Nebraska & Iowa Voter Guide — November 2026 Election

Don't Miss the Deadline

Key Dates & Deadlines

Election Day

Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Polls open 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. Central Time; 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. Mountain Time in the Panhandle.

Online, mail, and state-agency registration deadline

Friday, October 16, 2026

In-person county election office registration deadline

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Early voting begins

Monday, October 5, 2026

Early voting ends

Monday, November 2, 2026

Request a mailed early-voting ballot by

Friday, October 23, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.

Mailed ballot must be received by

Election Day, November 3, 2026, by close of polls

Nebraska is a no-excuse early-voting state. Registered voters may request an early-voting ballot without giving a reason. Nebraska early voting information

Election Day

Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Polls are generally open 7:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. local time.

Pre-registration deadline

Monday, October 19, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.

Mailed registration forms postmarked by this date count even if they arrive later.

Absentee ballot requests open

Tuesday, August 25, 2026

Early in-person / satellite voting begins

Wednesday, October 14, 2026

Absentee ballot request deadline

Monday, October 19, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.

Last day for early in-person voting

Monday, November 2, 2026

Absentee ballot must be received by

Tuesday, November 3, 2026, by 8:00 p.m.

A postmark alone is not sufficient.

Same-day registration

Available at the polls with required proof of identity and residency.

Confirm current procedures with the Iowa Secretary of State voter registration page.

Make Sure You're Ready

How to Register to Vote

Online

Register through Nebraska’s NEReg2Vote portal. An eligible Nebraska driver’s license or state ID is generally required.

By Mail

Download a registration form from the Nebraska Secretary of State and submit it to your county election office.

In Person

Register at your county election office, the DMV, DHHS, or Department of Education offices. Eligible Nebraskans may pre-register at age 17 if they will be 18 by Election Day.

Online

Register through the Iowa voter registration portal. An Iowa driver’s license or non-operator ID is generally required for online registration.

By Mail

Download a form through sos.iowa.gov and mail it to your county auditor.

In Person / Same Day

Register at your county auditor’s office or on Election Day at your polling place with required proof of identity and residency. Review the official Iowa ID and residency requirements before you go.

Find Your Polling Place

Where & How to Vote

Use Nebraska’s official VoterCheck system to check registration, view your ballot, locate your polling place, and follow early-voting information.

Check My Registration

Early voting: County election offices begin early voting October 5.

Secure drop boxes: Find a Nebraska ballot drop box

County offices: Contact your county election office

Use Iowa’s voter resources to check registration, confirm your precinct and polling place, request or track an absentee ballot, and find county auditor information.

Check My Registration

Early voting: County auditor offices and designated satellite locations begin voting October 14.

Absentee ballot by mail: Contact your county auditor; request deadline is October 19 at 5:00 p.m.

Statewide voter tool: VoterReady.iowa.gov

Nebraska Candidates

November 3, 2026 General Election — statewide and federal races

Nebraska’s statewide candidate list and statewide ballot measures were certified September 11, 2026. Your ballot can also include local, county, legislative, judicial-retention, school-board, and bond questions that vary by address. Use Nebraska VoterCheck to see your individual ballot.

U.S. Senate

One seat, six-year term. Incumbent Pete Ricketts was appointed in 2023 and elected in the 2024 special election.

Pete Ricketts

Republican

Incumbent U.S. senator; former Nebraska governor.

Abortion

Pro-Life

Has identified as strongly pro-life, opposed taxpayer funding for abortion, and supported Nebraska’s abortion-restriction amendment effort.

LGBTQ+ Policy

Opposes Expansion

Has opposed expanding Title IX protections to gender identity and supported restrictions on transgender participation in women’s sports.

Other

Emphasizes border security, conservative fiscal policy, the death penalty, and opposition to marijuana legalization.

Official Site

Dan Osborn

Independent

Industrial mechanic, former union leader, and 2024 U.S. Senate candidate.

Abortion

Personally Pro-Life; Supports Access

Has described himself as personally pro-life while supporting abortion access consistent with Roe-era limits and opposing a national abortion ban.

