erin Hamilton are running unopposed for three seats on the Beatrice School Board.
Also on the ballot in different parts of the county are races for the Crete, Diller-Odell, Freeman, Lewiston, Norris, Southern, Tri County and Wilber-Clatonia school boards; village boards in Adams, Barneston, Clatonia, Cortland, Filley, Liberty, Odell, Pickrell and Virginia; the Blue Springs and Wymore city councils; a proposal to elect Blue Springs council members at large instead of by wards; and various public power and natural resources districts.
Statewide, voters will be voting on six ballot issues, two U.S. Senate races and all three U.S. House seats.
The ballot issues address abortion rights, medical marijuana, paid sick leave and whether state funds should be used for private school scholarships. Because the two abortion measures — one to expand abortion rights, the other to limit them — Evnen has said the one that receives the most votes will become the law if both pass.
In one Senate race, Republican incumbent Deb Fischer faces independent Dan Osborn in a campaign that has drawn national attention. In the other, Republican Pete Ricketts, who was appointed to the seat last year when Benn Sasse resigned, is in a special election to finish the remaining two years of the term against Democrat Preston Love Jr.
Gage County is part of the vast 3rd House District , the state's largest congressional district. Republican Rep. Adrian Smith of Gering is going for his 10th term. He is being challenged by Democrat Daniel Ebers of Lincoln.
Voters head to polls on Nov. 5 to decide between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. The balance of power in Congress all hangs in the balance.
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