LGBTQ+ Policy

No Detailed Position Located

His public campaign messaging emphasizes personal freedom and limited government; review direct campaign materials for specific policy positions.

Other

Supports labor organizing, gun rights, raising the minimum wage, marijuana legalization, border security, and changes to Social Security policy.

Campaign Site

Robin Richards

Working People

Chair of the Nebraska Working People Party; candidate confirmed through the new party’s 2026 filing process.

Abortion

Review Campaign Materials

A detailed campaign position summary should be confirmed from direct candidate or party materials before voting.

LGBTQ+ Policy

Review Campaign Materials

Campaign Context

Represents one of Nebraska’s newly recognized political parties in the 2026 general election.

Chuck Conboy

America First

America First Party candidate; reported as part of the party’s 2026 statewide slate.

Abortion

Review Campaign Materials

LGBTQ+ Policy

Review Campaign Materials

Campaign Context

Represents Nebraska’s newly recognized America First Party.

Mike Marvin

Legal Marijuana NOW

Legal Marijuana NOW candidate. Public reporting indicated he suspended campaigning and endorsed Dan Osborn; verify his final ballot status on your sample ballot.

Abortion

Not Publicly Stated

LGBTQ+ Policy

Not Publicly Stated

Other

The party platform centers on marijuana legalization and related criminal-justice reforms.

U.S. House of Representatives

Nebraska has three congressional districts. Confirm your district through Nebraska VoterCheck.

District 1 — Lincoln, Bellevue, Fremont, Norfolk

Mike Flood

Republican

Incumbent U.S. representative.

Abortion

Pro-Life

Has opposed federal abortion-rights legislation and taxpayer funding for abortion.

Other

Conservative record on federal spending, border policy, and regulatory issues.

Official Site

Chris Backemeyer

Democrat

Candidate with foreign-policy and national-security background.

Abortion / LGBTQ+ Policy

Review Candidate Materials

Public priorities include affordable health care, border security and immigration reform, agriculture, rural communities, and lowering costs.

Campaign Site

Nik Sandman

Libertarian

Positions

Not Publicly Stated

Review direct candidate materials and your certified sample ballot for updated information.

Dan Hartong

America First

America First Party candidate added through the party’s 2026 slate.

Positions

Review Campaign Materials

Verify current issue positions through the candidate or party before voting.

District 2 — Omaha Metro

Brinker Harding

Republican

Omaha City Council member. The seat is open after Don Bacon’s retirement.

Abortion

Reported Pro-Life

Public reporting and political organizations have described Harding as opposed to abortion rights. Review direct campaign statements for his current position.

Other

Campaign background includes Omaha municipal government and local public-policy issues.

Denise Powell

Democrat

Abortion

Pro-Choice

Has supported abortion access, codifying Roe v. Wade protections, contraception access, and IVF protections.

Other

Review the campaign for additional positions on economic, health-care, and foreign-policy matters.

Eric Michael Foreman

Libertarian

Positions

Not Publicly Stated

Review direct campaign materials and the official ballot for current information.

District 3 — Rural Central & Western Nebraska

Adrian Smith

Republican

Incumbent U.S. representative; serving since 2007.

Abortion / LGBTQ+ Policy

Review Current Record

Has an established conservative voting record. Consult his official site and congressional voting record for current positions.

Official Site

Becky Kelly Stille

Democrat

Agricultural-processing quality manager and farmer.

Abortion

Supports Reproductive Rights

Has expressed support for reproductive rights and public-school funding, and opposition to book bans.

Campaign Site

David J. Else

Legal Marijuana NOW

Positions

Not Publicly Stated

The party primarily advocates for marijuana legalization and related justice reforms.

Macey Budke

Working People

Nebraska Working People Party candidate.

Positions

Review Campaign Materials

Check direct candidate or party materials for updated policy positions.

Governor

Four-year term. Nebraska elects its governor and lieutenant governor as a ticket.

Jim Pillen

Republican

Incumbent governor. Running mate: Joe Kelly.

Abortion

Strongly Pro-Life

Signed LB 574 in 2023, including a 12-week abortion restriction. He has described abortion as murder and supports additional limits.

LGBTQ+ Policy

Opposes Expansion

Has supported policies defining sex biologically and restrictions related to transgender student athletics and facilities.

Other

Emphasizes property-tax reform, school choice, and opposition to marijuana legalization.

Campaign Site

Lynne Walz

Democrat

Former Nebraska state senator.

Abortion

Pro-Choice

Opposed LB 574’s abortion restrictions and has said government should not control personal medical decisions.

LGBTQ+ Policy

Generally Supportive

Previously proposed changes to gender-affirming-care restrictions that would have allowed regulated access with parental consent rather than an outright ban.

Campaign Site

Brett Lindstrom

America First

Former Nebraska state senator; refilled for governor as the America First Party candidate.

Positions

Review Campaign Materials

Use direct campaign sources for current positions on abortion, LGBTQ+ policy, taxes, education, and other issues.

Rick Beard

Legal Marijuana NOW

Positions

Not Publicly Stated

The Legal Marijuana NOW platform centers on marijuana legalization.

Other Nebraska Statewide Offices

Secretary of State

Scott Petersen R — Has supported hand-counting ballots and additional restrictions on mail voting.

Sarah Slattery D — Emphasizes voter access, public trust, and election administration.

Paul Rumbaugh Working People — Newly added party candidate; review direct materials.

Bob Krist America First — Newly added party candidate; review direct materials.

Attorney General

Mike Hilgers R — Incumbent; emphasizes consumer protection, parental rights, and conservative legal policy.

Jocelyn Brasher D — Emphasizes antitrust enforcement, consumer protection, children’s online safety, and medical-marijuana implementation.

State Treasurer

Joey Spellerberg R — Incumbent, appointed in 2025; emphasizes fiscal conservatism and property-tax relief.

Daniel Ebers D — Hotel manager and former congressional candidate.

Auditor of Public Accounts

Mike Foley R — Incumbent; emphasizes fraud detection and government efficiency.

John Knight America First — America First Party candidate; review direct campaign material.

Public Service Commissioner — District 2

District 2 includes eastern Douglas County. Confirm whether this race is on your ballot.

Dennis McCann R — Retired public-safety worker.

Wendy DeBoer D — State senator from District 10.

Official Nebraska source: Nebraska Secretary of State — 2026 Elections.

Iowa Candidates

November 3, 2026 General Election — statewide and federal races

Candidate information below covers the major statewide and federal contests. Always verify your final ballot through the Iowa Secretary of State, VoterReady Iowa, or your county auditor because local races and ballot questions vary by address.

Governor

Open seat. Gov. Kim Reynolds is not seeking re-election.

Zach Lahn

Republican

Businessman and farmer from Belle Plaine. Running mate: State Rep. Derek Wulf.

Abortion

Pro-Life

Has supported abortion restrictions from conception; review direct campaign materials for stated exceptions and current policy detail.

LGBTQ+ Policy

Opposes Gender-Affirming Care for Minors

Campaign materials have opposed gender-related surgeries or medication for minors.

Other

Supports school choice, opposes eminent domain for carbon pipelines, and emphasizes Iowa agriculture and food production.

Campaign Site

Rob Sand

Democrat

Iowa State Auditor since 2019. Running mate: Dave Muhlbauer.

Abortion

Pro-Choice

Has criticized abortion restrictions and warned of potential effects on contraception, IVF, and reproductive autonomy.

LGBTQ+ Policy

Mixed

Generally supports LGBTQ+ rights while stating that transgender women should not compete in women’s sports.

Other

Has supported marijuana legalization and presents himself as a government-accountability candidate.

Campaign Site

Sondra Wilson

Independent

Independent candidate; previously ran as a Democrat.

Positions

Limited Public Information

Review direct candidate material and the official Iowa election resources for current information.

U.S. Senate

Open seat. Sen. Joni Ernst is retiring.

Ashley Hinson

Republican

U.S. representative from Iowa’s 2nd District; former television news anchor.

Abortion

Pro-Life

Has described herself as pro-life with exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother; she has also supported federal anti-abortion legislation.

LGBTQ+ Policy

Opposes Expansion

Opposed federal same-sex marriage legislation and supported Iowa laws restricting certain transgender-related school policies.

Other

Focuses on household costs, health-care premiums, prescription drugs, groceries, and child care.

Campaign Site

Josh Turek

Democrat

State representative from Council Bluffs and Paralympic gold medalist.

Abortion

Pro-Choice

Has described himself as proudly pro-choice and supports codifying Roe v. Wade, contraception protections, and IVF protections.

LGBTQ+ Policy

Review Campaign Materials

Consult current campaign material and legislative record for specific positions.

Other

Supports a public health-insurance option, farm-equipment right-to-repair, country-of-origin labeling, and water-quality programs.

Campaign Site

Thomas Laehn

Libertarian

Abortion

Personally Pro-Life; States' Rights

Has described himself as strongly pro-life while arguing Congress lacks authority to regulate abortion nationally and that the matter belongs at the state level.

LGBTQ+ Policy

Not Publicly Stated

Other

Opposes eminent domain for carbon pipelines and undeclared wars; emphasizes separation of powers.

U.S. House of Representatives

Iowa has four congressional districts.

District 1 — Davenport, Iowa City & Southeast Iowa

Mariannette Miller-Meeks

Republican

Incumbent U.S. representative; physician and Army veteran.

Abortion

Pro-Life with Exceptions

Has said she supports exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother; she has also supported anti-abortion legislation.

LGBTQ+ Policy

Previously Opposed Same-Sex Marriage

Christina Bohannan

Democrat

University of Iowa law professor and former state representative.

Abortion

Pro-Choice

Supports codifying Roe v. Wade protections and has described herself as a reproductive-rights advocate.

LGBTQ+ Policy

Supportive

Supports gender-affirming care access and has described the issue as a human-rights concern.

Campaign Site

Michael Bridgford

Independent

Financial advisor from Bettendorf; first-time candidate.

Positions

Not Publicly Stated

Campaign messaging emphasizes opposition to the two-party system.

District 2 — Cedar Rapids, Waterloo & Dubuque

Joe Mitchell

Republican

Former state representative and real-estate developer.

Abortion

Pro-Life

Supported legislation stating that the Iowa Constitution does not include a right to abortion, a waiting period, and defunding Planned Parenthood.

Lindsay James

Democrat

State representative from Dubuque; ordained Presbyterian pastor and chaplain.

Abortion / LGBTQ+ Policy

Review Campaign Materials

Consult current campaign sources and voting record for issue-specific positions.

Rick Stewart

Libertarian

Libertarian candidate in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District.

Positions

Review Campaign Materials

Review direct candidate material and official election resources for current policy information.

Dave Bushaw

Independent

Rural organizer, farmer, folk musician, and former Bernie Sanders staff member.

Positions

Review Campaign Materials

Has advocated for universal health care and a manufacturing resurgence.

District 3 — Des Moines Area

Zach Nunn

Republican

Incumbent U.S. representative and U.S. Air Force officer.

Abortion

Pro-Life with Exceptions

Opposes abortion while supporting exceptions for the life of the mother, rape, and incest. Has said abortion policy should be addressed by states rather than through a federal ban.

Other

Supports IVF and adoption access.

Official Site

Sarah Trone Garriott

Democrat

State senator from West Des Moines.

Abortion

Pro-Choice

Supports reproductive rights and has been endorsed by reproductive-rights organizations.

LGBTQ+ Policy

Supportive

Voted against Iowa legislation restricting transgender student athletics, gender-affirming care for minors, and school bathroom access.

Marco Battaglia

Libertarian

Positions

Not Publicly Stated

Review direct candidate material and the official ballot for updated information.

District 4 — Sioux City, Ames & Northwest Iowa

Chris McGowan

Republican

President of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce and Air Force veteran.

Positions

Review Campaign Materials

Dave Dawson

Democrat

Woodbury County prosecutor and former state representative.

Priorities

Has emphasized health-care access, prescription-drug costs, and rural-hospital funding.

Jermaine Decker

Independent

Army veteran.

Positions

Verify Ballot Status & Campaign Information

Use Iowa’s official election resources to confirm final candidacy and current campaign information.

Other Iowa Statewide Offices

Attorney General

Brenna Bird R — Incumbent; has identified as pro-life and pursued conservative legal challenges related to youth gender care.

Nathan Willems D — Labor attorney and former state representative; emphasizes wage theft and consumer protection.

Secretary of State

Paul Pate R — Incumbent since 2015; seeking another term.

Ryan Peterman D — Navy veteran; emphasizes election security and transparency.

State Auditor

Chris Cournoyer R — Current lieutenant governor.

Taylor Wettach D — Attorney from Muscatine; emphasizes protecting the auditor’s independence.

State Treasurer

Roby Smith R — Incumbent.

John Norwood D — Focuses on public-pension and IPERS issues.

Secretary of Agriculture

Mike Naig R — Incumbent since 2018; former Monsanto government-affairs manager.

Chris Jones D — Retired University of Iowa water-quality scientist and author of The Swine Republic.

Official Iowa resource: Iowa Secretary of State — Elections & Voting.

Read Before You Vote

Ballot Measures

Nebraska

Initiative Measure 440 — Online Sports Wagering Authorization Constitutional Amendment

Would amend the Nebraska Constitution to authorize online sports wagering conducted through vendors associated with Nebraska’s licensed racetracks.

Initiative Measure 441 — Online Sports Wagering Regulation Initiative

Would establish statutory provisions regulating online sports wagering if the related constitutional authorization is approved.

Initiative Measure 442 — Fairness for Girls Constitutional Amendment

Would add a constitutional provision concerning sex-separated athletic teams in certain K–12 and collegiate sports settings.

Constitutional Amendment 1 — LR19CA Legislative Term Limits

Would change Nebraska’s consecutive-term limit for state senators from two four-year terms to three consecutive four-year terms, raising the maximum consecutive service from eight years to twelve years.

Nebraska’s initiatives were certified for the ballot, though some have faced investigations and/or legal challenges. Read the official ballot language and current status at sos.nebraska.gov/elections.

Iowa

Income Tax Supermajority Amendment

A proposed constitutional amendment would require a two-thirds vote in both the Iowa House and Senate to raise individual or corporate income-tax rates or create new income-type taxes, instead of the current simple-majority standard.

Know Your Local Ballot

Your Iowa ballot may also contain local bond issues, school-board contests, county offices, judicial-retention questions, and other measures that are not statewide. Use VoterReady Iowa or contact your county auditor to review the ballot for your address.

Confirm Iowa statewide and local ballot measures through the Iowa Secretary of State and VoterReady.iowa.gov.

Go Deeper

Resources

Tools and organizations to help you become an informed, engaged citizen.

For Liberty & Justice

“Mobilize the Church, wake up the city, and take a stand for Liberty and Justice.” A ministry and civic-engagement resource working with local churches, grassroots campaigns, and podcasts.

Visit Website

Biblical Citizenship in Modern America

A free eight-week course from Rick Green and WallBuilders about the biblical and historical foundations discussed in America’s civic life.

Get the Free Course
WallBuilders.com

Official Election Resources

Verify registration, polling location, sample ballots, deadlines, and county contact information:

Nebraska Secretary of State Nebraska VoterCheck Iowa Secretary of State VoterReady Iowa

Voter Research Tools

Ballotpedia — Election, candidate, and ballot-measure encyclopedia
Vote411 — League of Women Voters personalized voter guide
Nebraska Voter Guide — Candidate responses and issue information
Vote Smart — Voting records, public positions, and biographical data
OnTheIssues — Candidate issue-position compilation

Election Protection & Voting Rights

If you experience problems at the polls or have questions about voting rights, use official election contacts and nonpartisan voter-protection resources.

1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683) — Election Protection Hotline
ACLU Know Your Rights: Voting
U.S. Vote Foundation — Absentee voting and state-by-state information
Nebraska county election office contacts

Your Vote Is Your Voice

“A constitutional republic works best when citizens follow the biblical commands on everything from obeying just laws, proper taxation, work ethic, loving your neighbor, freedom of choice, free market principles and so many other issues.” — Rick Green

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